As a parent herself, Jo understands the needs of young children and she and her team have worked hard to create a warm and happy environment in which children can learn new skills and are taught to cope with life’s challenges. There is a great atmosphere at the nursery and a buzz of happy voices as children go about their daily lives, contentedly playing and learning.

Therefore, the majority of staff at the nursery hold the NVQ Level 3 in Child Care, or are working towards it. All have a Paediatric First Aid Certificate and Food Hygiene Certificate, both of which are renewed every three years. In addition, all staff are carefully vetted through the Criminal Records Bureau and personal references are taken up when they first join the team.

Our ratio of children to staff ensures that children are looked after in a carefully monitored environment. The ratios of staff to children are as follows:

Settling-in Period

New children and parents have three settling in sessions at the nursery. The first is an introductory session, lasting half an hour, during which time parents meet staff and then introduce their child to the nursery staff. During this session parents are advised of routines and procedures in place at the nursery and spend the rest of the time playing with their child and familiarising themselves with their surroundings.

The second session lasts one and a half hours and parents are encouraged to leave their children for short periods to allow them to adjust and begin to feel comfortable in their new environment.

The third, two-hour session, usually takes place over a lunch time or tea time and parents are, again, encouraged to leave their child for longer periods to enable them to start socialising with their peers and getting to know their new friends.

The Baby Unit

This Unit can accommodate babies up to 1 year old and has a large well-equipped playroom and adjoining sleeping room with separate milk kitchen and nappy changing facilities. All children have their own labelled cot or pram in the sleeping room and individual sterilisers in the milk kitchen. Daily routines are kept for all children and parents are encouraged to spend time with staff discussing their child's day.

1 - 2 Year Olds

Toddlers have two large playrooms, well equipped with toys and activities. One room is used as a 'messy' room for water and creative activities, while the second room is a quiet room with home corner, story corner and sleeping area.

2 - 3 Year Olds

The nursery has two spacious well-equipped playrooms for 2 year olds, one for “messy” activities and the second for quiet activities which, after lunch, becomes a sleep room. The children have a fairly structured routine and follow weekly activity plans. Potty training is provided for younger children, if required.

3-5 Year Olds

The 3 - 5 age group has two large well-equipped playrooms with wet play and carpeted areas catering for all activities; learning and play. There is a carefully planned routine to the day and the children follow structured weekly activity plans, which includes discussion time and places emphasis on pre-school education. Comprehensive pre-school learning including colours, letters, writing, numbers and shapes becomes more prominent in this age group in preparation for school.

School age group

The nursery runs a Breakfast Club where children can be dropped off in the morning, eat breakfast and are then taken to school by one of the nursery staff. Staff can also collect children from school if they are attending the After-School Club. Drinks and snacks are provided and children can relax after school by playing board games, using computers, art equipment or playing in the garden. During school holidays children are welcome to attend all day.

Breakfast is available for children and babies, followed by a mid morning snack. A cooked meal is provided at lunch time, followed by tea in the afternoon. Drinking water is available for all children at all times, which children can help themselves in between meals.

Lunchtime is the most important meal of the day when staff and children eat the same meal together at tables in the playrooms. It is a great opportunity for children to try new foods and for everyone to enjoy the social side of mealtimes.

The following is a sample menu at The Trees:

1. Prices are inclusive of all meals and consumable such as nappies etc.

2. A session is a five hour period, 8.00am – 1.00pm and 1.00pm – 6.00pm

3. For details relating to these please refer to the Terms and Conditions of the Company's Day Care Nursery Facilities Agreement.

4. It should be noted that the fee paid is for an annual facility during opening hours and is payable monthly in advance.

5. The Day Care Nursery will be closed on Bank Holidays also between Christmas and New Year, the fees have been calculated accordingly and there will be no adjustment for any distortions caused.

6. A discount of 10% of the fees for a minimum of three full days or 20% for full time is available for siblings attending the Nursery at the same time as each other where the youngest child is being paid at the full time rate.

The nursery accepts childcare vouchers. To find out more, please speak to the nursery Manager.

“My mum was sad going to work, but she soon realised how much fun I was having and that I was safe and sound”.

“Thank you for understanding the situation with us having two languages”.

“I loved every minute and will miss everyone”.

“There are very few people I would leave my child with and you are definitely one of those”.