The Trees Day Care Nursery
Situated on Quarry Road in the Old Town area of Swindon. This large detached house, set in half an acre of mature gardens provides the ideal location for our Old Town Nursery. Through careful planning,
The Trees nursery has been divided into a number of large spacious areas. All areas are well equipped, specifically designed, based on your child’s age, daily care routines and activities. Creating a safe, friendly environment freedom to play, have fun, learn and interact with others at their own pace.
We also provide off-street parking for safe drop-offs and pick-ups.
Nursery Manager
The Trees nursery manager is Jo Hallaways, who started work at The Trees, Swindon in 1990. She worked her way up in the nursery gaining experience in every aspect of child care. She has the National Nursery Examination Board (NNEB) Certificate in Child Care and is a qualified Child Care Assessor. In 2000, Jo was promoted to Manager and has been running the nursery ever since.
Jo is a dedicated manager, who is well-liked by her team and loved by the children. She takes great pride in her work, which is borne out by the excellent reports The Trees nursery has received.
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 Trees nursery and a buzz of happy voices as children go about their daily lives, contentedly playing and learning.
The Staff Team
Caring for children is an important and challenging career. The right person and good training can make a huge difference to your child’s enjoyment of their time at nursery.
Therefore, the majority of staff at The Trees 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:
| Babies – 1 year olds | 1 : 3 |
| 1 – 2 year olds | 1 : 3 |
| 2 – 3 year olds | 1 : 5 |
| 3 – 5 year olds | 1 : 8 |
| 5 – 12 year olds | 1 : 8 |
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 Trees nursery staff. During this session parents are advised of routines and procedures in place at The Trees 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.
Nursery Facilities
The facilities at The Trees nursery are separated into four age groups:
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 Trees 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 Trees 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 and After-School Clubs
The Trees 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 Trees 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.
Outside Space
The large gardens which surround the nursery are divided into three sections, a baby area for 0 to 2 year olds, an all weather play area suitable for all age groups, and a meadow/exploratory area for older children. There is wet weather gear available for children, when needed, to enable them to use The Trees nursery garden in all weather conditions.
Food & Mealtimes
A good diet is essential for the health and happiness of children. Therefore, in consultation with parents, The Trees nursery has designed a selection of well-planned menus, which are nutritious and tasty, using a combination of fresh fruit, vegetables and protein. It caters for most dietary needs, menus are varied and all meals are cooked freshly on site.
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 at The Trees 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:
| Day | Breakfast | Snack | Lunch | Tea |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | Cereal / toast | Vegetable sticks and fruit | Homemade fish in white sauce, mixed vegetables and new potatoes |
Fruit cocktail and cream
Potato croquettes with ham, cheese and salsa
Jaffa cakes and oranges
TuesdayCereal / toastHomemade raisin and oatmeal cookies or fruit basketHomemade crunchy vegetable crumble, mashed potato and gravy
Vanilla ice-cream with seasonal fruit puree
Pitta bread with chicken and mayonnaise
Fromage frais
WednesdayCereal / toastFruit basketHomemade pasta Bolognese in a tomato and herb sauce with mushrooms, peppers and garlic bread
Homemade pear and apricot sponge pudding
Sandwiches with jam, Marmite or cheese spread with beetroot and side salad.
Homemade flapjack with dried fruit
ThursdayCereal / toastBread sticks and cheeseChicken and mushrooms in a homemade cream sauce, rice and vegetables
Homemade apple crumble
Homemade soup with crusty breadFridayCereal / toastHomemade fruity rice crispy cakesRoast gammon, roast potatoes, cauliflower and peas
Homemade seasonal fruit and yoghurt fool
Homemade cheesy bean and vegetable enchiladas
Homemade banana cake
Security
The nursery door is securely locked at all times and only a member of the nursery staff is authorised to open it. Parents are requested not to answer the door if they hear the doorbell ring. Staff will check ID’s and passwords for anyone collecting a child, other than the primary carer and will not allow anyone they do not know, or who does not have prior consent, entry into the building.
Opening Hours
Normal opening hours are 8.00 am to 6.00 pm, Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays.
Pricing Schedule (as from 1st April 2024)
| Age | 5 hour session | Session | One Day | Full Time |
| 9am-3pm | 10 hours max | Per Month | ||
| 3 months to 5 years | £51.50 | £62.50 | £84.50 | £1585.00 |
| Extra hours are charged at £12.00 per hour |
flexible sessions available
*School Holiday Clubs
| Age | 5 hour session | Session | Full Day | |
| 9am-3pm | 10 hours max | |||
| School Age to 11 years | £27.50 | £38.50 | £47.50 |
*Pre – booking essential
All meals, morning or afternoon inclusive of either breakfast or tea. Full Day all meals including Lunch.
*Breakfast and After Schools Clubs
| Age | Breakfast club | After school club |
| 8am-9am | 3pm-6pm | |
| School Age to 11 years | £9.50 | £21.50 |
*Pre – booking essential, Inclusive of Drop-offs, Pick-ups from local school and all meals breakfast and tea.
1. Prices are inclusive of all meals and consumable such as nappies etc.
2. For details relating to these please refer to the Terms and Conditions of the Company’s Day Care Nursery Facilities Agreement.
3. It should be noted that the fee paid is for an annual facility during opening hours and is payable monthly in advance for 52 weeks per year.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. Grant funding only covers education for 38 weeks per year. All other costs, including food, consumables and service, will be charged separately to the parents or clients.
The nursery accepts childcare vouchers. To find out more, please speak to the nursery Manager.
Nursery Times & Prices – TERM TIME ONLY
| Age Group | 5 hour session | One Day | Hourly Rate | |
| 10 Hours Max | ||||
| 3 Mths – 5 Yrs | £55.50 | £94.00 | £12.00 |
1. Prices are inclusive of all meals and consumables such as nappies, etc.
2. For details relating to these prices please refer to the Terms and Conditions of the Company’s Day Care Nursery Facilities Agreement.
3. It should be noted that the fee paid is for an annual facility during opening hours and is payable monthly in advance for Term Time attendance of 38 or 39 weeks per year.
4. The Day Care Nursery will be closed on Bank Holidays. This has been taken into account when the above fees have been calculated and there will be no adjustment for any distortions caused by Bank Holidays on any particular day of the week.
5. Grant Funding if applicable only covers education all other costs will be charged to the Parents or Clients.