Our Principles

Every child deserves the best possible start in life and the support that enables them to fulfill their full potential.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) sets the standards that all early years providers must meet to ensure that children learn and develop properly, whilst also keeping them safe and healthy. It promotes teaching and learning to ensure children’s “school readiness” and gives children the broad range of knowledge and skills that provide the right foundation for good future progress.

Our Mission Statement:

“We aim to provide a safe, stimulating, encouraging and inspiring environment in which all children can grow, develop and flourish at their own individual pace.”

To achieve this, we aim to provide:

  • A safe, healthy and happy environment for each child in our care, recognising that the safeguarding of the child is paramount.
  • A stimulating environment through a balance of free play and directed activities aimed at all round child development and including (but not limited to) the key areas of learning and development identified in the EYFS.
  • Quality and consistency throughout the setting, so that every child makes good progress and no child is left behind. To ensure all children make progress, practitioners use a cycle of observation and assessment with information sharing to inform planning. Planning is differentiated to take into consideration the individual needs and abilities of children. Regular “flying from the start” assessments are made and audited by the manager. For all children who are not meeting or are exceeding their educational targets, or children with Special Educational Needs, a SEN support plan is put in place. For information on our local offer click here.
  • A secure foundation through learning and development opportunities which are planned around the needs and interests of each individual child and are assessed and reviewed regularly by a child’s key worker.
  • Partnership working between practitioners and with parents / carers to take account of any needs arising from race, culture, language, religion or disability, to treat all children as individuals. We have worked successfully and continue to work closely with various outside agencies including Durham Area SENCO, speech therapists, paediatricians, dieticians and health visitors to access one to one support, specialist equipment, guidance training etc.
  • Promotion of British values, ensuring principles of democracy, rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance are embedded in our policies and everything we do with the children.
  • Sharing of information and advice with parents, welcoming them into the nursery at any time whether for formal or informal discussions – confidentiality is respected.
  • Ongoing training for staff as appropriate ensuring their personal / professional development is kept up to date and ensuring all staff working with children are fully trained in paediatric first aid.