Frequently Asked Questions

We kindly request that children and provided with: 

We accept most employer childcare vouchers and payment via the governments Tax Free Childcare accounts, please contact us if you have any questions.   

We aim for our children to play outside at least twice daily and this is usually a combination of spending time in the nursery garden and going out and about in Stamford/Easton on the Hill. 

The nursery organises regular outings within Stamford and Easton on the Hill – this may include the recreation ground, feeding the ducks at the meadows or a trip to Burghley Park. Our ethos focuses on allowing the children to get out and about as much as possible. For any outings outside the local area, we will obtain a separate signed permission form from parents/carers in advance. 

In the event that you do not collect your child from the nursery at the agreed time and we have not been informed of alternative arrangements for collection, every attempt will be made to contact you. If we are unsuccessful we will contact your nominated emergency contact(s) and request that they collect your child. The nursery will remain open to allow time for the contact person to arrive. Late collection is charged at the hourly rate for extra sessions. 

Parents/carers are always best placed to decide if a child is not well enough to attend nursery. Common colds and coughs are not a problem as long as they are not unwell with it. There are a few conditions that require a period of time away from nursery until resolved. We encourage parents/carers to call us to discuss any illnesses.   

As children develop physically - particularly in their early walking stages - accidents can occasionally happen. In this event, the nursery staff are Paediatric First Aid trained. If your child has had an accident you will be informed upon collection and asked to sign an accident form. In the event of a bump to the head you will be informed by telephone. Your child will be monitored and in most cases will be able to continue with their day at nursery. In the event of a bump to the head causing concern you will be asked to collect your child and a visit to your GP will be recommended. You will be given a copy of the accident form and a head injury advice form. Should your child have an accident whilst at nursery which requires further medical support you will be contacted immediately and the necessary action will be taken. In extreme cases this could involve calling for the support of a paramedic.

If your child has had an accident at home which has resulted in a physical injury, no matter how small, we request that you inform the staff so this can be considered, documented and is not mistaken for an accident at the nursery. 

If your child is on medication we are happy to administer any prescription medication at nursery on the condition that your child appears well enough to attend. 

All medicines brought into the nursery will need to be recorded on 'Ouchy', our online medication reporting software, which will require your signature to authorise its administration. Any medication brought into the nursery must be in its original container and labelled with your child's full name, the dosage required and the date it was prescribed. Any medication that does not meet these criteria and is not prescribed by a General Practitioner will not be administered. Nursery staff are not able to administer the first dose of medication, therefore any child requiring medication must have had the first dose a minimum of 24 hours prior to coming into nursery. Managers are able to use their discretion where they are aware that a child has been given the same course of medication in the past. We are able to administer long term medication such as an inhaler. 

The nursery does not retain its own supply of temperature control medication (Calpol), this must be provided by parents/carers,  and will administer this in the event that a child's temperature suddenly rises. We can only administer this if we have prior signed authorisation from you to do so (this will be in the initial information pack that you will complete when your child starts at the nursery) and you will be contacted via telephone prior to medication being given. External medications such as eczema creams can be applied with your written consent. 

In all cases if a child is deemed unwell you will be asked to keep them at home until they are in general good health. 

Many children - particularly under the age of 3 years - will require a sleep period during the day. The nursery has ample sleeping facilities and children are offered a rest period during the day which is usually after lunch (if they attend for the whole day). Young babies will follow their own home routine for sleep times as discussed with you. At all times we will endeavour to encourage your child's natural routine, however as they get older, children tend to fit into routines according to the group. We are happy to offer your child a sleep time but we cannot make children sleep. Children who do not sleep will be provided with other restful activities to occupy them. Sometimes when a child has not slept and starts to become tired towards the end of the nursery day, staff are not able to keep the child awake and will allow them to sleep if they need to. 

The Little Lane Nursery operates a comprehensive SEN (Special Educational Needs) and Inclusion policy. We have a nursery SENCO (Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator) that has a great deal of experience and we work collaboratively with parents/other professionals to put individual play-plans in place to ensure children’s needs are met.     

All our permanent staff are qualified to Level 3 or above Early Years Practitioners. All staff currently undergo a 6-month induction period and attend Paediatric First Aid training, Food & Hygiene and Safeguarding Children. We ensure that this training is continually updated and refreshed. The Little Lane Nursery is committed to the continuous development of our staff; they also attend other childcare-relevant courses such as Creative Play and Being a Key Person. For more information on the Little Lane staff, please visit the Our Team page. 

 

As childcare professionals, we have a duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. The nursery has trained members of staff who are responsible for the implementation of our safeguarding policies and procedures. In the extreme circumstance of deeming a child to be at risk, we are duty bound to contact the local Children's Safeguarding Board to raise our concern without seeking consultation or permission from the child's parent. All staff in the nursery are aware of their duties regarding child protection matters and have regular training in our safeguarding policies and procedures. 

To ensure our own staff are suitable to care for children they undergo an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check prior to being given unsupervised access to children. Staff are also required to join the DBS update service so these can be checked regularly. 

Making sure children’s information is up to date is vital to their safety and well-being. Famly, our nursery software, gives parents access to view this information so they can ensure it’s correct. 

 

Famly allows parents direct and secure access to data such as allergies, dietary and medical requirements, as well as contact numbers saved in our nursery management.  Parents can also allow relatives access to their child's Famly app. 

Parents can also review nursery invoices and payments to see how their account stands in real time, and view and print sessions themselves. 

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This is just a few common questions, however if you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.