We started our Tiny Teds’ journey in September 2023. Our provision was built into our current Nursery room and we had a maximum of 8 children per session. Since then, we have grew from strength to strength and have noticed a real need for this setting and have made the decision to expand into a cabin space of their own which provides more space and free-flow access to their own outside area. Your child can join our Tiny Teds group as soon as they turn two and they can be moved into our Nursery class the term after they turn three. If you still have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us for advice and admissions on 01900 608111 or alternatively, you can email the school office at admin@smhwkt.cumbria.sch.uk. We would always encourage a look around beforehand, so please make an appointment and come and take a look at our new area. We hope to see lots of new faces very soon.

Meet the Tiny Teds' Team:

From left to right - Wendy, Liberty, Yuliia and Cath.

Sessions:

As funding has increased for Working Parent codes (30-hours) we have adjusted our sessions. If you have a 30-hour Working Parent code, we will book your child in every morning and every afternoon so that you can make use of your full entitlement.

Don’t worry if you do not want your child in for all of these sessions, you can notify the practitioners of which sessions they will be joining each week.

If they stay for a full day, you can choose to take them home for lunch, or you can bring them to school with a packed lunch and we will supervise them over the lunch period.

Alternatively, you could collect them at 11.30am and return at 12.15pm if you would prefer them to have lunch at home.

If your child is not doing full days, the morning sessions run from 8.30am until 11.30am and the afternoon sessions run from 12.15pm until 3.15pm.

Fees:

Your 2-year-old can get free childcare if you live in England and get any of the following benefits:

• Income Support
• income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Universal Credit, and your household income is £15,400 a year or less after tax, not including benefit payments
• the guaranteed element of Pension Credit
• Child Tax Credit, Working Tax Credit (or both), and your household income is £16,190 a year or less before tax
• the Working Tax Credit 4-week run on (the payment you get when you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit)

Funding for working parents is also available now which would allow 30 hours free childcare within our setting.

If your child is staying for lunch (full day), there will be an additional £5.00 fee to cover the staffing over this time. This can be paid via SCO Pay, or in cash to the school office.

Please go to www.childcarechoices.gov.uk to answer a few questions which will determine which funding you may be entitled to. You will then follow the process and give us the code that you are issued for the funding.

If you are not eligible for funding or you want to book extra sessions, our sessions will be £15.00 for the three hours which will also include a snack.

We require payment by the end of each week. If the payment is not made, we have the right to refuse the place and they may be taken off roll if payment is not made within an agreed timeframe.

Facilities:

As of September 2024, we will have a new cabin situated to the rear of the Lower School building which will accommodate 4 staff members and 16 children per session. The children will have their own yard which is accessible directly from the cabin and there will be toilet facilities and a food preparation area for them to use.

We are adopting a ‘curiosity approach’ in Early Years and we encourage children to use every-day objects and truly engage with what is available to them. There is lots of new resources for them to try and as always, we encourage lots of reading to the children and allowing them to use their imagination as much as possible.

Plenty of outdoor play is available. Early Years have their own secure yard with play equipment and other exciting resources to explore such as a mud kitchen and a snug, little play house.

We understand that a lot of the little ones will be about to start their toilet training journey and we will do all we can to help with this. They will have access to the toilets that are within the cabin and we will be there to guide and support them. If your child is not yet ready, we have all changing facilities available and if preferred, they can use a potty within the toileting area.

We have an area where the children can cosy up and take a nap if needed.

Uniform:

As a school, it would be lovely for all children to wear the same uniform. If you would like your uniform to have the school logo, this is available to purchase at https://www.border-embroideries.co.uk/schools/st-michael-nursery-infant-school.html Or https://myclothing.com/collections/st-michaels-nursery-and-infant-school-5527

You could also purchase the plain green jumpers and plain polos from other supermarkets.

We recommend elasticated waist trousers for the children as they are much more practical and comfortable. Sensible footwear and appropriate coats are always necessary. There is more information and images of our uniform on our site (Parent Information then Uniform). Parent Information - Uniform

We have waterproof puddle suits and aprons and spare wellies for use in school, but if you would like to bring your own, then that’s great too. We like our children to get involved in all activities, be that active and messy play as well as playing in the water as they gain so many skills and memories by doing so. Please bare this in mind as they may come away looking a little messier than they came, but with lots of stories to tell. Please could all items of clothing be clearly named.

What to bring:

Please ensure that your child comes to Nursery each session with a spare set of clothing, nappies/pull-ups and wipes (if needed), plenty of spare underwear if potty training, comforter and dummy (if needed) and a suitable coat and a water bottle.

The children may also come away with a book for you to read together, so please make sure that this is returned when requested.

Class Dojo:

We use Class DoJo as a communication platform within school. We will send all new parents a link and you can get set up and we will update you on the adventures your little one makes with their Tiny Ted friends. This is also a great way to communicate with the staff in school.

Snack:

We offer all children a healthy snack and drink of milk during each session which is supplied by the school. Our school is a nut-free zone. We always encourage independence and manners which is given great practice whilst eating. We will discuss any special dietary requirements and drinking cups etc at your home visit. Fresh drinking water is available at all times.

Drop Off and Collection:

Our new drop-off point will be around the back of the Main Reception, along the perimeter of Station Road where the cabin is situated. One of the members of staff will be there to greet you and take your little one inside. Collection will be the same place. If your child is being dropped off at 12.15pm, please go to the gate on Station Road at the zebra crossing and one of the team will be there to let you in.

Bespoke settling-in sessions:

We understand how important it is to get your little one settled into a new environment and really empathise with how strange and unsettling this may be for some, but don’t worry. As an exception, we allow our Tiny Teds to bring a comforter and/or dummy with them to use if needed, as we understand that, at such a young age, these home comforts can really help, especially when settling in. If you feel that you would like shorter sessions to begin with or extra visits before they start so that they are used to the room, we are happy to accommodate this as we want everyone to be as happy as possible. With all new starters, we carry out a home visit before they start so we can discuss any concerns and make any adaptions where possible at this visit. This is a great opportunity to ask questions and get to know each other a little better.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us on 01900 608111 or alternatively, you can email the school office at admin@smhwkt.cumbria.sch.uk.