To see our Oyster Bay Nursery Forms & Policies please CLICK HERE

Blossom Parent Guide CLICK HERE

New Customer Enquiry Please CLICK HERE

Please contact Miss L Rumbles at oysterbaynursery@joylane.kent.sch.uk for information on fees or call Oyster Bay nursery on 01227261430 - option 3.

WELCOME

 

Welcome to Oyster Bay Nursery! Our nursery is located within Joy Lane Primary School, Whitstable. At Oyster Bay Nursery, we provide a calm, nurturing and stimulating environment, with our indoor and outdoor spaces offering excellent opportunities for high-quality learning experiences. We believe that every child deserves to grow and develop through their play in a place where they feel safe and secure. This, in turn, enhances their wellbeing and independence, further supporting their learning experiences.

 

Our Aims

• Provide high-quality care and education for all children
• Create close and trusting relationships between parents, families and staff to help children to learn and develop
• Offer children and their parents a service that promotes equality and values diversity
• Provide a safe and stimulating environment
• Offer creative and stimulating play experiences that develop a passion for learning
• Give generous care and attention
• Take forward each child’s learning and development by building on what they already know and can do

We aim to work collaboratively to develop confident children who are happy and excited to come to Oyster Bay Nursery.

Our Staff

Ms D Hines	Executive Head Teacher
Mrs L Rogers	Assistant Head Teacher and Nursery Manager
Mrs A Godden	Assistant Head teacher, Inclusion Manager
Mrs K Pout	EYFS SENDco
Ms L Rumbles	Nursery Administrator
Mrs E Cooper	Lead Teacher
Miss Chloe Stokes	Teacher
Miss S Gilhooly	Nursery Assistant
Miss M Waller	Nursery Assistant
Miss A Dyer	Nursery Assistant
Miss Pitcher	Nursery Assistant
Miss J Goodwin	Nursery Assistant
Miss J Annoot	Nursery Assistant
Miss K Fullbrook	Nursery Assistant
Miss E Barcham	Nursery Assistant
Miss C Holmes	Nursery Assistant
Miss Lindsay Ellis	Nursery Assistant
Miss A Kuligoska	Nursery Assistant

Nursery Sessions

We organise our sessions so that the children can choose from a range of activities, and in doing so, build up their ability to select and work through a task to its completion. The children are also encouraged to take part in adult-led, small group activities which introduce them to new experiences. This helps them to gain new skills, as well as providing them with the opportunity to learn to work with others. Children are supported in developing their skills through activities both inside and outdoors.

We assess how young children are learning and developing by observing them frequently. Using information that we gain from observations, as well as from photographs or videos of the children, we closely document their progress.

At Oyster Bay Nursery, we record the children’s progress using individual portfolios on ‘Blossom.’ Parents and carers can comment on these photos and also upload ‘WOW’ moments. Additionally, we print some photos to put into a learning journey folder for you and your child to look back on.

Key Person

At Oyster Bay Nursery, we adopt the Key Worker approach. Each child will be allocated a key worker who is responsible for working with children and their families. Key Workers work closely with parents and carers to ensure the provision we provide is right for the child. Children will also take part in age-appropriate activities with their Key Worker and fellow group members to help them grow, develop and work with others.

Administration & Registration

Sessions:

Breakfast Club	7.30am - 8.30am
Morning Session	8.30am – 11.30am
Lunch Club	11.30am – 12.30am
Afternoon Session	12.30pm - 3.30pm
Afternoon Club	3.30pm – 5.30pm

Please contact Miss L Rumbles at oysterbaynursery@joylane.kent.sch.uk for information on fees or call Oyster Bay nursery on 01227261430 - option 3.

We are open for thirty-eight weeks each year, during the school term. We are closed during the school holidays. Babies are welcomed into the Nursery from six months old. 

Facilities

We pride ourselves on the calm, nurturing and stimulating environment we provide for the children at Oyster Bay Nursery.

Our provision is across three spaces with babies, two-year olds and pre-school children each in their own room. In each room, the children will discover a variety of ever-changing activities to enjoy across the week.

Role play is a vital tool in developing communication and social skills, as well as inspiring imaginations. The children enjoy using both our indoor and outdoor role play areas, which change according to our topics and interests. Messy play is encouraged both indoors and outdoors in the sand, mud and water trays.

We feel extremely lucky to have such an inviting large outdoor space for our children to enjoy, including a large playing field attached to our local school. We use the climbing frames to support physical development, learn about the world in our garden areas and digging pits and develop imaginations is our mud kitchen.

Children also benefit from a large hall used for dance, gym, yoga and circle games. 

Partnership with Parents

At Oyster Bay Nursery we believe parents and carers need to feel confident and comfortable with the childcare that they choose, and we are always available to discuss any aspect of a child’s care or development. We recognise that you know your child best. It is important that not only the child builds a trusting and open relationship with their key person, but the family too.

We like to ensure parents and carers are informed about what we have been learning in Nursery. We update an information board daily, highlighting the focus of each day; this may be used to start a conversation with your child at the end of each session. We also use a parent noticeboard in the cloakroom with key updates and provide termly newsletters as well as daily updates and photos on 'Blossom'.

There are many opportunities for information to be shared about your child. Families may access their child’s learning journey file at any time and we hold parent partnership meetings throughout the year, which provide information about how to support children with the Early Years’ Curriculum at home.

We enjoy sharing and celebrating what the children have been doing, both at home and in Nursery. Working together with parents and carers, children are provided with personal targets, and these are shared to allow further support at home. Throughout the year, our Nursery staff invite parents and carers to share learning experiences with their child within the Nursery setting.

We really listen to and value what parents and carers say, welcoming feedback to ensure we are continually striving to improve. You will find a suggestions box in our cloakroom for you to share your views.

Achieving Positive Behaviour

At Oyster Bay Nursery, we promote manners and positive behaviour. We encourage the children to care for each other, be kind and respect everyone and everything in the Nursery.

The Nursery believes that children flourish best when they know how they are expected to behave and should be free to play and learn without fear of being hurt or unfairly restricted by anyone else. We use a visual reward system in which children are celebrated and rewarded for their positive behaviour.

 

Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)

As part of our policy to make sure that our provision meets the needs of each individual child, we take account of any special needs a child may have. We work to the requirements of the 1993 Education Act and The Special Educational Needs Code of Practice.

Sometimes children require additional support. It is important that we are made aware of any concerns you have about your child as they start Nursery to help us to support them in the best possible way.

At Oyster Bay Nursery, we believe in an inclusive and individualised approach to learning and we celebrate every child’s strengths.

Settling In

Settling into the Nursery is personalised to best suit you and your child. Parents need to feel confident and comfortable about leaving their child in our care.

At Oyster Bay Nursery, we provide the option of a home visit. Visiting your child at home allows your child to meet, and become familiar with, their Key Worker in their own environment.

Following this, we recommend that you join your child for the first session and then gradually decrease the length of your stay, depending on how well your child settles. Every transition into Nursery can be personalised to ensure your child feels safe, happy and secure.

Visiting Oyster Bay

Families are warmly invited to visit our Nursery and see our children in action! We are always delighted to show you around so you can see the fantastic facilities our provision has to offer.
Please make an appointment on 01227 261430 - option 3 or email oysterbaynursery@joylane.kent.sch.uk. 

We warmly welcome you to our Oyster Bay Nursery family and look forward to beginning a positive partnership with you.