Welcome to Bear Cubs

 We have many different real life and natural objects within wooden crates for your child to explore, at Sandy Bears we promote the Reggio Emilia approach through our environment, activities and resources. The approach is based on the ethos that your child is at the centre of their own learning and learn through being curious with the items provided being provocations for their curiosity. The environment becomes a second educator to the child, by being imaginative and experimenting with the resources and environment around them your child can develop many areas of learning. 

The Reggio Emilia approach promotes the use of natural resources and natural surroundings. The natural area provides the children with the chance to explore with real life objects and develop an interest in the natural world. We have many different natural and real life resources throughout our bear cubs room in our different areas which encourage the children’s imagination. 

At Sandy Bear’s we feel risky play is an important part of children’s development. We promote activities and resources throughout Bear Cub’s different areas with some risk to provide children with the opportunity to push boundaries and develop skills. With risk assessments and adult supervision we ensure the children are able to take risks and experiment whilst staying safe. We provide age appropriate opportunities to risk take and extend this as the children develop their understanding and skills. Offering risky play opportunities allows the children to develop resilience and confidence in their problem solving skills. It further enables them to learn about the world around them, whilst making informed decisions about their safety as they get older. Risky play supports children in testing their limits and exploring their boundaries whilst developing an understanding of risk and staying safe. 

 Your child may play and explore the many different areas on offer within Bear Cubs. We have a black and white cosy area with cushions and a cosy basket to sit in which provides a quiet, relaxing and sensory environment for your child. Within this area we have a basket of books for quiet time exploration and for one to one or group time reading. 

We have a home corner where your child can explore real fruit, vegetables and flowers. With the use of a range of pots, pans, spoons and brushes which your child can develop many areas of their development. The children can use bags, shoes and hats to dress up promote their imaginative play and develop relationships between them and their peers. 

We place great emphasis on exploring the outdoors as it offers endless learning opportunities for your child. We have a sand pit, mud kitchen, musical pan wall, ramps to climb along with many other resources to explore. Your child will be able to play outside every day. We deem fresh air to be a vital ingredient for a happy, healthy child. Your child will also be able to go on walks around the village in our pushchairs to visit the local library, park, nature wooded area and Flacca.

 At Sandy Bear’s we believe that singing is an important first step to talking and communicating. Every day your child will be involved in a singing/musical session, there are a number of different musical instruments that your children can explore on their own and these are often used in our musical sessions too. 

We carry out a group time adult led sessions in the morning and afternoon in which we greet all of the children and then carry out a small group activity. We use story bags with puppets, animal bags, sensory bags and more for the activity to promote different areas of development as well as promoting your child’s confidence and social skills. 

Makaton is introduced as early as possible to the children which is a form of sign language made up by actions and symbols. We have a Makaton display on the door to help with recognition at home. If you wish to learn more about this form of communication please ask a member of staff.  

 Babies have the opportunity to sleep whenever they need to. There are two wooden cots and a cosy cushion area that can be used to support sleep. Their individual home routine will be followed. Each child has their own clean sheets that are weekly laundered and placed on their labelled shelf ready for their next use. 

Sleeping outside is actively encouraged, the children are tucked up and checked regularly, we do ask that you provide extra warm clothing if you wish your child to take advantage of our safe secure outside area for sleeping. 

Your child’s nappy will be changed every 2 hours at specific times throughout the day and also as and when required.   

 Milk is given as per your wishes, we ask you to provide your own bottles with the formula powder that your child requires. Made-up bottles are kept for no longer that 2 hours and after this time they will be rinsed and put in your child’s bag ready to go home.

 If your child needs to take any medication during their time with us, we are able to administer this in accordance with our nursery policies. We will require you to sign a medication form authorising us to do so. All medication must be in its original container and the prescription label must state the name of your child, date etc. For teething problems (under one year) we ask that you bring your own bottle of Calpol labelled with your child’s name and sign a medication form stating when and what dose is required. This will be returned to you at the end of the day. 

From time to time your child might hurt themselves. Any minor bumps or scrapes will be recorded on the Famly app on an accident report form. More serious accidents will be treated in accordance with our nursery policy and you will be informed immediately. 

 With your permission we use an online app called Famly where we log your nappies, meals and sleeps. We can also upload secure photo’s of your child having fun and taking part in different activities. Staff fill this out throughout the day so you can log onto the app and see what kind of day your child is having. 

All extra information and important dates will also be added to Famly. Your child’s learning and development is also logged onto Famly giving you instant updates so you be a part of their learning at nursery.