Parent Info

Our Head Chef, Jana, prepares all of our food on site, from scratch each day, using only the best, high quality ingredients. Our menus change weekly and are developed in conjunction with all relevant guidelines. We cater to children with a range of dietary and allergy requirements.

Number 9 The Nursery is extremely proud to have been awarded Advanced Accreditation by the Early Years Alliance Nutrition Support Programme, in recognition of our commitment to providing nutritious and healthy meals for the children.

Their assessment said: “Nutrition and healthy eating are at the heart of Number 9 and the team should be proud of achieving Advanced Accreditation”. They also praised our “excellent approach to supporting children with special dietary requirements”. Click here to view the full report!

Our nutritionist, Dr Janet Aylott, is always on hand to help and answer any questions you may have, especially around common problems such as fussy eating. Click here to listen to our podcast.

Number 9 The Nursery is extremely proud to hold Millie’s Mark.

This award is given to nurseries who go above and beyond in working to keep children safe. Every member of our team is Paediatric First-Aid trained.

You can read more about what Millie’s Mark does by clicking here.

At Number 9 The Nursery we have a Key Worker System in place, which is aimed at enabling and supporting close attachments between children and members of staff.

When starting at Number 9 The Nursery your child will be actively encouraged to form special relationships with members of staff and select their own Key Worker who they develop a secure bond with. This will help enable your child to settle into the nursery more easily and become confident in engaging in the day to day activities of the nursery. Developing a secure bond with their Key Worker allows your dedicated staff member to work in partnership with you to maintain continuity of care from home to nursery.

Your child’s Key Worker will strive to ensure their care needs are met, giving you the confidence to leave your child at the nursery. The Key Worker will support your child to explore and play freely but feel safe within the environment. They will have activities and quality learning experiences planned for them based on their individual needs.

Your Key Worker will complete a daily report on your child and be there to answer any questions or concerns you have. They will be there for you and your child and meet with you for Parents’ Evenings to discuss your child’s next steps.

We aim to keep the same Key Worker with your child as long as possible. There will be times, as your child develops and moves to another room, that their Key Worker will change, but you will always be kept informed. If you would like a certain Key Worker for your child, we will do our very best to accommodate your request.

Weaning is the process of moving your little one on from a purely milk diet to the inclusion of solid foods. 

At Number 9, we start introducing weaning menus – with your permission – at around 6 months old. Children will be introduced to an interesting and varied choice of fruit, vegetables and starchy foods alongside their usual breast milk or formula, followed by a variation of our usual menu once they’re around 7 months old.

If your child follows a vegetarian diet; does not eat certain foods for religious reasons; or you are aware of certain allergies, please let us know and the weaning menu will be tailored to your their needs.

We will also introduce a sipping cup to encourage your baby to drink water. Your baby will also be offered a spoon to help them explore and develop independent eating.

If you would like more information on supporting your child in the weaning process please speak to a member of staff. We also have a great Early Years Parenting Podcast on Weaning with our nutritionist, Dr Janet Aylott. Click here to listen!

7.30am. Our day begins by staff welcoming the children into the nursery, we provide a healthy breakfast. Children then settle with a free choice of play.

Our morning starts with fun-filled activities where children can freely choose what they would like to explore. We also have our fun-filled extra-curricular activities on the following days:

Monday – French (Upper Pre-School)
Tuesday – Baby Ballet
Wednesday – Sing and Sign (Babies and 2-Year-Olds)
Thursday – Yoga
Friday – Pro-Stars
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10.00 A healthy snack and drink will be provided for all of the children.

Children continue until lunchtime with choice of focus group activities and physical play and exploration in our garden.

12.00 Our children sit down together for a healthy lunch.

After lunch the children have the option of quiet time and to go for a comfy afternoon sleep, or can enjoy free choice of play.

1.00pm More creating, exploring and discovering through play. Children have the opportunity to participate in any activities they didn’t participate in, in the morning.

2.00pm A healthy snack and drink will be provided for all of the children.

4.30pm Children enjoy a delicious afternoon tea.

5.00pm Home time for some children, whilst the rest enjoy playing inside or outdoors and relax with books, games and activities until their parents arrive.

​These timings are approximate and for babies we take into consideration their individual routines. The days of our extra-curricular activities are subject to change, please ask at the time of applying for the current timetable.

When your child turns 2 years of age they will move to our ground floor.

Although we understand it can be a big change for your child, it is an exciting time with lots of new opportunities! The team will work closely with you to support you and your child to make the move as smooth as possible.

What we will do to help
A couple of weeks before your child turns 2 years of age we will begin the process of moving to the ground floor.

• Your child will spend short sessions on the ground floor before they move downstairs permanently to enable your child to feel comfortable in their new surroundings.
• Your child’s current Key Worker will liaise with their new Room Leader and will pass on all developmental and care information, and complete a transition form.
• We will inform you of the outcome of your child’s trial sessions and ensure you are introduced to your child’s new Key Worker, once they have formed attachments in their new room.
• If your child requires any additional support, or there is a delay in making a permanent move, this will be discussed with you and your child’s current Key Worker.

What can you do to help?
Our main ethos is to work together to help your child reach their full potential.

You can help support us to work together by sending in eyLog observations from home, reading our weekly news bulletins (which explains what fun things we will be learning about!) and meeting termly to discuss your child’s progress.

Your child looks to you for encouragement and direction, try to talk to your child positively about the ground floor and let them know they’re going to have a wonderful time – and they will!

You can ease your child’s nerves by bringing along your child’s favourite comfort item, whether it’s a blanket, a teddy bear, a book or a little note from you.

Please do not hesitate to talk to us if you have any further questions.

When your child is ready to toilet train we support you and help you and your child have great success in this area. We have a great Toilet Training podcast with lots of tips, click here to listen!
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In the nursery all the toilets are small and easily accessible. Below are some signs to help you recognise if your child is ready to toilet train.

Signs of readiness for Potty Training

• Urinates a fair amount each time.
• Can pull up and down pants.
• Shows interest in others toilet habits.
• Desires independence.
• Can communicate when wet or soiled.
• Tries to remove own nappy when soiled.
• Might be dry at night.

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Preparing for Potty Training

• Choosing a suitable potty which your child likes.​
• Read stories surrounding using the potty to sit on.
• Choose some underwear.
• Make a decision when to start.
• Create a reward chart with your child to reward them for their efforts.
• Get a fabric bag to carry around when you first begin potty training containing:
• 3x knickers, socks and bottoms.
• Baby wipes
• Nappy sacks

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Ready to start Toilet Training

• Make sure your child wears easily removable clothes.
• Remove the nappy in the morning and make a point of going straight to the potty and try to go.
• Ask your child at regular intervals to use their potty.

Toilet Accidents

• Try not to get upset if your child has an accident.
• Ask them to sit on the potty to ensure they have finished.
• Reaffirm “It’s ok! But we use the potty now!”.
• Ask them to help you change their clothes and get re- dressed.

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Hooray! Successful use of the potty!

• Lots of praise and encouragement
• Encourage the rest of the family to support them and give them praise on their success!

At Number 9 The Nursery we support and prepare our children in starting school by working in partnership with you and the local schools to make the transition as smooth as possible. We have a great podcast available to help – click here to listen!

We support the children’s personal, social and emotional development by encouraging them to make friends and support them to communicate their needs. We understand that these early experiences are important in building confidence and self-esteem, which will help them when they start school.

During the Upper Pre-School year we also focus on the early education of the children. We support the children in recognising and writing their own name as well as a fun phonics programme that we deliver during our circle time. The children also have fun planned activities which support school readiness.

Our children hang their own coats on their pegs and self-register when they come into nursery. They have a funky finger activity, which is for the children to complete independently; they prepare their own snack and tidy up after themselves; and they set the table for lunch time. All these little approaches to support independence help to build children’s confidence in starting school.

In the term before the children start school, we liaise with the schools and invite the teachers into the nursery to visit the children. We also complete a transition report for your child, detailing all your child’s achievements.

Working in partnership with our parents is important to us and we hold a Transitioning to School workshop for our parents to attend. This is a wonderful opportunity for parents to share their concerns, and we will share ideas with you to support your child in getting ready for school.

Before the children leave Number 9 The Nursery we a hold a graduation ceremony with parents, Key Workers and children to celebrate their time at nursery before they embark on their next adventure in school.

The Nursery is open Monday to Friday from 7.30am-6pm year-round, with the exception of the following dates, when we are closed.

Please note, fees are still payable on these days

Monday 1st January – New Years’ Day

Tuesday 2nd January – Inset Day

Friday 29th March – Good Friday

Monday 1st April – Easter Monday

Monday 6th May – May Day Bank Holiday

Monday 27th May – Late May Bank Holiday

Monday 26th August – August Bank Holiday

Tuesday 27th August – Inset Day

The Nursery will close for the Christmas break at 6pm on Tuesday 24th December 2024 and re-open on Friday 3rd January 2025 at 7.30am.