Nursery news: Kentish Town
BuB manager wins prestigious award
Last modified on 2012-01-16 13:33:05 GMT. 0 comments. Top.
We are delighted to announce that Carol Kewley has won the Nursery Management Today Nursery Manager of the Year Award 2011. She was put forward by Bringing up Baby with testimonials from Anne, the Managing Director, and some of our current parents and was shortlisted to the final five candidates. Carol was then interviewed by a panel of judges on 7 October and at an awards ceremony and gala evening at the Hilton London Metropole on Saturday
26 November she was announced as the WINNER! The whole of the Bringing up Baby management team were there to celebrate with her.
The award judges explained why Carol won as follows: “Through her effective leadership skills she has empowered her staff to engage fully with the enabling
environment resulting in… a thriving high quality business, which Ofsted have recognised as Good with Outstanding Features.”
We all feel it is a very well deserved win and a tribute to Carol’s hard work and professionalism. This win will be celebrated and remembered for a long time to come! Thank you also to all our parents who supported Carol throughout this process.
Kentish Town Autumn 2011 news
Last modified on 2011-10-20 06:21:12 GMT. 0 comments. Top.
We say goodbye to summer with sadness, and so too to many of our pre-school children who left for ‘BIG’ School. There were a few tears shed by all at the graduation ceremony that we held for the children, who wore handmade sashes and graduations caps made by the over 3’s staff.
The parents supported their children as each child was presented by Carol (The Nursery Manager) with their graduation certificate and medal. We wish them the very best and will miss them dearly!
The beginning of autumn welcomed new families and children to the nursery. With the opening of the new French school very close by we are also pleased to welcome our French families and children to the nursery. We are all improving and learning new French words every day and our French children are beginning to learn new English words too.
It has been a busy time of settling in new children and ensuring smooth transitions for all.
New Staff:
We welcome to the staff team Shahina and Esther who are both working in the under 2’s rooms. Also two new nursery apprentices Nafisa and Katie have joined the staff team and will be working towards their childcare qualifications. Nafisa is gaining experience with the 2-3’s and Katie with the 3-5’s.
We wish all the new staff every success in their professional development with us here at Kentish Town.
Diary Dates:
We are very excited about the forthcoming autumn activities and events and we look forward to sharing them with you. Please make a note in your diaries.
Wednesday 9th November 2011: Nursery photographer
Thursday 10th November 2011: Red Book Sessions with Camden Immunisation Team
Wednesday 14th December 2011: Children’s Christmas Party
Wednesday 21st December 2011: Nursery closes at 6.15pm for the Christmas Holidays
Kentish Town News Summer 2011
Last modified on 2011-06-30 07:54:42 GMT. 0 comments. Top.
As we approach the summer months we look forward to good weather, continuing with our busy nursery life and the forthcoming activities and events.
Over the last few months we have welcomed many new children and their families to the nursery and as a result we have seen the nursery at its fullest and we continue to grow. I would like to say a big thank you to those parents who have recommended the nursery to your friends, which has brought new families to us and prospective families joining our waiting list.
I do have a few nursery updates and forthcoming events for your diaries.
Staffing
We welcomed two new Nursery Practitioners to the staff team, Angela Townsend has joined us working with the under two’s and has an N.N.E.B qualification in childcare. Sajna Faruk joined the team in May working with the 2-3’s age group and holds an NVQ Level 3 qualification in childcare. Both are settling in well into nursery life at Kentish Town, forming relationships with the children and embracing their new roles.
Congratulations
We congratulate Shabli Rashid on gaining her NVQ Level 3 qualification in Children’s Care, Learning and Development and to see her professional growth.
Well done Shabli!
Fee Increase
Our fees will be increasing by 5% from the 1st August 2011. The new increase will be reflected in your July invoice. I do hope you have all received your fee increase letter and new fee increase price list. If any parent has not received this, then do please ask me or a member of staff for a copy.
Movement and Play
In the Spring News edition I talked about a new initiative that the nursery was involved in through Camden Integrated Early Years Service which was ‘Movement Play’. I would like to inform you that since then all the staff team have now undertaken training in ‘Movement Play’ and have been working successfully to implement it in our every day practice with the children. Carol Archer (Camden Early Years Advisor) has been working with the staff team to help develop movement play further within the setting ensuring that we are providing suitable opportunities for all children to engage in movement play activities that will support their learning and development.
If you are interested in learning more about ‘Movement and Play’ I do have copies of Camden’s DVD’s called Moving, Learning and Growing that are available for borrowing.
Charity News
We are in need of any old mobile phones that you may have to be donated to help raise money for an organisation in Uganda named ‘1 more child’. www.1morechild.org This is a small organisation that offers long term support to disadvantage children by providing them with meals, medical care, clothing, tutoring and a family environment.
In the main hallway of the nursery you will see a poster about the charity displayed and a basket for your donated mobile phones.
Please do help if you can, for this worthy cause.
Forth Coming Events
Summer Sports Day and Picnic
Our annual Summer Sports Day and Picnic will be held on Wednesday 20th July 3.00-5.00pm at Hampstead Heath (Gospel Oak Entrance).
Please look out for further details.
That’s all the news for now but please read our summer newsletter to find out what the children have been up to and their forthcoming news in ‘Under two’s and Over two’s News’.
Kentish Town news Spring 2011
Last modified on 2011-03-16 10:44:22 GMT. 0 comments. Top.
January saw the start of a busy new year with new children joining us and children transitioning from the under two’s room to the over two’s room. All have now settled in and are enjoying their new environments.
I have a few nursery updates for you all and diary dates for the year ahead.
Staffing
Sadly we said goodbye to Lydie Okou nursery practitioner in the over two’s room on Wednesday 9th February. Lydie was with us for over two and a half years and has now gone on to further her career as a nanny. We thank her for all her hard work and wish her well for the future.
I am in the process of interviewing and have seen a few strong candidates who will be carrying out trial sessions over the coming week. Hopefully I should have a successful replacement practitioner joining us soon.
Staff Training Development
We congratulate Bushra Ijaz and Shazna Begum on successfully completing their NVQ level 3 qualifications in Children’s Care, Learning and Development. All their hard work has paid off and it has been a pleasure to see them both enhancing their professional development.
Congratulations also to Natasha Tret’yakova who has gained a NVQ level 2 qualification in team leading. This qualification will enhance Natasha’s skills in developing herself further within a management role.
I too have been busy updating my skills and knowledge and have recently completed a NVQ Level 3 qualification in Management and Leadership.
Staff development is so important to us here at Kentish Town and we are always striving to improve and enhance staff skills and knowledge. Through continuous professional development we are learning more about children’s development through theory and practice, and using what we have learnt in order to develop and extend on rich learning opportunities, experiences and environments for all of the children.
Curriculum
Our focus this year is to develop the nursery garden and we are looking forward to building and extending learning opportunities for the children outdoors. We are planning to use one area of the garden as a gardening area where children will have the opportunity to plant and dig and learn about growing and the natural environment.
If anyone has any experience or interest in this area please do let me know, as any help and suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Moving, learning and growing
The children have been very active with our weekly sessions of physical and movement play using large equipment to climb, jump, crawl, spin and balance. We have also incorporated movement sessions using scarves, lycra squares and cotton elastic to extend children’s imagination and creativity in movement.
Movement play has been a big part of Camden’s initiative within nursery settings and we are welcoming the development of movement play here at bringing up baby. Please look out for photographs of our sessions which will follow shortly.
Camden has made a DVD Moving, Learning & Growing for parents, showing children being actively engaged in movement play activities. During the video Bette Lamont (developmental Movement Therapist from Seattle) tells us how these activities support children’s learning and development, helping their brains and bodies grow to their optimum development.
If anyone is interested in borrowing the DVD or would like to learn more about Movement activities and how it supports learning, social skills and physical development please let me know.
Easter Closure
Just to remind you that we will be closing for the Easter holidays. The nursery will close on Thursday 14th April at 6.15pm and re-open on Tuesday 26th April at 8.00am.
Bank Holiday Closure
The nursery will be closed on Friday 29th April for The Royal Wedding.
Forthcoming events
- Mother’s Day Coffee Morning – Friday 1st April 8.30-10.30. All the mummies we invite you for coffee and treats to celebrate mother’s day.
- Easter Bonnet Parade – Thursday 14th April 3.00pm. On Thursday 14th April we shall be having our annual Easter Bonnet parade in the nursery, so you need to start designing those lovely bonnets with your children. Please look out for further details.
Diary Dates of Events 2011
- Over the month of May – Appointments to be made with Keyperson
- Friday 17th June – Father’s Day Coffee Morning 8.30-10.30
- Wednesday 20th July – Sports Day & Picnic, Hampstead Heath 3.00-5.00
- Wednesday 9th November – Nursery Photographer 9.00-12.00
- Over the month of November – Appointments to be made with Keyperson
- Wednesday 14th December – Nursery Christmas party 3.00-5.00
- Nursery closes for Christmas – Thursday 21st December at 6.15pm
- Nursery opens – Tuesday 3rd January 2012
That’s all the news for now and I look forward to seeing you all at the events.
Many thanks
Carol
Ofsted Inspection
Last modified on 2010-11-11 11:04:11 GMT. 0 comments. Top.
Our long awaited Ofsted inspection took place on Monday 13th and Tuesday14th September and I am very pleased to announce the overall effectiveness and quality of the nursery was graded ‘Good’ and we achieved ‘outstanding’ for the effectiveness with which the setting promotes equality and diversity.
‘The nursery offers a welcoming and stimulating provision for children where they make good progress in their learning and development. Staff ensure that children keep healthy and safe in the setting through the implementation of appropriate procedures. A key strength of the nursery is its promotion of inclusion, enabling all children to benefit from the educational programme on offer. There is a close working partnership with parents and this contributes to children’s needs being met effectively. The nursery’s monitoring and evaluation procedures work successfully in motivating staff to continually improve outcomes for all children.’
I would like to say a big thank you to the staff team for all their hard work, contributions and commitment towards achieving such a great success.
The report is now available to be circulated to you all and these will be distributed over the next few days. The report can also be accessed from the Ofsted website www.ofsted.gov.uk in a few weeks time.
From the recommendations to further improve the provision I shall be drawing up an action plan with the staff team and we will all be working together on implementing the recommendations.
Recent News
- Clapham Pre-Schoolers’ Zoo Trip
- Charitable Works at Bringing Up Baby, Brentford
- Charity seeks links with UK nurseries
- Holiday Closures
- Christmas party dates and other events
- ‘A shining example of quality service’
- Bringing up Baby’s 20th Birthday 2009
- Fundraising 2008
- Childcare Vouchers
- New site & parents blog
