Frequently Asked Questions

How do I apply for a place for my child?

We would highly recommend a visit to the Nursery School to see first hand what we offer, which can be arranged by contacting our School Office Manager on 01926 853394. If you would like to submit an application, then you can complete and return an Application form for Kenilworth Nursery School by email to kenilworthnsoffice@welearn365.com

How will you settle my child when they start at Nursery?

Settling in is a crucial period for a young child and it has repercussions for the rest of their lives and on their ability to form long-lasting relationships. This is why we use great sensitivity and care and the subsequent benefits are huge.

Before your child starts with us we carry out a home visit, so that their Colour Group Leader can spend approximately 15-20 minutes with you and your child to allow you to get to know each other before starting school.

You will then be invited to attend a short ‘Stay and Play Session’, which we ask you to accompany your child to in order to allow them to become familiar with the setting with you close by. After this, your child can stay for another short session with or without an adult, depending on how settled they are.

Once this initial settling in process is complete, your child will then build their weekly sessions in consultation with their Colour Group Leader, according to their needs and, where applicable, your work commitments. This will be discussed individually with you in more detail at your home visit.

This phased induction process is so the children can settle, get to know their Colour Group Leader and gain confidence.  The phased process may mean leaving your child for short periods of time to begin with.  We take a gradual and individual approach as research tells us that this initial support and care in settling will have huge benefits to future transitions throughout your child’s school career, and indeed the rest of their lives.

It is vital that we work together with our parents/carers to accommodate individual needs to ensure the transition from home to nursery is a happy and smooth one.

What should my child wear?

Any comfortable, practical clothing is fine . Just remember that children are encouraged to dress and undress themselves, if required, so please avoid clothing with complicated buttons or zips that might cause your child difficulty when using the toilet.  All clothing should be clearly labelled – including coats, hats and scarves. Please ensure bags are also labelled and taken home at the end of each session.

How will you let me know what’s going on in Nursery?

We use a Family app called Learning Journals, and invite parents/carers to download and opt in to this at your earliest convenience once your child starts with us. We use the Learning Journals app for two purposes. In the Nursery School, the first is as a secure online journal where our teaching staff can share short exerts from your child’s learning journey with you (including photos, videos, worksheets and drawings), sharing this privately with you and other family members throughout the school year. This allows you to talk about the learning at home and gives your child the opportunity to recall and explain their ideas and learning with you. The Nursery Teacher will also send you a weekly communication that lists ‘what’s new’ in learning so you feel informed about children’s interests, and the way in which we are changing our environment in response to the children’s learning.

The second, in both Nursery School and Nurture Nursery, is as a mechanism for our School Office Manager to share all our school communications (monthly newsletters, ad hoc correspondence and parent/carer messages and reminders). As a School we are always looking at ways to reduce our carbon footprint, and using this app allows us to send our communications in a paperless form which allows us to be as environmentally friendly as possible. It also helps us to keep our printing costs down, so we very much appreciate parents support by opting to sign up to this app without delay to ensure you aren’t missing any important information from us.

There is also a ‘parents noticeboard’ in the main entrance hall where we write requests for help with specific projects, as well as notices and messages for parents/carers.

There are display boards giving information about the activities your child has been taking part in throughout the nursery. The School also produces a monthly newsletter with news, dates for your diaries, reminders, and general information. An A3 copy is displayed on the ‘parents noticeboard’ and a PDF version is distributed via our app. Hard copies can be requested from the main office.

How does lunch club work and what food can my child have?

Lunch club takes place between 11.30 – 12.30pm daily, and children are split into two groups, both of which are given half an hour to eat their packed lunches together before, or after playtime. The lunch club environment includes table clothed tables and chairs, with plastic plates provided for children to decant their lunch onto, and dedicated members of staff who sit and eat lunch with the children. This helps encourage the children to become ‘independent eaters’.

We ask that parents/carers provide a cold packed lunch in accordance with our Lunch Club & No Nuts guidance. Packed lunches are stored in refrigerators on site.

Does it matter who I send to collect my child?

For security reasons we will not allow your child to be taken home by anybody else unless you have notified us and given your permission in person, or by telephone.

Please note that this includes being collected by mums of other pupils and by grandparents! We understand that you may not always know well in advance, but please give us a call to let us know if your circumstances change. We have these measures in place for the protection of your children.

If for any reason you need your child brought out of the nursery (for instance if you have a sleeping baby in the car!) please ask a parent to notify a member of staff and they will bring your child out to you if at all possible.

What happens if my child has an accident?

At all times our staff act in the best interests of the children. If a child does have an accident our qualified First Aider will handle the situation. We will keep a record of all accidents and inform you either immediately or when you collect your child at the end of the session depending on the severity of the incident.

There is a detailed Health & Safety Policy document in the office that can be viewed on request.

As with all Local Authority primary schools and nurseries, the School has no personal accident insurance for pupils, so cover would need to arranged personally if you feel it is required.

What should I do if my child is ill or absent?

If your child is ill or will be absent for any reason, please inform the office as soon as possible. There is a holiday form in the office that needs to be completed if you plan to take your child out of nursery during term time.

We need to be made aware of infectious diseases such as Covid19, chicken pox and rubella/German measles so that we can notify other parents of the risk their child may have been in contact with the disease.

If your child has an upset stomach or sickness, please leave a full 48 hours from the last symptoms before returning to nursery to avoid passing on to other children.

What if I am unexpectedly late for collecting my child?

Unexpected events sometimes happen and children are late being collected. Should you be running late for any reason, please call the office on 01926 853394 as soon as you can so that we can pass on a message to your child to explain and reassure them that arrangements have been made for their collection.

Can my child bring their own toys to nursery?

Please do not allow children to bring their own toys and games. Personal belongings often cause unnecessary conflict and upset so it is best to leave them at home – where they will be waiting for the child when they finish nursery.

If your child has a particular attachment to a soft toy or comforter, for example, that would cause distress to leave at home, please let us know so we can help. Special belongings may be kept in your child’s bag – or you can ask us to keep it in the office during sessions. Please be aware, however, that if it comes into the nursery there is always a risk that it may be lost or accidentally ‘rehomed’.

What should I do if my circumstances change?

Please let us know as soon as possible if your circumstances change for any reason so we can ensure all our contact information is up to date, and can help your child through any changes in their life.

This includes moving house, changing emergency contact details, new mobile phone numbers and so on. It also helps us to support your child if you inform us of any changes to personal circumstances that could be affecting them, such as a death in the family or parental separation. Anything you tell us is, of course, confidential and only shared with relevant staff.

What are the nursery’s expectations of behaviour?

We expect the children to show respect for adults and one another, be kind and thoughtful to others and to resolve disagreements by talking to each other.

The staff play a very important role in the teaching of how to achieve these expectations – and act as role models themselves by handling any incidents quietly, calmly and positively.

We make every effort to reward and encourage good behaviour through praise and acknowledgment to promote positive behavioural attitudes.