Welcome to Buddies Nursery

Staff

Miss Phillips - Room Leader 

Miss Sach - TA

Mrs Donovan - TA

Mrs Ventre - Reception Teacher & Buddies Nursery Manager 

Key Information

Admissions - If you are entitled to the two year old funding (information on eligibility can be found below) your child can start Buddies the school term after they turn two. If you are not entitled to the two year old funding you can pay for your child's sessions weekly, and in this instance your child can start Buddies as soon as they turn two. It is never too early to complete an application form to ensure your child's place. Click on the link below to complete an electronic application form, or visit our school office for a paper copy. 

Buddies electronic application form 

We offer 15 hours a week to each child (if you are entitled to the two year old funding, this is free). The 15 hours will be used by your child attending either morning or afternoon sessions. Session times are as follows:

Morning: 9am - 11:45am

Afternoon: 12:15pm - 3pm

Parental Feedback

"I can’t praise nor thank buddies enough for their support and encouragement for the families and the children. We love you" 

"Staff are so lovely and so helpful. I'm so happy [my daughter] is happy there and made lots of friends she tells me everyday about them"

"He’s come such a long way in the past 4 months from his talking, his sharing and even his funny little songs he sings...He really enjoys coming in everyday and playing with his friends, learning so much. I couldn’t wish for a better environment for [my son] to spend his day in. All the staff are understanding, kind and are so informative about his day"

"He has made nice little friendships as have I with other parents and children and staff are wonderful. I feel very lucky that this provision is available to our community"

Two Year Old Funding - eligibility 

You can claim a free place for your child if you receive one or more of the following:

• Income Support
• Income-based Job Seekers’ Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Universal Credits - if you and your partner have a combined income from work of £15,400 or less p/a (after tax) 
• Tax Credits and you have an income of £16,190 or less (before tax)
• Working Tax Credit 4 week run on (the payment you receive when you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit)
• Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• Guaranteed element of State Pension Credits

Children are also eligible if they:

• Are a Local Authority looked after child
• Have a current statement of special educational needs (SEN) or an education, health and care plan
• Access a Disability Living Allowance
• They have left care under a special guardianship order, child arrangements order or adoption order

For more information about about eligibility and how to apply, click on the link below:

Two Year Old Funding - information and how to apply

Two Year Old Check  

Curriculum 

Our EYFS curriculum is designed to thread through from Buddies to Reception. With this is mind our themes are rooted in a quality key text. In Buddies we focus on two quality texts per term to ensure that there is plenty of time and space to explore children's individual and collective interests, using PLOD planning (Possible Lines Of Development). The child will always remind at the centre of our practice. We value the notion that young children are experts in their own lives and as such are co-constructors of their learning alongside skilled adults.

Capturing and monitoring children's progress in EYFS

Tapestry 

Tapestry is a secure online learning journal that allows us to record photographs, observations and comments about your child, in line with the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum. This builds up a record of your child's experiences while they are with us and enables us to monitor their progress and plan their next steps. All the information held on this platform is stored securely and can only be accessed by practitioners and parents / or carers. Tapestry is a fantastic way for us to work collaboratively with you, as you can add comments and send photographs and videos from home. You will receive more information about Tapestry when your child starts at Rimrose Hope, and once you have your unique login details can begin to track your child's learning journey. 

Additional information from Tapestry website can be found here.

What to expect in the Early Years Foundation Stage: a guide for parents

This is a fantastic document that outlines children's development and what to expect as your child progresses through the EYFS:

https://foundationyears.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/What-to-expect-in-the-EYFS-complete-FINAL-16.09-compressed.pdf

Outdoor Learning

We are incredibly lucky to have access to a beautiful outdoor space. We use this space to reflect the interests and the needs of our children. Our Rimrose Tot's love nothing more than to be exploring outside and making connections with the world around them.

Beautiful Butterflies 

We have been looking at lifecycles through our key text We Found A Seed. We have grown cress from seeds and had the pleasure of watching caterpillars change into butterflies! We have been on bug hunts, looking closely at how different insects look and move.