Parent Information

Introductory Sessions

We know that starting nursery is a big step, and we want both you and your child to feel relaxed and confident in this new journey. Before their official start date, we warmly invite you to join us for two prestart sessions, each lasting 60 minutes.

These visits create a calm and reassuring introduction to nursery life, helping your child settle in comfortably. During these sessions, you’ll meet the caring staff who will be working closely with your little one and share important details—such as dietary preferences, sleep routines, favorite activities, and any special needs.

By learning about your child’s unique rhythms and preferences, we can create a seamless, nurturing transition tailored just for them. —because feeling safe, happy, and ready to explore is what truly matters.

What do I Bring?

To ensure your child is comfortable and well-prepared for their nursery experience, we kindly ask that you provide the following essentials based on their age and stage of development:

• For younger children: Formula or breast milk, nappies, wipes, and soft indoor shoes.

• For all children: Suitable outdoor clothing, including a sun hat or winter hat, gloves, wellies, a waterproof coat, and a change of clothes.

We encourage outdoor exploration in all seasons, so having the right clothing ensures your child can fully enjoy their adventures, whether splashing in puddles or basking in the sunshine.

Building Strong Partnerships with Parents at Sunny Socks  

At Sunny Socks, we believe that parents are a child’s first and most important educators. That’s why we warmly welcome and encourage your involvement in nursery life—creating a strong, supportive partnership that nurtures your child’s development.

We love hearing about your child’s interests, experiences, and learning moments at home. You can share these through Tapestry, in conversations with our team, or by bringing in photographs and stories.

There are many ways to get involved:

• Share your talents, interests, or profession with the children—whether it’s music, gardening, or storytelling, we’d love to hear about it!

• Enjoy special nursery events like Sports Day, the Christmas Play, Den Days, and garden parties.

• Contribute to themed weeks, whether by sharing a favorite recipe for Healthy Eating Week or bringing in a storybook linked to our activities.

• Join parents’ evenings and discussions, where we celebrate milestones and collaborate on your child’s learning journey.

• Suggest activities and ideas, helping shape our planning with your child’s interests in mind.

We’ll keep you informed through our notice board, newsletters, website, Tapestry, and Facebook page—so you’re always connected to nursery life.

If there are any changes in your child’s emotional or physical wellbeing, whether temporary or long-term, please let us know. We’re here to provide extra support and ensure they feel safe, happy, and nurtured.

The Curriculum  

At Sunny Socks we consider the individual needs, interests, and stage of development of each child in our care, and use this information to plan a challenging and enjoyable experience for each child.

We also focus on the Early Years Foundation Stage 7 areas of learning. Through these areas the children learn the skills needed to become strong, confident individuals who are capable of learning and achieving through positive relationships, enabling environments and an understanding that every child is unique.

        1)    Personal, Social & Emotional 

• Helping children to develop a positive sense of themselves and others to form positive relationships and respect for others;
• Developing social skills and learning how to manage their feelings;
• Understanding appropriate behaviour in groups;
• Have confidence in their own abilities.

        2)    Physical Development 

• Providing opportunities for children to be active and interactive;
• To develop their co-ordination, control and movement;
• Help children understand the importance of physical activity and making healthy choices in relation to food.

        3)    Communication & Language Development 

• Giving children the opportunity to experience a rich language environment;
• To develop confidence and skills in expressing themselves;
• Developing their speaking, listening, attention and understanding.

        4)    Literacy Development 

• Giving children access to a wide range of materials including books, poems, etc to ignite their interest;
• Encourage children to link sounds and letters and to begin to read and write.

        5)    Mathematics 

• Providing children with opportunities to develop and improve their skills in counting,
• Further understanding of and use of numbers, measuring, shapes, spaces, simple addition and subtraction

        6)    Understanding the World 

• Guiding children to make sense of their physical world and community,
• Providing opportunities to explore, observe and find out about people, places, technology and the environment

        7)    Expressive Arts and Design 

• Enabling children to explore and play with a wide range of media and materials;
• Provide opportunities and encouragement for sharing their thoughts, ideas and feeling's through a variety of art, music, movement, dance, roleplay and design and technology. 

Learning experiences and interests the children have outside nursery are very important, especially those they share with parents and carers. These experiences promote deep learning and hold great value for the children. To help your child we really encourage partnership work. Please tell us what your child enjoys doing, and any new learning moments they have so we can build on this in nursery. Likewise we aim to share with you the developments your child makes as they progress.

Tapestry online Journals

At Sunny Socks, we use Tapestry, a secure online journal, to record, track, and celebrate each child's unique learning journey. This digital Learning Journal allows us to capture special moments, monitor development, and support learning in line with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum.

Parents and carers receive their own secure log-in, providing easy access to their child’s progress. Our dedicated staff regularly upload observations, photos, and videos, documenting achievements and milestones. This collaborative approach ensures that learning is shared between nursery and home, creating a rich and connected experience for every child.

Outside Play

Sunny Socks Nursery School embraces the magic of outdoor learning, knowing that fresh air and hands-on exploration are some of the most powerful ways for children to grow and thrive.

We are incredibly fortunate to have a spacious nursery garden, filled with opportunities for adventure—lush grass for running, a bark area, tyres and logs for climbing, a shady storytelling corner beneath a grand tree, a mud kitchen for messy play, a bug hotel teeming with tiny discoveries, and a variety of engaging toys and activities.

Beyond the garden, nature walks across the fields bring a sense of wonder to every age group, sometimes with a picnic in tow. To ensure every child can embrace the outdoors in all seasons, we provide waterproof puddle suits, making muddy puddles a joyful part of the experience.

Most recently, we’ve introduced a dedicated Forest School area, where our preschoolers engage in hands-on learning—safely using tools like saws, whittling knives, peelers, and palm drills to build confidence and independence in the natural world.

Healthy Eating

Sunny Socks Nursery School is committed to providing high-quality, nutritious meals made with fresh ingredients, sourced locally whenever possible. Each day, children enjoy a balanced selection of meals, including a morning snack, a wholesome two-course lunch, and a light tea, all lovingly prepared by our dedicated cook.

To ensure we cater to every child’s needs, please let us know about any dietary requirements or preferences. We’re here to make mealtimes enjoyable, nourishing, and tailored to each child’s well-being.

Illness

For the health and wellbeing of all children attending Sunny Socks, your child should not come to nursery if they are suffering from an infectious illness. For cases of vomiting or diarrhoea please do not bring your child into nursery for 48 hours after their last symptoms. If your child suffers from a non-infectious illness or an allergy we will endeavour to accommodate any special requirements they may have. We do have to follow the NHS guidelines for infections and dieses this information is available on the NHS website for a full list of exclusion periods.

Promoting Positive Behaviour

At Sunny Socks Nursery School, we nurture positive behaviour through gentle encouragement and praise, helping children develop confidence, kindness, and respect for others. By focusing on positive interactions, children quickly learn that thoughtful choices and cooperation are celebrated.

Our dedicated staff will always keep you informed if your child needs extra support in this area. If a pattern of behaviour requires further attention, we will work closely with you to understand their needs and agree on the best steps forward—ensuring a supportive and caring approach that benefits both your child and the nursery community.

Security

A security entry system is placed at the entrance to ensure access by authorised persons only. We require notification of who is authorised to collect your child from nursery. Under no circumstances will a child be allowed to leave the premises unless with a previously identified, authorised person.

Additional Needs

If your child requires extra support for any reason, either on a temporary or permanent basis, we will make every effort to provide this support.  The nursery staff are experienced at working closely with parents and other professionals such as Health Visitors, Speech and Language Therapists and Paediatricians to help your child reach their full potential. 

Mobile Phones

Sunny Socks is a mobile phone free zone in line with our Child Protection Policy. All parents are asked to please refrain from using mobile phones or taking photos whilst within the nursery and garden.

Transition to Primary School

Sunny Socks Nursery School understands that transitioning to Primary School is a significant milestone in a child’s journey. To ensure every child feels supported and confident, we provide thoughtful guidance throughout this process.

Our dedicated staff complete a transitional document for each child, offering valuable insights to their future Primary School teacher. Before the report is shared, parents have the opportunity to review and add their own comments, ensuring a collaborative approach to this important step.