Toddlers’ University Ilkeston

Introduction

Toddlers’ University is an Ofsted registered children’s day nursery in Ilkeston, Derbyshire offering first class quality, flexible, childcare and preschool education from 3 months old. The Ilkeston nursery was registered by the current owners in 2003, and operates from a converted church premises situated in Park Road in the Larklands area just to the South East of Ilkeston, Derbyshire. The nursery serves families from the local Ilkeston community and surrounding areas.

The baby room, toddler room and kitchen are located on the ground floor of the building and the pre-school is located on the first floor. Outside there is a secure garden play area with all weather surfacing and a variety of equipment which is changed on a daily basis to ensure that the children are able to practice a wide range of skills during outside play.

The nursery is registered to care for 66 children from 3 months to eight years old from 7.30am to 6.00pm, Monday to Friday all year round, excluding public holidays and one week during the Christmas holidays when the nursery is closed. This can include 15 or 30 hours of FREE (government funded) education for 3 and 4 year olds, plus eligible 2 year olds on a flexible basis to meet the needs of the families. Please enquire for more information.

All members of childcare staff are fully qualified early years practitioners with a wealth of experience of working with children. Our cook provides freshly prepared meals every day using healthy ingredients. Senior managers are usually expected to hold university degrees and may also hold the coveted Early Years Professional status which ensures the highest standards of care and education are met and maintained.

The nursery is a member of the National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA).

Take a tour

We enter the Nursery through the main doors and we are in the entrance hall. The welcome posters, parents’ messages and staff pictures are already starting to make us feel at home. Let’s go through to the Baby Room to see where it all starts…

Welcome to the Baby Room…
Our dedicated Baby Room caters for babies aged from 3 months until they are around 2 years old.
We will assess a child’s individual needs and determine the right time to begin visits to the Toddler Room to gain more experience and to play with the toddlers before moving up to the Toddler Room. Visits will be gradually increased in duration until the child is comfortable with the move up.

You may be able to see the separate cot room and we also have sleep mats available.
Nappy changing is carried out using the changing facilities in our laundry area, which is adjacent to the baby room through the wooden gate.
The pictures show some of a wide variety of toys and activities available including:-
Construction toys e.g. wooden bricks, mega blocks etc.
Floor toys
Fine Manipulative Toys
Home corner Language Toys
Physical Toys
Creative Activities
Messy Activities Books
Let’s carry on with the tour shall we…?

It’s time to welcome you to the Toddler Room…
The Toddler Room offers care and education for 2 year old children with activities focusing on the 3 prime areas and starting to introduce the 4 specific areas of the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum.

You may be able to see some of the equipment we use for activities during the day which may include:
Construction toys e.g. wooden bricks, mega blocks etc.
Imaginative play e.g. small world house and people, fairground etc.
Messy activities e.g. compost, shaving foam, baby lotion etc.
Creative activities e.g. painting, sticking etc.
Manipulative/Intellectual toys e.g. puzzles, threading cards etc.
Stories and songs.
Role play e.g. workbench, kitchen etc.
Book area with a wide range of age appropriate books.

Ofsted has commented… “Staff highly value and recognise the uniqueness of each child that attends. Children are happy and settled within an organised and welcoming environment.”
Children in the Toddler Room are encouraged in potty training. The adjacent bathroom is equipped with low toilets, potties and sinks as well as having nappy changing facilities.At around a child’s 3rd birthday it is time for Pre-School. Let’s wonder up the back stairs and see if we can get a sneak preview shall we?
… Before we do we’ll just catch a glimpse of the kitchen…

Yum Yum! – This is where it all happens. Freshly cooked food and drinks on the premises prepared at regular intervals every day by our in-house Cook.
When Ofsted visited they thought that “Children’s health and welfare are well promoted. They are provided with a healthy balanced diet for snacks and meals. For example the children enjoy a good range of fresh fruits for snacks.”

For children over the age of 3 years old, planning and assessment is carried out in all 7 areas of the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum in preparation for School Reception.

Under the Government’s funding scheme we offer up to 30 hours per week of FREE education for eligible children and 15 hours for all children commencing from the term following their 3rd birthday and eligible 2 year olds. Please ask if you require further details.

We also provide vibrant before and after school clubs which include meals, care, activities and collection or drop offs at local schools.

Our Pre-School Room has a toilet area adjacent which is equipped with low toilets and sinks.

A fabulous custom-made all-weather outdoor play area was created and the children just love it! Take a look…

Outdoor play is an essential part of all children’s development. Our outdoor play comprises a medium sized fenced garden to the side of the Nursery building. It actually has tall trees growing along the side adjacent to the footpath in addition to the fence so is private and secure.

We hope you enjoyed the tour! If you would like to take a look around our Ilkeston nursery for real, then please give us a call to arrange an appointment. All contact details can be found in the “Contact Us” section.

Translate