5 Star Day Nursery (Oldbury)

We know and understand that leaving your child with anyone is a big step and can be a stressful time for both children and families.  We want to make sure that everything we do helps you and your child to settle, feel less anxious and most of all enjoy the experience they will have with us at 5 Star.  We pride ourselves on offering a high quality and unique service to children where your involvement as parents is actively encouraged and highly valued.  We believe that the relationship we have with our families is critical to giving children the best possible start in life.  Our staff are friendly and approachable and always on hand to answer your queries, address any concerns or to hear about your child’s experience outside of the nursery. 

Our nursery rooms are bright, airy and child-friendly with appropriate furnishing and activities.  The nursery consists of –

Five rooms:

Discoverers- 0-1 years 

Pre- explorers- 1-2 years

Explorers One- 2-2.5 years

Explorers Two- 2.5-3 Years

Inventors- 3+

5 rooms where children can take part in age-appropriate activities that meet their individual needs and abilities. Moreover, we believe that children should be able to interact with other children across age ranges and we provide many opportunities to do this throughout the day both indoors and outdoors, or at meal and snack times for example.

5 Star Day Nursery strongly believes in children being safe at all times

We have implemented effective systems and practices to enable a safe and secure environment for all children, staff, parents/carers and visitors as follows:

Our monthly newsletters give parents useful information and updates along with a calendar for the coming month highlighting our activities and special events.  Our Facebook page is updated three to four times a week with reminders, event invitations and useful articles and links.

Tax Free Childcare

Parents can pay fees through a Tax Free Childcare account if they are eligible. For every £8 you pay in, the government will add an extra £2, up to £2,000 per child per year, which is up to £500 every three months. Parents can check online to see what help with childcare they are eligible for at

https://www.gov.uk/help-with-childcare-costs/tax-free-childcare

Early Learning for Two’s

5 Star Day Nursery offers ELT (Early Learning for Two’s) government funding for eligible 2-year olds. This is 15 hours free high-quality early years provision with the added benefit of Family and Home Learning Support. http://www.sandwell.gov.uk/info/200298/early_years_and_childcare/1790/free_early_educationchildcare_places_for_two-year-olds

Universal funded places for three and four-year-olds – 15 hours a week

This free entitlement for all 3- and 4-year olds is at the heart of the Government’s (and our) vision – for all children to have access to high quality early years provision in order to help them reach their full potential. It offers free provision universally, from the term following a child’s third birthday up until they reach compulsory school age.

AVAILABLE SESSIONS

As some of you may know, last year we reviewed the sessions offered at our 5 Star Day Nurseries, as of 1st September 2017 the following changes were applied;

Funded Only Sessions (15 hours per week, term time only):

These are the only options for children who do just funded hours

15 hours entitlement:

30 HOUR ENTITLEMENT

From 1st September 2017 we began accepting children eligible for 30 hours free childcare.

We offer this to eligible full time children or children who want to do more than the 30 hours by simply deducting the equivalent of 30 hours from the total cost, leaving parents / carers the remaining balance.

For those entitled to 30 hours who want to do just 30 hours, we offer this as three full days only;

30 hours only offer:

WANT TO DO MORE THAN JUST YOUR FUNDED HOURS?

If your child is entitled to either 15 or 30 hours funding and you want them to attend nursery for more than just the funded hours, you can chose which ever sessions you want and have the entitled funding hours deducted. For example, if you are entitled to 30 hours and want your child to do 4 full days (40 hours) we will deduct the equivalent of 30 hours and you will pay the balance (the equivalent of 10 hours).

To find out the cost implications of session options, please contact Kelly Spencer – Finance Manager at Head Office; 0121 448 0830 email: [email protected]

15 Extended Hours (total 30 hours of funding for eligible children)

A further 15 hours is offered to working families for 3- and 4 year olds. You will need to check if you are eligible, but parents can usually get 30 hours childcare if you (and your partner, if you have one) are in work and each are earning at least the National Minimum Wage or Living Wage for 16 hours a week and earn less than £100,000 per annum. Eligibility can be checked at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk.

For further information please refer to the HMRC website;

https://www.gov.uk/help-with-childcare-costs/free-childcare-and-education-for-2-to-4-year-olds

Parents Guide to EYFS

OfSTED is the ‘Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills’. They regulate and inspect to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages.

Ofsted inspect all childcare settings to ensure that they deliver effective support for children through the EYFS. Following an inspection of a setting, the nursery receives a full report documenting the inspector’s findings.

Link to latest Ofsted report here https://files.api.beta.ofsted.gov.uk/EY482368__2.PDF

If you’d like more information on our childcare philosophy and practice, our standards, and how we do things, then please call in and have a chat with the 5Star team, who’ll be delighted to show you around.

[email protected]