Supernova Nursery
Frequently asked questions
Here we list some of the frequently asked questions you may have, and perhaps some you hadn’t thought of, to help give you all the information you need.
Day to day nursery life
When is nursery open?
We are open from 7:30am – 6:30pm, Monday to Friday, for 52 weeks of the year. The only closures are for Bank Holidays.
What age ranges do you cover?
We welcome children aged from 6 weeks to 5yrs
What sessions do you run?
We run whole day and half day sessions during the day
Can I book extra sessions?
We understand that sometimes your plans and work patterns may change, and we try to be as accommodating as possible. The Manager will be happy to discuss with you any additions or changes that you may wish to make.
Can I reduce my sessions?
Yes. Please contact us to let us know how we can help.
Can my child visit and spend some time at the nursery before they start?
Yes. To ensure a happy transition from home to nursery, we will arrange settling in sessions (which are not chargeable) for you and your child to meet staff members and become familiar with the nursery environment. Staff will also chat to parents and carers to gain an insight into their child’s particular needs eg, mealtimes, sleeps and physical skills already achieved. This will then allow nursery staff to work with parents to ensure that children’s needs and targets are met from the first few weeks of their arrival. We continue to keep records which allow staff to monitor progress, plan to support children’s individual needs and share children’s achievements with their families.
How will I know if my child is settling?
As well as the settling in sessions, your child will also be assigned a key worker who will keep you informed about your child’s time at nursery.
What activities will my child do at nursery?
At Supernova we aim to make each day busy and fun by adopting a flexible approach responding to the interests of the children and providing a wide range of activities to stimulate and engage everyone. In addition, all of our nurseries benefit from visiting specialist staff who run Language, cooking and music sessions within the nursery and at no extra charge. These sessions are designed to be fun and interactive.
Will I need to supply anything for my child
We kindly ask that you provide nappies, wipes, a labelled water bottle. For babies please provide the formula which is best for them. Spare clothes are essential to be given in their bag every day.
What should my child wear?
There is no right or wrong way to dress your child for nursery, however, we recommend that younger children wear clothes that they can easily move in. They need to be able to move and crawl easily and pull themselves to standing. For children that are potty training it is helpful for them to wear clothes that can be quickly undone and encourage them to be independent and successful. We recommend that our older toddler and pre-school children wear clothes and shoes that they can fasten and unfasten themselves. We want them to be confident and independent in their dressing and self-care in readiness for the next step to ‘big’ school. Whatever the age of your child aprons will be provided for ‘messy play’. However, clothes can still get dirty from time to time and accidents do happen so no ‘best’ clothes please!
Can my child wear jewellery to nursery?
For all children’s safety, we advise against children wearing jewellery that could catch and cause injury. Also, small clips and hair slides should be avoided as they could be a choke hazard!
What if my child is poorly?
We ask that when your child is sick you do not bring them to nursery – to help prevent the spread of infection. We will not accept a child into nursery who is running a temperature. When the cause of illness is sickness or diarrhoea we ask that you child stays away for 48hrs after the last bout of illness. For specific illnesses we follow the guidelines for schools, nurseries and other childcare facilities produced by Public Health England.
When and how are fees payable?
Our fees are payable monthly in advance by standing order, cash, cheque, credit/debit card. We also accept vouchers and tax-free childcare.
Why do you charge a registration fee?
A registration fee is charged to secure a place for your child at Supernova Nursery. The fee is taken as part payment of nursery fees for the first month of your child’s attendance.
The fee in non-refundable if you choose not to take up the place for your child. It is retained to cover administration costs.
Do I have to pay when my child is off sick or on holiday and Bank Holidays?
Payment needs to continue in the event of illness or holiday, including bank holidays, in order to retain the place. A month notice in writing is required to terminate the contract.
How often do you review your fees?
Fees are normally reviewed on an annual basis and we will give you one month’s notice on any changes.
Do you offer a discount to parents placing more than one child at the nursery?
No, we do not offer a sibling discount.
Do you offer funding?
Yes, we offer various funding options, including 15 and 30 hours of funded nursery education, supporting your child's learning journey.
For detailed information on these opportunities and to determine your eligibility, please visit the Childcare Funding section of our website.
How do you deliver the funding?
The Early Educational Entitlement funding is provided for 38 weeks of the year, however we provide a stretched funding model so that you can use your funded hours for 52 weeks of the year.
The Early Years Foundation stage
Will my child be learning?
Play underpins all development and learning for young children. We adopt a topic-based approach to learning incorporating fun, play based activities that focus on specific skills and areas of learning. We also place great importance on child initiated activities in which the children choose what and how to play and who to play with.
In order to support your child and plan appropriate activities relevant to their developmental stage we follow the Early Year’s Foundation Stage (EYFS) statutory framework. This sets the standard that childcare providers must meet for the learning, development and care of children from birth to 5.
Meals and snacks
What foods will my child be offered at nursery?
All meals and snacks at Supernova Nursery are provided. Your child will be offered breakfast, a snack, lunch and afternoon tea.
Supernova nursery has their own dedicated cook who prepares fresh meals every day. Children are encouraged to be as independent as possible and are provided with cutlery, dependent on their individual development.
What if my child has a dietary requirement?
We will ask you to provide information of dietary requirements and/or known allergies to ensure individual needs are catered for. We have a balanced menu ensuring that we meet all food groups throughout the day.
How do you support the weaning process?
We understand that weaning – the gradual introduction of semi-solid foods to a baby’s diet – is an important stage of children’s development and a process that should not be rushed. You, as the parents and carers take the decision of when and how you wish your child to be weaned and we will always follow your lead including the supporting of any routines that you have already established at home. This enables us to ensure that food is presented appropriately (for example, smooth, mashed or finely chopped), for your child’s age and stage of development.
Fees and Funding
