Handbook
SETTLING IN
Those first few days at nursery can be daunting for any young child. We encourage that we all work together; our team, teachers and parents, to work towards a positive experience to help your child settle down and make a smooth and happy transition into nursery life.
- We host orientation days before the child’s attendance starts. In which, families can visit the nursery, spend some time with the teachers, explore the class environment and even work on some fun activities together. For those that join mid-term, stay-and-play sessions and visits are arranged in the afternoons, after regular class hours.
- Once the term starts, each child attends for an hour during the first week period, with the time slot gradually being extended over the weeks, until the child is comfortable and ready to stay for longer.
- For comfort, if the child has shown a preference or attachment towards a certain staff member, care is taken to ensure that the child is received by the same person every day, until the child is comfortable with all members of the class team.
HEALTH AND SAFETY
Child’s safety is of the greatest importance at Orange Seeds Nursery and for that we adopt the following measures:
- We ensure there is a rigid sign-in and sign-out logging system, for when each child is dropped off and picked-up by parents and personnel assigned and approved in advance only.
- We regularly conduct headcounts in each classroom and when children are transitioning through the different areas of the nursery. Each transition, includes a class staff member at the front of the line, followed by one in the middle and another at the end, to ensure children stay together.
- Children are accompanied in all areas of the nursery, including the bathroom and change rooms. All bathrooms are equipped with changing stations with safety belts.
- Materials used are non-toxic and hazard free, including providing age-appropriate materials to safeguard children from choking hazards.
- Children with allergies have an Allergy Alert card displayed in their respective classrooms describing the allergy, reactions and emergency contact number.
- Child-sized handrails are installed to further assist the children in moving up and down the stairs and are guided by practitioners.
- Children must wear appropriate footwear at all times. Preferably closed shoes are requested to prevent accidents while playing outside.
- In addition to an onsite nurse, we have designated first aid practitioners and first aid boxes fixed in each classroom. Additionally, a DHA certified nurse is available on-call during operational hours.
- Your child will also receive an onsite medical examination report, once per term, conducted by a registered doctor, provided it is approved in advance by the parents.
WHAT TO BRING TO THE NURSERY
For outdoor play and sun protection, please provide a sun hat, labelled with your child’s name to wear outdoors as well as ensuring that your child comes to school wearing sunscreen. For daily use, we ask that you provide a healthy supply of your preferred diapers, diaper cream, wet wipes and an extra set of clothes for use should your child need to be changed.
BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS
For parents who wish to celebrate their child’s birthday with their class, we ask that celebrations include only plain cupcakes for the class to share. The cupcakes must be individually wrapped and will be sent home with the children when they go home rather than served in class. For health and safety reasons, we ask that all cupcakes are nut-free and are shared with a full ingredient list. We ask that parents coordinate with their child’s teacher before sending any birthday items.