WE ARE SUPPORTING FUNDED CHILDCARE FOR FAMILIES - FIND OUT MORE!
We understand that paying for childcare isn’t always easy. This is why we welcome funded children and encourage parents to use the funded hours offered to them, whether that is 15 or 30 hours per week. How many funded hours a parent get depends on how old their child is and their family circumstances however, all parents of 3- and 4-year-olds are entitled to 15 hours funded childcare.
So why should parents take up free, funded childcare?
At Kids Planet, we deliver the Early Years Foundation Stage to help prepare your child for school. The EYFS is a statutory framework setting out the standards for each child’s development from birth to the end of their first (reception) year in school. The aim of the EYFS is to ensure that each child is ready for school and that they each develop their knowledge and skills to equip them through their school life.
Find out when to apply for funded places
Why is the Early Years Foundation Stage important?
The EYFS describes how your child should be kept safe and cared for and how practitioners can ensure your child achieves the most they can in their earliest years of life.
At Kids Planet, we assess each child using the Early Years Foundation Stage. Once we have tracked each child and have an overall view of your child’s development, we will then plan activities to support your child’s individual stage of development and help them to progress to the next stage. We update parents on what we are working on and what activities could be done at home to support your child.
What does it mean for your child?
It is widely agreed that children learn best through play and first-hand experiences. Our qualified practitioners adopt this approach as they guide each child and teach them the skills they need to be school ready.
What are the benefits for a child attending nursery and taking the free, funded childcare hours?
Transition to school
We liaise with local schools to ensure a smooth transition for your child when starting school. We begin by talking to the children about their ‘big school’ and what they are looking forward to and reading ‘school readiness’ books. Where possible, we invite teachers from schools to come into the nursery to speak to your child’s key person to have more knowledge on where your child is at and their likes and dis-likes enabling your child and their new teacher time to form a relationship.
Promote independence
We support children in becoming independent individuals and ensure they are ready for school when they leave us. We encourage the children to self-serve at all mealtimes from a platter in the middle of each table, supporting their hand eye co-ordination and allowing them to be involved in mealtimes. In some nurseries we have cookery lessons for the children to begin understanding the importance of healthy eating and the safety of preparing meals and cooking them. We also support children in dressing and undressing themselves throughout the day by using the role play area to dress up in different costumes.
Mark Making
The EYFS is tailored around play to keep the child’s interest whilst fully equipping them with the skills they require to achieve the highest possible outcome in school. We introduce ‘mark making’ books for the children, where they can express their writing and mark making. We assess the development of each child’s pencil grip and plan for how to further develop their writing skills.
Healthy Lifestyles
We strongly promote healthy lifestyles and believe that a healthy lifestyle is a key part in a child’s learning and development. We have health and wellbeing coordinators who ensure children are healthy by participating in POW activities, planting fruit and vegetables.
Our menus include dishes from around the world, ensuring that children are getting the right balance of nutrients and protein in their daily diet. This varying diet also encourages the children to try foods from different cultures. All meals are freshly prepared on site.
Access to Additional Support
At Kids Planet, in addition to the SENDCo (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Coordinator) based in the nursery, we have a SEND team who provide support, advice and guidance to the Nursery SENDCo for those children who present with additional needs.
Our SEND team is passionate about ensuring all children have the best possible start in life. Working with parents and children and alongside the nursery SENCo, they uphold high aspirations for those with additional needs and embed practices that improve outcomes. The team offer in-house training to develop knowledge and practice of all practitioners relating to additional support.
Attending a high-quality inclusive nursery can help support young children who are at risk of or have faced inequality and discrimination. Kids Planet provide a safe environment where parents, staff and children can learn about each other’s differences and similarities and learn to empathise and value each other.
Funded childcare for 2, 3 and 4 year olds at Kids Planet
Across all our nursery settings, we provide a range of learning and play activities, carefully planned to keep your child active, happy, and engaged. Free funded childcare also enables your child to:
How does funded nursery places work?
Funded childcare places are available to all 3- and 4-year-olds from the term after their 3rd birthday until they reach compulsory school age.
How to apply for 15 hours free childcare
As all children aged 3 and 4- years old are entitled to 15 hours free childcare, parents need to confirm a child’s date of birth to receive the funding – talk to your Kids Planet Nursery Manager about this.
How to apply for 30 hours free childcare
When to apply for 30 hours free childcare
For more information about Funded Childcare, visit our FAQs here: https://www.kidsplanetdaynurseries.co.uk/parents/funded-childcare/
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