The Nursery
Little Clouds Nursery opened in 2018.
There are three open plan playrooms on the ground floor and one large playroom on the top floor.
On the ground level, there are three departments: Fluffy Clouds, Moonbeams and Sunrays and each of these rooms has open access onto a covered decked area which leads onto a large enclosed garden.
Shooting Stars is on the top floor and features a back staircase to allow children access to the garden.
Free flow into the garden is encouraged from all departments.
The Nursery is divided into four main departments:
Fluffy Clouds
0-2 years approx
Moonbeams
2-3 years approx
Sunrays
3-4 years approx
Shooting Stars
4-5 years approx
Our Team
Our nursery staff team comprises a blend of mature, experienced and professionally qualified nursery practitioners and trainees working towards their qualifications. Little Clouds Nursery provides a structured training programme for staff. We have two in-service days per year to provide regular ‘core’ training where staff are kept up to date with current issues and trends. Staff have an obligation to update their CPD and are encouraged to go on as much training as possible
All staff are screened by Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG) and Registered with the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC), in accordance with The Care Inspectorate and the minimum ratio of staff to children is maintained as shown.
Ratio of Staff to Children
0-2 years
1:3
2-3 years
1:5
3-5 Years
1:8
New Enrolment
If you wish to enrol your child, you are required to complete a registration form and return it to us. If spaces and staffing allow you will be issued with an offer letter stating your start date and chosen sessions. This needs to be signed and returned to us along with a deposit of £150 to secure your child’s place.
Please see our virtual tour for an in-depth view of the setting. Alternatively, you may also get in touch with a member of the management team to arrange a physical tour of the setting and have any questions you may have answered.
Starting Nursery
We provide complimentary Settling in Sessions which gives you and your child time to get familiar with our nursery. Once your child starts with us, they will be assigned a designated key worker. Your child’s key worker will be responsible for monitoring your child’s development and will be your first point of contact at nursery. Your child’s key worker will always be available to discuss your child’s progress.
Settling In Sessions
Your child will be settled into our nursery gradually. First spending one hour with parents present to discuss your child’s routine, then building up to a half-day session which may include lunch. This phasing in allows your child to become familiar with our nursery surroundings and staff. These settling in sessions usually last a week, but this is dependent on each individual child. We understand that every child is different and our aim is to make these sessions as flexible and comforting as possible to guarantee that both you and your child are well adjusted to our surroundings. We find that on a child’s first few days at the nursery it is best for parents to leave as quickly as possible and with the minimum of fuss. Separation isn’t easy and we do not want this process delayed. The Famly app is used for regular communication with parents during their first session and throughout their nursery journey.
Famly App
Famly is our online platform that we use daily. It is a great way to stay in touch with parents where we can share pictures and observations of your child.
The fully encrypted, GDPR compliant app allows us to access important child information quickly, manage invoicing and report accidents/incidents, sickness and holidays.
Famly is an integrated software system which aids in the smooth running of the business. During the admission stage we will send you your very own login to ensure you have access to your child’s profile prior to starting at Little Clouds.
Key Worker
During the admission stage, every child is allocated a key worker. The key worker’s role is to make the child feel cherished and thought about by someone in particular while they are away from home.
The key worker’s responsibilities include
- Settling the child into Little Clouds Nursery
- Liaising with relevant staff and other agencies to discuss any concerns
- Communicating and liaising with parents/carers
- Making observations on the child
- Updating your child’s learning journey
- General care for your child
- Implementing individual planned activities for your child
Learning Journeys
Your child will have an individual learning journey which will track their progress throughout their time at Little Clouds Nursery. Using both the Pre-Birth to three and The Curriculum for Excellence documents provide guidance on assessment which we follow in the nursery.
During your child’s time in nursery, staff will monitor their development and record their progress. Children’s learning journeys are created on the Famly app, where every child receives weekly observations to keep you informed of their progress. We use these observations to compile a Settling in Report within two months of your child starting nursery and a progress report before your child moves department. You will be given the opportunity to discuss your child’s progress at any stage, with both formal and informal sessions throughout the year. Parents can also create observations of their children on the Famly app for a child’s key worker to see, creating more opportunities for parents to be involved in their children’s learning at nursery.
Along with these reports the learning journeys will keep you informed of your child’s progress at Little Clouds Nursery.
Daily Routines and Plans
Each department operates a daily routine with a programme of activities planned for both morning and afternoon sessions. For all the children, these allow for a high degree of flexibility within each department, meeting children’s individual needs and making sure all activities are age and stage appropriate. Routines and plans for each department will be displayed on parents’ notice boards. Please note that planning is very flexible to follow the children’s interests and any plans displayed are a guide only.
Parents' Evenings and Meetings
At Little Clouds Nursery we believe it is vital that the staff build a warm relationship with your child and it is of great benefit if they see a positive partnership developing between parents and staff.
We facilitate this by ensuring staff promote positive communication with parents and families. This is achieved through regular communication on the Famly app and parents’ evenings that are held twice a year to allow parents to discuss their child’s progress, see the nursery environment and learn more about nursery life here at Little Clouds.
To create a calmer environment, we currently do not have parents within the setting during daily drop off and pick-ups. This is to prevent any congestion in the nursery and to allow a smoother process for your child arriving and leaving the nursery. We operate using a queuing system, where a staff member communicates with all departments so a member of staff from your child’s room will come and collect or drop off your child directly to you.
Moving Departments
The move to a new department is based on your child’s development – you will be consulted by your child’s key worker if they feel that your child is ready to move. The department moves normally happen 3-4 times a year in line with school terms. This means that a group of children move departments together. We find that these groups settle better than individuals moving in accordance to their birthdays.
The age ranges given for the departments are a very rough guide. Each child is treated as an individual and they will move departments when they are ready – some children respond well to new challenges and routines, whilst others may benefit from a little longer in a familiar environment.
In all departments, the children are closely supervised at all times and the high staff to child ratio ensures that the individual needs of the children are met. Daily and weekly plans are displayed, and the Senior Practitioner in each department will be happy to discuss long –term plans with you