Beanie Room (12 weeks to 24 months)

In our beanie room we aim to mirror the routine you have at home to ensure a smooth transition between home and nursery care.

The staff in the beanie room will work with you to establish a routine that works for you and your baby. If your baby is still breastfeeding and you wish to continue, we can provide a comfortable place for you to sit and feed your baby, alternatively we have a fridge to store expressed milk that we can bottle-feed to your baby. We recommend that you visit the nursery several times with your baby before they start so you can both familiarise yourselves with the new surroundings. When your baby starts with us you can phone us, we will tell you honestly how your baby is coping with the separation process.

In the beanie room we have endeavored to create an atmosphere that is warm and trusting, giving your baby every chance to thrive. Our focus is to nurture the attachment process so that your baby feels cared for and settled. Your baby will experience lots of sensory play, social interaction to encourage babbling, treasure baskets (exploring everyday objects) and singing & signing time. We also give lots of time, practice and encouragement when your baby achieves those first milestones such as sitting up and standing.

You will have a key carer who will regularly discuss your baby’s development and on a daily basis handover all relevant information such as sleeps, food/milk intake, and play. Daily information slips are also used as a record for you to keep. You will need to provide breakfast (if required) a change of clothes, nappies, wet wipes, bottles with cooled boiled water and pre-measured powdered milk. We also encourage special comforters that you know will settle your child such as a teddy, dummy, snuggle blanket or muslin cloth. One of our most successful ‘settle items’ is a personalised photo book that we will make for you from 6 or so photos of all the special people and places in your babies life.

In our separate baby sleep room we have tried to create a warm, relaxing and peaceful environment where your child can enjoy resting. Mobiles hang from the ceiling and cots, and we have gentle lullaby toys to soothe sleeping children. Babies can sleep in either traditional cots or within the playroom where there is always a cozy cushion area. We try to reflect what you are doing at home so that any established sleep pattern is supported.

Our nursery staff ensure that each child has very individual and personalised care and if any routine at home is established we will endeavor to follow it. A morning snack is offered at 10:00am, lunch is at 12:00pm, afternoon fruit is at 2:00pm and tea is at 4:00pm, however each child has individual needs and we can adjust these times to suit your baby.

As children grow and develop we begin to introduce more structure to their day and as a group the children begin to fit in with the nursery routines, eating and sleeping at similar times. The children begin to play alongside one-another and activities such as dancing and cooking are offered.  Beanie children play freely and can use their imagination to select toys and resources that are available at their height level.  Beanies also have free-flow play onto their own outdoor decking area. Their outdoor space is partially covered with artificial grass so that the children can be outdoors all year round. The garden is roofed to protect the area from getting wet and we encourage outdoor play as often as possible. In the warm weather the doors are kept open all day long so that the children can choose to play indoors or out and practice some of their new skills such as walking, climbing, pulling and pushing.

There is also a cosy corner to develop a love of books as well as providing a calm area for times when children want to quietly watch others play or snooze.  Sensory experiences are offered such as gloop (cornflour & water), playdough, sensory bags and treasure baskets (everyday items) which give children the opportunity to explore textures.  Children begin to learn about self-care and are helped to wash their hands before eating and after messy activities, starting them on the journey towards independence.  Personal care is also encouraged, and children try to wipe their own faces and put rubbish into the dustbin.

Many beanie children like to bring in their breakfast and sit at a table with a nursery nurse whilst eating it. We still manage children’s individual care needs/routines and your child’s key carer will discuss these with you.

Many of our older beanie children still have sleep times and bottles of milk.   Cows milk is provided free of charge however if you wish to provide pre-measured formula and cool boiled water we can warm it for your child.  After a morning of play the older beanies join the toddlers in their room where they all snooze on covered sleep mats.

Parents are asked to provide breakfast (if required) nappies, wet wipes and a change of clothes.  An all-in-one weather suit and wellington boots/outdoor shoes is useful as we do encourage children to play outside all year round, we prefer children to wear slippers or indoor shoes in the playrooms.