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We believe that a child's time at nursery should be used to lay the foundations for life long learning. We are a highly trained and experienced team who ensure the quality of experiences offered to children enrich the different stages of their development. These experiences are stimulating and worthwhile, giving children opportunities to play alone or interact with others during organised activities, free play, leisure and recreation, and quiet times. Your child will also learn about, respect and be sensitive to other cultures. Should your child not be a fluent English speaker, our staff have been trained in nurturing their language skills. Young children learn fast and at this age are very responsive to their environment.

About us

We are located in Edinburgh, midway between Prestonfield and Grange, on the corner of Minto Street and Blacket Avenue within a traditional Victorian villa which has just been refurbished to the highest standards. The property contains a large, secure garden and play area to the rear. Off street parking is also available to the rear of the nursery to make it easier to drop off and pick up children at the beginning and end of sessions. The recent refurbishment had input from all required local authority bodies ensuring the premises are clean, safe and the building is of the highest quality especially adapted for childcare. Some of these features a cosy lunge, a music and dance room, special sleep room viewing windows, and tasteful children's murals on the walls throughout the building.

The nursery has a secure entry system to ensure only authorised people can gain access. All entrances to the property, and the building, are constantly monitored and recorded on closed circuit television. These are supplemented by discreet closed circuit cameras at strategic locations within the building.

We are open from 8.00am-6.00pm daily and can offer full and part-time places. We will however be closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day.

Strawberry Hill nursery has applied to be designated as a partner provider centre in pre-school education with the City of Edinburgh Council. This should secure grant-aid for over 3 year olds attending the nursery.

Places are available for children aged from 3 months to 5 years.

Our staff

Our staff have all been chosen for their training and experience and they are all ready to learn and respond to your child's individual needs. All of our staff are either fully qualified nursery nurses or are undergoing training for that qualification. Strawberry Hill nursery is an accredited training centre and some of our staff are qualified to graduate nursery nurse trainees into fully qualified nursery nurses. Staff members have also been trained in paediatric first aid and continually attend refresher courses.

Each staff member has undergone an enhanced disclosure check by the Scottish Criminal Record Office who verify, via the Police National Computer, that every employee has been deemed a fit person to care for children.

The nursery

The nursery has been divided up into playrooms to meet the different age and development needs of the children attending. The rooms are divided into: Babies, Toddlers, Tweenies and large Pre-school rooms. In addition to the playrooms we also have a sleep room, cosy room, a soft play room, a music room and a separate dining area that is also used for baking activities. In addition, there is the fully secure garden. Each room is supervised by suitably qualified staff with one member of staff for every three children up to two years of age, and for every five children above this age.

The Babies Room (3 months - 1 year)

The babies are cared for in a warm bright and stimulating environment where they are made to feel emotionally secure by qualified and experienced child carers. These carers have been specially selected for their maturity and many are mothers with extensive experience in caring for young babies. A day in the baby room is very much a child led day where particular attention is paid towards children's individual patterns of feeding and sleeping. Babies are encouraged in their physical and mental development so they begin to reach the early milestones of sitting up, crawling, walking, beginning to feed themselves, and babbling, the sign of early language. The babies will also participate in Heuristic Play where they have the opportunity to feel natural textures and play with everyday real objects in a safe setting rather than just playing with bright plastic toys. Separate hygienic changing rooms are situated next to the baby's rooms.

Sleep room

Adjacent to the babies rooms, we have a designated sleep room that has been carefully decorated to create a calm and restful atmosphere where the under-two's can get a peaceful sleep. Every child gets a freshly made-up cot and can happily sleep when they wish, or at times preferred by their parents.

The Toddlers Rooms (1 year - 2 years)

Within the toddler rooms, the children are expanding on skills they have already learned and with stimulating challenges and the provision of fun learning experiences delivered through play, the children will continue to grow in confidence and reach their developmental milestones. The toddlers will be introduced to creative and messy activities with paint, play dough, water and sand and will be given every opportunity to explore their environment, socialise, share and make friends with other children. We are aware that although the children within the toddler room have moved on in development compared to the children in the baby room, they still may need to sleep during a nursery session and staff will ensure that toddlers are able to sleep if needed.

The Tweenies rooms (2 years - 3 years)

At this stage the children are becoming more independent and staff will gradually lead them into a slightly more structured environment where themed activities are planned to enhance children's skills and give them a greater knowledge of the world around them. The children are beginning to join group activities and are given every opportunity to make choices that will enable them to develop their own personalities. It is also within the Tweenie rooms that children begin to make real friendships and where their individual interests become more apparent.

The Pre - school rooms

In the pre-school rooms, children follow the pre-school curriculum for 3 - 5 year olds as set by the Education Department and implemented by our qualified teachers. All activities are planned to meet the five key areas of learning which are; Communication and Language: Emotional, Personal and Social Development: Expressive and Aesthetic Development: Physical Development and Movement: and Knowledge and Understanding of the World. When planning to meet the five key areas of the curriculum, our teachers will assess individual children's needs, abilities and interests and will involve the children themselves. The children will be able to use their natural curiosity of the world to explore a variety of subjects in a child centred way. Staff will encourage and motivate children to develop at their own pace and help them to gain self-confidence and self-respect and learning through play, to become more independent, establish positive relationships and be sensitive to the needs of others. Children may also become more acquainted with computers and (restricted) internet use in these rooms, under the guidance of their tutors.

Soft play room

This is our indoor, active jump-around room that the children can use for energetic play all year round so when the weather is not so good, the children will still have opportunities to have lots of fun burning off some of their excess energy! The room is furnished with larger toys and equipment for more active pursuits.

Cosy lounge & story room

This is our relaxing room where there are lots of cushions and bean bags and the older children can relax, rest and prepare themselves for more fun and games in their base rooms. The cosy room is also used for small group activities and stories can be read here in tranquil surroundings. Children who sometimes prefer quiet time, perhaps reading on their own, can also use this room and avoid the more boisterous distractions of the larger rooms.

Music & Dance room

In this room children will have the opportunity to sing, play percussion and other musical instruments and learn to dance, without disturbing other activities. We have visiting musicians and dance instructors (subject to demand and for a small fee) to enable the children to get the opportunity to hear how instruments are really played and have an opportunity to participate themselves. Ballet and highland dancing classes may also be available.

Dining rooms

The separate dining rooms are mainly used by the over two's for meals. Younger children will normally eat within their base room. Meal times are a good time for children to develop their social skills, good eating habits and table manners as well as assisting to help set places and clear away. Staff will take meals with children to promote good eating habits and table manners. They will also encourage the use of good etiquette prompting the children to say "please, thank you, excuse me, I beg your pardon" etc., the goal being the children using this language, unprompted, when not attending the nursery. Children are also taught to wash their hands after using the toilet and before and after eating.

Garden area

In the gardens, different groups of children can engage in different activities. They can participate in environmental activities such as looking for different types of insects or planting different flower and vegetable seeds and bulbs and tending for them as they grow. A story corner has also been created with a story tree where, on a fine day, children will be taken to the corner and participate in story telling. The garden also contains the outdoor play area where fixed play equipment has been installed with safety flooring. Even this seemingly carefree area can be used to teach children to queue in an orderly fashion and to contain their boisterousness. Picnic tables can also be taken outdoors, on warm days, to eat in the fresh air. The gardens are, needless to say, fully self-contained within their own walls and safeguarded by our security system.

Out and about

To link up with the many different activities we have going on throughout the nursery, the children will be taken on outings to experience, first hand, all the things we have been discussing to give them a greater knowledge and understanding of what they are learning. Included in the places we will be visiting are: museums, the zoo, library, the city farm, the Commonwealth swimming pool, Holyrood park etc. There will of course be extra supervision on these trips and your permission will always be sought in advance for this type of outing. Staff will always carry a mobile telephone when they leave the property for use in an emergency. Sun cream will also be provided by the nursery during warm and sunny weather with a 30+ protection factor rating. In addition, children will be taught how to behave on the public highway through our affiliations with the Tufty Club, Lothian and Borders Police Children's Traffic Club. Visits are also planned from the Police, and their horses, to the nursery

What do we provide

Meals

All meals are provided for full-time children and are carefully planned so as to ensure that they receive a healthy, nutritious and well balanced diet whilst at the same time being relaxed and having fun. We also cater for children with special dietary requirements within reason. The chef ensures that no peanuts or salt will be used in the preparation of any food at the nursery. Fresh fruit and fresh milk will be a part of the staple diet. Formula milk will be provided for babies until they are weaned. When they begin to transfer onto solid food they will be given home-made baby food and cow's milk. For older children we provide breakfast, a two-course lunch and a substantial afternoon snack. Children who attend part-time in the mornings get breakfast and lunch whilst afternoon only children get the afternoon snack. After every meal, the children will brush their teeth with toothbrushes supplied by the nursery as advised by our dental hygienist. They will initially be taught how to do this and encouraged to do it by themselves thereafter.

Nappies

All nappies, wipes and creams are included in the fees. Our strict hygiene policies dictate that each child is allocated their own cream for their exclusive use. Our nurses use disposable gloves whilst changing nappies to preclude any possibility of infections or illness.

Key carer

Upon joining the nursery your child will be allocated a specific member of staff to be their key carer. The key carer will be your first point of contact within the nursery and they will listen to and discuss any queries that may arise at nursery. Of course, the manager is available at any time should you wish to discuss anything with her. Your child's key carer will keep regular written reports on your child's all round development. These reports enable us to continue to meet the individual needs of your child whilst attending the nursery and are available for you to see at any time. Also given to the parent is the daily report which is completed for each baby and toddler detailing food eaten and liquids drunk, times of naps and walks, times of nappy changes and if any medicines were administered.

Parental involvement and keeping you informed

At the nursery we believe that working in partnership with parents and good communication is an essential element to us providing the best care possible for the children attending the nursery and the staff will always respect the views and wishes of parents when making decisions within the nursery. At the beginning and end of every session a member of staff will speak to you so that you will both be able to share information on how your child has been. You will be able to inform staff of any requirements during the nursery session and the staff will be able to let you know how your child has been and what they have been doing during their time at nursery. Other ways we like to keep you informed is via our notice boards, newsletters and twice yearly parents evenings. A private office is also available to any parent who wishes to have a confidential conversation with any member of staff. We pride ourselves on being a professional carer for your child and recognise that you have a choice. Consequently, should you have any reasons for complaint, we would want to be made aware of this immediately. In the first instance, should the key carer not be able to resolve your issue, you should speak to the nursery manager. If she is unavailable, the owner will be available. All complaints will be resolved within two working days. Should you find that you are still unhappy, we recommend you speak to a representative of the Care Commission, our licensing body, who will assist you and give you independent advice. We will agree to each and every recommendation they make as a result of your complaint. Their telephone number is 0845 603 0890.

Other ways in which we hope we can help you with your childcare include:

Babysitting; should you wish to use one of our staff to undertake babysitting duties for you, please speak directly with the individual member of staff. This service is outwith any arrangement you have with the nursery and is strictly between the staff member and yourself. However, parents are not allowed to employ our staff on a part time or full time basis during the standard nursery opening hours. If a member of staff does leave us to work for you within 6 months of their leaving the nursery, a recruitment fee will be payable to us based on 20 per cent of their salary.
Child Collection: should you be ill and unable to take your child to nursery, we will endeavour to send a member of staff to collect your child. Due to the workings of the nursery, this will take place at a time when the staff member is not required at the nursery. The member of staff will take a taxi to and from your home and you will supply a child car seat. You will be liable for all expenses associated with the service (taxi fares and overtime if relevant). You must arrange this service through the on-duty nursery manager preferably on the day before the service is required. Unfortunately, this service is restricted to collecting children living within 5 miles of the nursery. This service may be withdrawn if the nursery manager feels, after discussion with the parent, that the service is being abused.
Trial period: before your child starts with us for full sessions, we recommend that you bring your child to the nursery for an hour or so, spread over a few days. You should stay with them for these periods while they acclimatise themselves to the nursery. This time could also be used to see if you think our nursery is appropriate to your child and of course, no charge would be made for these trial periods if a nursery position has been booked.
Birthday Party; A birthday cake will be prepared for all children who attend. Should you require something more extensive, just call the nursery manager and we can arrange it. You could consider magicians or clowns, balloons and cakes for all the children in that group.
Party Planning: A full list of contacts is available should you be arranging a party for your child. The list includes suppliers of bouncy castles, food, entertainers, marquees etc. should you require them.
Parent Care: Parents are welcome to join the children at any time and for as long as they wish. It can be for just a half-hour up to a full day. They will need the next day off just to recover!
Paperwork: Where a parent has notified us of where they eventually wish their child to attend primary school, we will endeavour to remind parents of application closing dates, and provide them with relevant application forms if available to us.
School preparation: Unfortunately, all children eventually leave us. To assist them, and you, in this traumatic move, we will take your child to visit their future school, giving them confidence through familiarity for their eventual start. In addition, if possible, the Nursery Manager will meet the children's new teacher and update them on their time at the nursery.
Information regarding financial advice for future school and university fee commitments can be made available to parents via an Independent Financial Advisor.
Hair care: Our hairdresser will visit the nursery frequently and can style your child's hair in accordance with your instructions.
Dental care: a dental hygienist will visit the nursery at regular intervals should your child require dental care.
Dancing classes: ballet and highland dancing classes will be available should there be enough demand to justify them
Visits to the Commonwealth swimming pool will incorporate swimming lessons should a slot be available.