Ashfield Nursery South Shields and Gateshead

Staff

We have built a multi-skilled team led by an experienced manager, supported by deputy managers. All staff are screened by the Criminal Records Bureau prior to joining us and are given full training to develop their competencies within our organisation. Each staff member has a training & development plan, to facilitate their training on an ongoing basis.

Each child is allocated a keyworker who will provide personal support and maintain a record of personal progress. Parents are welcome to discuss any aspect of development, achievement or concern with the keyworker.

The child/staff ratios applied within our nurseries are:

• 0 – 2 years - 1 staff – 3 children
• 2 – 3 years - 1 staff – 4 children
• 3 – 5 years - 1 staff – 8 children

Parental involvement

The relationship with parents is of fundamental importance in the operation of our centres. The following are some of the ways in which we promote parental appreciation and participation:-

• Inform all new parents of the centres’ systems and policies and encourage them to contribute.
• Exchange information, formally and informally, about their child’s progress.
• Invite parents to participate in the Homelinks programme to assist in their child’s early development.
• Organise social events to give parents the opportunity to mix with other parents and staff in a relaxed setting.