Young children experience rapid growth and learning stages, which is why our room has been thoughtfully designed to foster an engaging environment. With an array of soft furnishings, vibrant lights, and interactive toys, we encourage the development of hand-eye coordination, sensory exploration, and, most importantly, fun!

 

'Play is the beginning of knowledge.' (George Dorsey)

 

 

In our baby room, we strive to nurture your child into a confident, happy, and curious individual. This space caters specifically to our infants and young toddlers, ensuring a high standard of care. Designed to feel like a home away from home, our room offers a relaxing and secure environment for your little ones.   The area is well-equipped with age-appropriate resources that encourage exploration and investigation. Children enjoy varied sensory experiences, both indoors and outdoors, fostering their independent thinking. We provide treasure baskets and heuristic play materials—collections of everyday objects that inspire imaginative play and problem-solving—supporting development across all areas.

 

We maintain a daily diary through our FAMLY app, which parents can access every day. This diary records your child’s daily routine, keeping you informed and connected.

 

Our Tiny Toes room accommodates up to six children at a time, with a staff-to-child ratio of 1:3 for 0-2 years, ensuring personalised attention and care.

 

 

Settling-In Sessions   

Our gentle, phased, and child-centered settling-in approach is designed to cater to each child’s unique needs. We recommend starting with short sessions of just a couple of hours and gradually extending the duration over several weeks. Before your little one begins, we will ask you to fill out the "All About Me" form and your child’s personal routine sheet. This information provides us with a foundation for understanding their learning and development, enabling us to tailor our approach to align with their individual routine.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kim Westerman– Room Leader / Supervisor

Level 2 Childcare Learning & Development  

 

 "I have been working in Early Years for the past 22 years. During this time I have gained invaluable experience and knowledge. I have built my way up to the supervisor role and oversee health & safety of the Nursery. I very much enjoy working in early years. I love seeing the children grow and develop their own little personalities. I enjoy building bonds with the children I care for, and their families. In my spare time I enjoy taking my daughter to her football lessons and watching her during tournaments. I also enjoy going to the gym"

Fiona Walker

BA HONS degree in Early Years and Childhood Studies 

 

"I enjoy working in early years because I love watching the children grow, learn & develop. I enjoy working as part of a team. I love that every day is different! I enjoy spending time with my partner, going for long walks, reading, and baking."

Millie Lancett

Working towards Level 2 in Childcare, Learning & Development             

"I have always enjoyed caring for others, I often help care for children in my family. I love watching children grow and I enjoy contributing to their learning & development. In my spare time I enjoy reading, going out for walks, spending time with my family and drawing"

How to start weaning your baby

Lots of parents wonder when and how to start introducing solid foods – with so much conflicting advice available it can be very confusing.

You should wait until your baby is around 6 months old. This gives them time to develop properly, so they can cope with solid food.

Introducing your baby to solid food starts when they're around 6 months old. This is because:

  • breast milk or first infant formula provides the energy and nutrients needed until around 6 months (breastfeeding women should consider taking a daily vitamin D supplement)
  • it gives your baby time to develop so they can cope fully with solid foods
  • your baby is more able to feed themselves
  • they'll be better at moving food around their mouth, chewing and swallowing – this may mean they can have mashed, lumpy and finger foods (and may not need smooth, blended foods at all)

What are the signs my baby may be ready to start weaning?

There are 3 clear signs, which, when they appear together from around 6 months of age, show that your baby is ready for their first solid foods, alongside breast milk or first infant formula.

Signs your baby may be ready to start weaning
* stay in a sitting position, holding their head steady

* coordinate their eyes, hands and mouth so they can look at their food, pick it up and put it in their mouth

* swallow food (rather than spit it back out)

 

Behaviours that can be mistaken for signs of being ready


*chewing fists

* wanting extra milk feeds

* waking up in the night (more than usual)

 

These fist-chewing, wanting extra feeds and waking up in the night are normal baby behaviours and not necessarily a sign of hunger or being ready to start solid food.

Starting solid foods will not make your baby any more likely to sleep through the night. Sometimes a little extra milk will help until they are ready for food.

If your baby was born prematurely, ask your health visitor or GP for advice on when to start weaning.

How much your baby eats depends on their appetite, so let your baby guide you on how much food they need – never force them to eat.

In the same way you follow your baby's cues when offering them breast or bottle feeds, be responsive to your baby when giving them solid foods, and learn to recognise when they're hungry and when they've had enough.

It may take 10 tries or more for your baby to get used to new foods, flavours and textures.

There will be days when they eat more, some when they eat less, and then days when they reject everything. Don't worry – this is perfectly normal. Be patient and keep offering a variety of foods – even the ones they don't seem to like – and let them get used to it in their own time.

 

 

What you need

Here are some suggestions to get you started.

 

High chair

Your baby needs to be sitting safely and strapped in, in an upright position (so they can swallow properly).

First cup

Encourage your baby to sip water from a cup with their meals (instead of a bottle). Open cups or free-flow cups (without a valve) help your baby learn to sip and is better for their teeth.

 

Spoons

Soft weaning spoons, usually made of rubber or plastic, are easier on your baby's gums.

Plastic bowls

Ideally the ones with a suction base, otherwise they're likely to end up on the floor!

 

Ice cube trays

Very useful for batch-cooking and freezing small portions.

Bibs

Easy-to-clean plastic or pelican bibs are best in the beginning.

 

Messy mat

Or even newspaper under the high chair – handy for messy eaters!