Item 09 Appendix 1
West Dunbartonshire Council · 21 June 2023
Back to Educational Services Committee — 21 June 2023 and its agenda
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Appendix One 1 Parental Responses - Aspect Review Questions 2022 - 2023 Please describe how the nursery works with you and supports you in helping your child to make progress Good communication Nursery staff have listened to my concerns and adapted the nursery environment to suit the needs of my child. They regularly inform me of progress by daily chats and his learning journal. Fantastic communication between parents/ carers and nursery through various channels (Facebook, Learning Journals, newsletters, noticeboard). Learning Journals updated at least every week which gives a real insight and flavour as to current learning in nursery. Facebook posts from nursery about Book of the Month, Word Aware etc and activities that could be used at home. Parents Evening with key worker to discuss specific progress of child. Several opportunities to be included in child learning in the nursery. How has 1140 ELC impacted you? I am able to work without worrying about who will look after her. I can work from home without interruption. My older child had 600 hours and I spent a good part of the day dropping off and picking him up. I’m at college (a fair number of parents reported this). I am registered disabled and prior to 1140 I often had to keep my child off from nursery as there was no time to get to hospital and back again. This really impacted him socially. Now with the longer day I can go to my hospital appointments and he can attend nursery. The nature of my disability means that my appointments are sporadic. Now I don’t worry about this. I am a grandmother of two girls. My son has been out of work for years and has always struggled to hold onto a job because he had to drop off and pick up at nursery. He has now been in a job for almost a year and this has meant that the girls have had a holiday this year. Describe the experience you have each day with the nursery staff Nursery staff have a soft start in place each morning for my child and they always take the time to approach him in a way that makes him feel welcome and safe and cared for. Warm, welcoming and inviting, always able to grab quick chat about child day. Any concerns/ worries are easily discussed and shared.
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Appendix One 2 Smooth and safe entrance and exits It is always a nice experience dropping and collecting my child, well-staffed and well organised. The nursery makes me feel really welcome. I can come in and have a cup of tea and some toast and talk to my girl’s lady. I have made friends with other parents through nursery. In the morning, my daughter is greeted and staff are happy to see her. I receive communications regarding my daughter throughout the day. When your child first started, how was their induction and enrolment? Did you feel that the nursery made a good care plan, individual to your child? Yes very good. Unfortunately my child's induction took place mid pandemic when social distance rules were in place. This was not a good settling in process for him. Thorough interview initially to discuss all aspects of child from eating, health and even hobbies. Nursery induction was well supported between key workers and parent. Nursery attendance built up gradually reflective of the need of the child. Nursery staff all welcoming and already knowledgeable about each child before they started Yes they covered all aspects, answering all my questions and putting my mind at ease, they learned my child’s needs very quickly which helped settle her in. Good transitions were in place when she started at five months old. Conversations took place and transition days occurred. Good transitions built up from 20 minutes to full sessions over approximately 10 visits. These specifically met the needs of the individual child. In what ways has the nursery's approach felt individual to your child and their needs? The nursery staff have adapted the nursery environment and his routine to meet his needs. Nursery staff listen to him and his interests and develop his learning through his interests. Learning Journal provides individual insights into child at nursery and their learning whilst there. Very clear that nursery staff know your child from conversations. Play opportunities are responsive and reflective of child’s needs and interests. Each child being in a certain group helps the teacher get to know the kids one on one and he has a great relationship with all the staff. I always feel he is in safe hands and well looked after
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Appendix One 3 My son is a really fussy eater. I was really worried that he would be hungry at nursery because he was in longer days. The nursery worked with me and my son to encourage him to try new foods. He is now eating things he would never have tried for me at home. My daughter has an allergy and there is a clear strategy in place for this. Staff are thorough and work with caution and care, always reviewing her medications. They cater perfectly for her. What groups have you been involved in or what sessions have you been invited to? If you went, what did you do and what did your child gain from it? Stay and Play was so good for me to observe my child settled, happy and playing well with other children. We have been invited to several sessions across the year. At the start we had a stay and play session which allowed me as a working Mum an opportunity to see the nursery and how it was set up and share that moment with child. We also had an evening opportunity to experience how the nursery day runs. Parents Evening to discuss specific needs and targets of child alongside their learning journal. An opportunity to read with child at World Book Day. Christmas Concert, Visit from Santa, Easter Bonnet Parade. Sports day, Christmas activities, and invited into see them in the nursery environment, reading them a story and enjoying playing with them, she loved showing me around her class she gained loads of confidence in both these sessions The nursery have loads of opportunities every week to come in and cook, read, sew or garden with the children. It is good because I make things like pasta, bread and soup with my daughter in nursey and take it home and use it for dinner at night. I help run the community food and clothes shop with my daughter who comes to the nursery. The nursery runs it every week and it means we can take food, clothes and toys if we need it. Not sure about this question but there's a nursery library every Friday where all the children come and pick a book to read with their family over the weekend. I really like this idea. I was invited to a stay and play session and was able to see the children play in their environment. I have been invited to join the parent council, to participate in stay and play opportunities and I have been invited to a Mother’s Day breakfast. Have you ever had to raise concerns? How did you do it and what was the response? Note: almost all parents said no to this question. I have had concerns about my child's development and the nursery staff have
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Appendix One 4 always been very responsive and make time to listen to my concerns and put a plan in place and update me where necessary. One incident of another child lashing out, it was totally dealt with and the nursery couldn’t be more accommodating in dealing with the matter all solved and no further issues What do you understand of the nursery's vision, ethos and aims? I couldn't quote any policies verbatim but I know from personal experience that the nursery approach is to give all children equal opportunity and access to education in a way that celebrates individual qualities and builds respect and friendships and with their peers. All parents were consulted about what they believed the vision, ethos and aims of the nursery should be. Once they were agreed an email containing a graphic of the vision, ethos and aims were shared with all parents. This made it clear that the nursery aims were inclusivity, community and nurturing each child to their fullest potential - amongst other things. I believe the nursery’s vision is to help each child develop as much as they can while in their care. We were included in the process and I feel it's all very good The rationale is on display and is also on the website. It highlights the children are the most important part of the nursery. How do you find out about what improvements the nursery is planning to make? The nursery newsletter always outlines any improvements, the most recent one being the outdoor space. This has also been discussed on a 1 to 1 basis with staff. Parents are often consulted through Facebook to canvas ideas and opinions about how to improve the nursery for the learners. Nursery staff shared pictures of their newly organised areas within the nursery with a natural approach. They also asked for donation of real life resources to be used in these areas. This was funded by parent donations and fundraising so was nice to see where the money was well spent. A huge change has been made outside the nursery to make a better, free flowing outdoor learning area. This has been shared and discussions with parents have been had about ways to improve and fundraise for this area too. Lending Library is also discussed and volunteers often asked for, as well as book donations. The emails / messages are fantastic always updates with any information that’s needed, as the garden has just had work done and we were given updates on the progress The newsletter and regular email updates.
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Appendix One 5 Any other comments: My child has additional needs and the support we have both received has been excellent. As a parent I feel very included in the learning, the learning spaces and that my opinions matter. I feel like I can visualise my child’s day at nursery and the learning that takes place. This helps me to understand the day my child has had and help support them with learning at home. For the first time my child has been included and invited to 2 birthday parties. I feel she is accepted and is part of society. The staff know my child inside and out. They make personal touches like asking me how my other children are. They are at school now but used to attend the nursery.
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