FAQ

What age children do you care for?
We welcome children from birth to 5 years, supporting them through each stage of their early years journey. Our nursery is thoughtfully organised into four rooms: Babies, Infants, Toddlers and Preschool, with each environment designed to meet the unique needs, interests and development of the children within it.

What are your opening times?
The nursery is open from 7:30 to 6:00. If you use funded hours, you can choose the 10-hour day that best suits your family: 7:30–5:30 or 8:00–6:00. The nursery manager will confirm your hours when you enrol your child. 

What makes Blossoms Day Nursery different?
We are a Reggio-inspired nursery where children are encouraged to explore, investigate, question and develop their own ideas. We place strong value on relationships, inclusion, community experiences and creating environments that inspire curiosity and awe and wonder.

Do you have outdoor learning opportunities?
Yes! Outdoor learning is an important part of life at Blossoms. Children have regular opportunities to explore our outdoor spaces, allotment and wider community, with experiences carefully planned around their interests and learning.

How do you support children with additional needs?
We work closely with children, families and professionals to understand each child’s individual needs. Our team includes staff with SEND responsibilities and relevant training, and we work collaboratively to create an inclusive environment where every child can thrive.

How do I apply for a place?
Please contact our nursery team to discuss availability and your preferred start date. We can talk you through the registration process and answer any questions you may have.

Can we visit the nursery before deciding?
Absolutely! We encourage families to come for a show round, meet our team and see our environment before making a decision. We want you to feel confident and comfortable choosing Blossoms for your child.

How do you help children settle into nursery?
We offer three settling-in sessions to help children and families feel confident before starting:

Session 1: One hour with parents, including an ‘All About Me’ conversation with your child’s key person.

Session 2: One hour without parents, helping your child become familiar with their new environment and the drop-off routine.

Session 3: Just over an hour including a mealtime, helping your child become familiar with another part of their daily routine.

Every child is different, so additional settling-in sessions can be arranged if needed.

Will my child have a key person?
Yes. Every child has a named key person who builds a strong relationship with your child and works closely with you. Each child will also have a secondary key person, who knows your children well and can provide continuity and reassurance when their main key person is not in nursery. 

What does a typical day look like?
Every day is different! Our days are filled with curiosity, creativity, exploration, and discovery, with children following their interests and making the most of every opportunity around them

Following the Birth to 5 Matters curriculum, children enjoy a balance of child-led, exciting planned experiences, outdoor adventures, music, stories, messy play, and opportunities to develop their independence skills.

Whether we are exploring nature, getting creative, investigating a new idea or heading out into our community, there is always something exciting happening at Blossoms!

Do you provide meals and snacks?
Yes. We provide nutritious, homecooked meals and snacks throughout the day, with menus designed to support children’s healthy development, meeting the EYFS nutrition guidance. We also consider dietary requirements and allergies when planning food.

When using funding, meals and snacks are not included but can be purchased separately through our optional care package. 

Can my child have a nap at nursery?
Yes. We provide calm, comfortable sleep spaces and follow safer sleep guidance to support your child’s individual sleep needs and routines. 

For children 12 months and under, we do not allow comforters in the sleep space in line with our safer sleep procedures. Dummies are welcome and can be used during sleep.

We also provide sleeping bags for children who prefer to nap in one, ensuring they meet the relevant British safety standards.

Can I provide breast milk or formula?
We are happy to support your child’s individual feeding needs. Formula must be provided in a new, sealed tub in line with our policies and procedures. We can safely store breast milk, and parents are also welcome to come into nursery to breastfeed their child during the day. 

Do children need to bring anything with them?
We encourage children to come prepared for all the fun and exploration a nursery day can bring! Depending on the weather, please provide wellies, puddle suits, hats, scarves, sun hats and sun cream. Don’t worry if you ever forget these items, we have spares! 

Please also send plenty of spare changes of clothes, particularly if your child is toilet training. We encourage children to explore freely, so things can sometimes get messy- best clothes are definitely not required! 

How will I know what my child has been doing at nursery?
We use the Ovivio app to keep you connected with your child’s day. You will recieve updates including what they have eaten, nappy changes, milk intake for bottle-fed children, and snapshots of their day through photos.

Parents can also use the app to leave comments and communicate with the team throughout the day. At collection, you will recieve an in-depth handover, giving you the opportunity to hear all about your child’s day, experiences and achievements. 

How do you support my child’s learning and development? 
We follow the Birth to 5 Matters guidance and use in the moment planning to respond to your child’s interests, ideas and individual development as they play and explore. Our planning is displayed in each room and you are welcome to view your child next steps at any time, to find out what they are currently working towards at nursery. We also welcome your input. 

Our Early Years Educators use the Three i’s- intent, implementation, and impact, to help us plan meaningful experience, provide the right support and understand the impact of our teaching on each child’s learning and development.  

Do you offer activities that children can continue at home?
Absolutely! Our parent hub is designed to support learning beyond nursery, with activities, ideas and useful information tailored to each room and their current learning intent.

We also offer home learning and support bags, such as toilet- training bags, filled with useful resources and guidance to help families get started at home and build on that we are doing at nursery. 

Do you offer extracurricular experiences?
Yes. We work with specialist groups to provide enriching experiences, including music, mathematics, football, mindfulness, and other opportunities throughout the year. We also provide experiences such as Imagination Time, helping children develop creativity, communication and confidence.

Please view, Extracurricular Activities – Blossoms Day Nursery, to find out more! 

What are your nursery fees?
Please contact our nursery team for our current fee structure and availability, and we’ll be happy to talk you through the options available to your family.

When are nursery fees due?
All fees must be paid by the 1st of every month. 

Are there any additional costs when using funded hours?
Government funding covers the funded childcare hours but does not cover all of the additional consumables and services we provide. We therefore offer an optional care package for families accessing funded hours, which can include items and services such as nappies, wipes, and extracurricular activities.

Families are not required to purchase the care package and can choose to provide the relevant items themselves. For full details of what is included and current pricing, visit the ‘Our Locations’ section of our website, as these vary by setting. 

Can we stretch funding across the year?
Yes. We offer the option to stretch your funded childcare hours across 51 weeks of the year. 

Stretched funding spreads the same total number of funded hours across more weeks. This gives you fewer funded hours each week but allows you to use them throughout most of the year. For example, if you are using your full 30 hours entitlement throughout the year, that would total 22.3 hours per week stretched.

Do you offer term-time only places?
Yes. We offer a limited number of term-time only places, which are allocated on a first come,  first serve basis.

If you are interested in a term-time place, please get in touch with our team to discuss current availability. If we are unable to offer a place at that time, you can join our waiting list for when one becomes available.

Can I pay through Tax-Free Childcare?
Yes, absolutely! We accept payment through the Tax-Free Childcare scheme. 

To get started, simply set up or log in to your Tax-Free Childcare account through GOV.UK, add Blossoms Day Nursery as your childcare provider and make your payment through your online childcare account.

Once set up, you can use your account towards your nursery fees, with the government adding £2 for every £8 you pay in, subject to eligibility

Can I get help paying my childcare fees?
Yes, you may be eligible for help towards the cost of childcare. Depending on your circumstances, support may include government funded childcare hours, Tax-Free Childcare or help with childcare through universal credit.

Find out more about the available childcare support at  Childcare & Early Years Education – Best Start in Life