RootsOur Roots room caters for children aged from six weeks up to two years old. The Roots room is accessed via the door to the right of the foyer. The sessions in Roots run from 8.00am to 6.00pm, Monday to Friday.
The sleeping area is found at the far end of the room and adjoining this is a quiet carpeted play area for the youngest children. Around the corner is the main play space which is resourced with age appropriate toys and activities, especially those which encourage physical development, communication & language development and social & emotional development. The Roots room has direct access to the small enclosed garden which is designed just for our smaller children, as well as a separate area under our veranda reserved just for our little ones. |
Key Person |
Each child will have a key person who will discuss with you the feeding and sleeping routine of your baby or toddler and try to replicate this as far as is possible. They also keep a record, in individual daily diaries, which will be available for you to take home with you each day, detailing your child’s care routine – what they have eaten, when they slept and for how long, and any nappy changes, along with a brief summary of some of the things they have done during the day. There is a page for you to let us know about your child’s day before they come to us – how have they slept, when they need feeding and any other information which you feel we need to know to make their day as comfortable and happy as possible. Please fill it in and bring it in with your child – the information you provide is really helpful.
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Feeding |
We ask parents to provide milk in labelled bottles for the day if needed. Information on timings, quantities and temperature preferences can be detailed in the daily diary. Once a child starts weaning we will discuss their individual dietary requirements with you. It is possible for us to provide a freshly cooked meal based on the older children’s menu for that day, which can be pureed, mashed or chopped according to your child’s needs and preferences. Snacks are provided during the day and include foods such as fresh fruit and some form of carbohydrate – apple slices and a breadstick or banana and rice cakes, for example.
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Sleeping |
Whilst the children are sleeping calming music is played and the space is dimly lit by strings of fairy lights. Each child is allocated their own sheet and blanket, stored in a named basket, which will be laundered at least once a week. You are very welcome to bring favourites from home if that makes your baby feel more secure. We will adhere to your home routine as much as possible – for example, if a baby goes to sleep at 11.00am every morning, we will endeavour to do the same; if your baby likes to be rocked to sleep, we will do the same; if they prefer to go to sleep in their pushchair, we will do the same. The closer we can get to what is familiar for them the happier they will be. Please note that the Preschool environment is very different to home though and so these routines may vary, especially in the early days. Once they feel more secure they will settle into a routine.
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Nappies & Clothing |
We ask parents to provide nappies, wipes and a tube/tub of nappy cream, if needed. This ensures that nappies are always the correct size and your preferred brand and that any wipes/creams used will not cause a reaction on your child’s skin. We also ask for a change of clothes, which will be stored in the named baskets. Suitable outdoor clothing including waterproofs, a sun hat and wellingtons (once they are walking!) would be useful. There is a small cloakroom in Roots where these things can be stored and it is important to label your child’s belongings, otherwise they may easily get mixed up. We encourage the children to explore and experiment with all different kinds of materials, including messy ones such as paint, mud and water, so it is best to send your child dressed in clothes which are easily washable, not too new, and are suitable for these types of activities.
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Moving On |
After their time in Roots the children move into Saplings which caters for children from 2 to 3 years old. The children move from one room to the next according to their readiness and not necessarily their age. The decision is made between us – parents, key person and child - and the move will be prepared and planned for, just as the move into Big School is for the older children.
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