About us
Starting at a nursery can be an emotional time, both for you and your child. At Little Jems we're acutely aware of this and will do everything we can to make the transition as easy and worry-free as possible.
“plainly, the environment must be a living one, directed by a higher intelligence, arranged by an adult who is prepared for his mission”
Our Home Rooms
All of our home rooms offer a range of areas to explore and be comfortable and cosy in. We offer areas for creative and messy activities, life skill activities, book corners, role-play and much more. All of the activities are at child height so that the children have access to all of the resources all of the time. Made readily available is also a quiet place to sit and think or to curl up on a comfy cushion and take a nap.
The space the children use in the nursery is defined by their age, younger children down stairs and the older children upstairs. Having the older children all together reduces the number of room changes that children have to make during their time with us. This gives our children a consistency of care and routine which in turn helps them to develop independence and self-esteem.
The ambience we create is designed to reflect the fact that the children are with us for a full day. For this reason our rooms are designed to have a ‘home from home’ feel.
"one test of the correctness of educational procedure is the happiness of the child"
Nutritional menus
We can say with confidence that our daily menus are fantastic! Our in-house chef has created a menu which pleases children and parents alike. Working to our nursery food statement we use locally and responsibly sourced fresh seasonal produce. In addition to the fine work our chef is doing, we are also thrilled to announce that our menus are under the watchful eyes of nutritionist Jackie Woods from North East Diet and Nutrition. We will be tailoring our menus to reflect seasonal produce and create tasty dishes which the children will enjoy, as well as providing the recommended amounts of daily nutrition. Our meal plans are compliant with the children’s Food Trust Voluntary Food and Drink Guidelines for Early Years.
"whoever touches the life the child touches the most sensitive point of a whole which has roots in the most distant past and climbs towards the infinite future"
Your child's 'key person'
When your child joins us he or she will be paired up with a 'key person', a carer who will work with you to ensure that your child's physical, social and emotional needs are met. The key person will not, of course, be the only person caring for your child, but they will be your first point of contact whenever you'd like to talk to someone at the nursery about your child's development. We believe that a clear line of communication helps you, your child and us. As your child moves through the nursery their key person may change, but we believe that the key person system enables parents to know exactly whom to talk to, should any issues arise.
We see the care of your children as a partnership between you and our nursery team. Parents are always welcome in the nursery and we hope you will view us as part of your extended family. We hold regular 'stay and play' sessions where you are invited to join your child for a morning or afternoon to see what your child's time at the nursery is like. We think it's a great idea for parents to come along for the pre-start visits before their child joins us. This not only enables you to get a better feel for the nursery and our staff but also to discuss your child’s preferences with us. All parents are offered pre-start visits before their child starts at the nursery.
"the child is both a hope and a promise for mankind"
Our youngest children
Our baby areas are designed to be homely, stimulating and comfortable, and our focus is on giving the babies plenty of love, security and attention. The day is flexible and relaxed, and we follow a routine that echoes the children's own routine at home as much as possible. Your baby would follow his/her own sleep and feeding patterns with us. We also try to spend time in the nursery's lovely, well-equipped roof top garden every day.
"education is a natural process carried out by the child and is not acquired by listening to words but by experiences in the environment"
As we grow...
The aim of the nursery is to help children to develop into confident, happy, independent and co-operative individuals. This happens throughout the nursery but it is especially important for the toddlers and twos as these earliest years are formative and have a fundamental effect on your child's future development.
At this time children are very inquisitive and learn new skills incredibly quickly. We provide an environment where children can have fun while discovering, exploring and learning safe, stimulating surroundings.
"the essence of independence is to be able to do something for oneself"
Growing up and getting ready for 'big school'
As children get older at Little Jems they continue to have access to resources that meet not only their developmental needs but their individual interests; a discussion about one child's visit to the seaside might become a group project on sea animals, castles or pirates! We provide a safe, educational environment in which your child can become more curious about the world around them and develop pre-skills they can put to good use at 'big school'. We aim to help every child become as independent as possible in practical and self-care routines.
"free the child's potential, and you will transform him into the world"
The Curiosity approach
Technology has made it much easier for children to be passively entertained. A screen will often hold a child’s attention, but it doesn’t stimulate their imagination like engaging in play. Even then, playing with modern toys can be limiting in terms of imagination, if they are perhaps overly specific or complicated. A cardboard box can become anything in the mind of a child, but a fire engine usually stays a fire engine.
The Curiosity Approach aims to stimulate a child’s natural instinct to learn about the world through experiment, by giving them the tools both mentally and physically to inspire creativity.
For more information on The Curiosity Approach, please CLICK HERE to visit their website.
Complete this form if you’d like to arrange a visit
"the first duty of an education is to stir up life, but leave it free to develop"
