Information for parents
What to Bring to Nursery
We want your child to feel comfortable, confident and ready to explore during their day at Wisbech Day Nursery. Having a few familiar and essential items with them helps us to meet their individual needs and allows them to take part fully in everything nursery has to offer.
Please make sure that all items are clearly labelled with your child’s name.
Spare Clothes
Please provide a bag containing a change of clothes. Children can get messy while playing, exploring, eating and enjoying our outdoor activities — and we encourage them to do so!
We recommend including:
- T-shirt or top
- Trousers, leggings or skirt
- Underwear
- Socks
- A spare jumper or cardigan
Please check the bag regularly and replace clothing as your child grows or as the seasons change.
Outdoor Clothing
We enjoy outdoor learning throughout the year, so appropriate clothing is important.
Depending on the season, your child may need:
- Sun hat
- Sun cream, where appropriate and in line with our nursery arrangements
- Waterproof coat
- Wellies
- Warm hat and gloves
- Warm layers during colder weather
Please don’t worry about your child getting muddy! Outdoor exploration is an important part of learning, and we would much rather children have the freedom to explore than worry about keeping their clothes clean.
Comforter
If your child has a special comforter, dummy or familiar item that helps them to settle or sleep, please bring this along.
We recognise that comfort items can be particularly important during settling-in periods, times of change or when children are tired.
Babies and Younger Children
For babies and younger children, please provide enough of their individual essentials for the day, such as:
- Nappies
- Wipes or other agreed changing products
- Formula milk, if required
- Comforter or dummy, if used
- Spare clothing
- Any other items agreed with your child’s key person
Please speak to your child’s key person about your child’s individual routines and requirements.
Bags and Belongings
Please bring your child’s belongings in a clearly labelled bag that your child can recognise.
As children become more independent, we encourage them to take responsibility for their own belongings — finding their bag, putting away their coat and recognising their own photograph or name.
This helps to develop independence, confidence and a sense of responsibility.
Sun Protection
During warmer weather, please ensure your child arrives appropriately dressed for the weather and has a sun hat. Sun Cream must be applied before your child comes to Nursery. Nursery staff will reapply it during the day. Please leave a bottle of named Sun Cream at nursery or you can opt to pay a nominal fee to use Nursery Suncream (Boots Soltan 50+)
Our team will follow the nursery’s sun safety procedures and work with families to ensure children are protected while enjoying outdoor play.
A Little Bit of Home
Starting nursery is a big step for both children and families. If your child has a favourite comforter or familiar item that helps them feel secure, please let us know.
Our aim is to create a warm and nurturing environment where children feel safe, settled and ready to learn through play.
Our top tip!
Label everything! From coats and shoes to bags and spare clothes, clearly labelled belongings are much easier for children and staff to identify.
Most importantly, bring your child ready for a day of fun, exploration, messy play and learning!
Medication
Only medication prescribed by a doctor or other authorised healthcare professional may be brought into the nursery.
All medication must:
- Be in its original packaging.
- Be clearly labelled with your child’s name.
- Have the dispensing date and dosage instructions clearly visible.
- Be handed directly to the Room Leader or a designated member of staff.
Before medication can be administered, parents or carers will be asked to complete and sign the appropriate medication consent form, giving the nursery permission to administer the medication in accordance with the prescribed instructions.
Medication must never be left in your child’s bag or brought into the nursery without being handed directly to a member of staff.
Our team will ensure that all medication is stored safely and administered in line with our Medication Policy and agreed procedures.
Accidents & incidents
Although we carry out regular risk assessments and take every reasonable step to minimise hazards, accidents can occasionally happen as children explore, play and learn.
All accidents and injuries are recorded in accordance with our nursery procedures. Parents or carers will be informed of what has happened and, where appropriate, will be asked to sign the accident record to confirm that they have been informed.
If an accident or injury is considered serious or requires further medical attention, we will contact the parent or carer, or the nominated emergency contact, as soon as possible to explain what has happened and what action has been taken.
Where necessary, with parents permission, we will seek further medical advice from NHS services or emergency services. Our priority is always to ensure that children receive the appropriate care and support while keeping parents and carers fully informed.
What to do in case of sickness
To help protect the health and wellbeing of all children and staff, any child who has, or develops, an infectious illness should remain at home until they are well enough to return to nursery.
This includes illnesses and symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhoea, conjunctivitis, sore throats and unexplained or infectious rashes.
In particular, children who have experienced vomiting or diarrhoea must remain at home until they have been free from symptoms for at least 48 hours.
If your child is unable to attend nursery due to illness, please contact us before 10am to let us know. If your child does not attend their booked session, and we have not had a phonecall from you, the Nursery will contact parents to “check-in” after 10am.
If you are unsure whether your child is well enough to attend, please speak to the Nursery Manager or your child’s Room Leader. We are happy to provide a copy of our full Excludable Illness List, which provides further guidance on individual illnesses and recommended exclusion periods.
Our aim is to work in partnership with families to minimise the spread of infection while ensuring children receive the care and rest they need when they are unwell.
Settling In and Familiarisation
Starting nursery is an exciting milestone for both children and their families. We offer familiarisation visits before your child’s start date, giving you and your child the opportunity to spend time in the nursery, meet their Key Person and become familiar with their new surroundings.
On their first day, your child will be warmly welcomed by their Key Person, who will support them as they settle, build relationships and become familiar with the other children and practitioners.
We understand that every child is different and that some children may need a little more time and reassurance when starting nursery. We work closely with parents and carers to make the transition as positive and relaxed as possible.
We generally encourage children not to bring toys from home, as these can become lost or damaged. However, we understand that a favourite teddy, blanket or comforter can provide reassurance during the first few sessions and help children feel secure.
Our experienced team will provide plenty of warmth, reassurance, cuddles and encouragement, helping your child to develop confidence and feel happy and secure in their new surroundings.
Security
All visitors to the nursery are greeted and released by a member of staff. Only those who are pre-authorised to collect their child from nursery will be allowed to do so, unless approval is given by the parent/carer. Parents/carers are asked to leave an emergency number where they can be contacted.
Formula Milk and Expressed Milk
Formula milk is provided by the nursery until the age of 12 months. Expressed milk must be clearly labelled with your child’s name and handed to a member of staff when you arrive at Nursery.