Frequently Asked Questions
What do you offer at Shining Stars Nursery?Our Nursery has two year groups within it. The first is Little Stars for children aged 2 & 3 years ( 2 academic years before they start school). The second is Big Stars for children aged 3 & 4 years (the academic year before they start school). They run Monday to Friday, term time only. |
When is your nursery open?Our nursery is open from 7.30am - 6.00pm Monday to Friday term time only. |
What session times do you offer at your nursery?We offer a wide range of options. Children can come to nursery as follows: Mornings from 8.45am – 11.45am |
What are your ratios of adults to children in nursery?Our nursery groups are kept within the Government statutory Adult to Child ratios. We have Big Stars Class for our older children and this is split over two groups and we have Little Stars which is one group of children. |
How many members of staff do you have in Shining Stars Nursery?We work within the statutory ratios of 1:13 for our 3 and 4 year olds when working with a qualified early years teacher and 1:8 with our qualified early years practitioners. We operate at 1:4 ratio for 2 year olds as a minimum and we often have more staff than the minimum requirement. Our entire Nursery team undergo the very best early years training and are very well qualified: having qualified Early Years teacher status, a degree in Early Years and Level 3 childcare or NVQ Early Years qualifications. |
What funding is the nursery registered for?The nursery is registered to receive Universal 15 hours and Extended 30 hours funding for 3 & 4 year olds. FEET Funding (Funded early education for two year olds) is also available to qualifying families. |
When will my child receive the Early Years Government funding?All children receive the Universal 15 hours funding the term after they turn 3 years old. Some parents may also be eligible for Extended 30 hours funding. To find out if you are eligible – please click here. To register for this funding, you must apply the term before you wish to use it, therefore the term in which your child turns 3 years old. FEET funding is only available to parents who meet a certain eligibility criteria. |
Do you accept childcare vouchers?Yes, we welcome the full variety of childcare voucher operators and also accept the Government Tax Free childcare. Payments are made via childcare vouchers under the normal process. Once we receive the payment into our account it will be allocated to your online payment account and assigned to your fees. Once your fees are paid in full at the beginning of the term, parents are able to continue making monthly instalments using childcare vouchers which will be allocated to your account and deducted from any future fees. We will need to know which company you are using as you may require a code to register with the voucher company. |
What are your payment terms for nursery?Termly Fees will be assigned via our online payment system called Scopay at the beginning of each term. Fees are to be paid in full within the first two weeks of term. |
Do we get a refund if our child doesn’t attend nursery?No, unfortunately we are not able to offer refunds if your child is absent from nursery for example due to illness or holidays. |
Does my child have to wear a uniform?We ask all our children to wear the Shining Stars uniform as we feel it promotes inclusion and confidence and saves all their lovely clothes getting so dirty!
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What food is provided at Nursery?If your child attends either a morning or afternoon session a fruit snack is provided along with milk. Parents are also welcome to bring in additional fruit if they wish. If your child is attending a full day at nursery they can either bring a packed lunch or for a small daily cost can have a delicious and nutritious hot school lunch prepared by our kitchen staff. For children who attend from 7.30am – 6.00pm we also provide breakfast and a substantial afternoon snack. |
If my child is booked to start nursery at the beginning of a term, however I wish to delay their start date until the next term, can this be done?In the rare instance you decide that you no longer want to start your child at the confirmed start date and wish to delay their start date, we will require a minimum of 3 months’ notice given in writing. The decision to move your child’s start date will be made at the discretion of the nursery. If we are able to accommodate your request, your child’s start date will be moved and your deposit transferred. |
I need to change the days my child attends nursery, can this be done?At Shining Stars Nursery we understand that it can be difficult arranging childcare to suit your own working pattern. We ask for written notification of changing days and if we are able to change your child’s attendance pattern then of course we will but this is dependent on availability. |
My child is not yet potty trained. Does the nursery help support this transition?The expectation for our Big Stars is that the children are fully potty trained or ‘well on their way’. However, we understand that this is not always the case and for those children who are still going through the process of potty training we ask that parents send their child in ‘pull up’ training pants and to supply spares and wipes which can be left on their individual pegs. For our Little Stars who join us pre-potty training, we have full nappy changing facilities available and will support and help parents of both Big and Little Stars through this process when the time is right. |
How do I inform the nursery if my child is unable to attend as they are poorly ?Please notify the Nursery before 9.00am on the first day of absence of your child from Nursery by calling the main WFIS & Nursery number on 020 8394 0647 Ext. 1. Please give details of why your child is absent and their expected date of return to Nursery. Alternatively if you know that your child will be absent from Nursery i.e. family holiday, we kindly ask that you email office.wfis@sfet.org.uk |