Admissions
Visit Us
Dear Parent/Carer,
Thank you for your interest in Mini Munchkins Montessori Nursery.
You would be more than welcome to come and see our nursery in person to view the Montessori materials and other Early Year’s resources used by the children. Please take this opportunity to ask any questions that you may have.
We look forward to meeting you very soon to show you just how much our nursery can offer your child.
If you have queries or wish to make an appointment to visit us, please contact on 01753773724 or click here to contact us.
Our address is:
Mini Munchkins Montessori Nursery
Cedrus House
156 Horton Road
Datchet SL3 9HJ
There is free parking available on Horton Road and on all the side roads. We are in close proximity of the M4 motorway, junction 5, Sunnymede train station and Datchet Railway stations.
With warmest regards,
Sonia Soin
Director and Manager
Admission Policy
Policy Statement
It is our intention to make our setting accessible to children and families from all sections of the local community. We aim to ensure that all sections of our community have access to the setting through open, fair and clearly communicated procedures.
Procedures
- We ensure that the existence of our setting is widely advertised in places accessible to all sections of the community.
- We ensure that information about our setting is accessible, using simple plain English, in written and spoken form and, where appropriate, provided in different community languages and in other formats on request.
- We will maintain a waiting list for children. In addition, our policy may take into account:
– the length of time on the waiting list;
– the capacity of the setting to meet the individual needs of the child.
– whether any siblings already attend the setting; and - We offer funded places in accordance with the Code of Practice and any local conditions in place at the time.
- We keep a place vacant, if this is financially viable, to accommodate an emergency admission.
- Our setting and its practices are welcoming and make it clear that fathers, mothers, other relations and carers are all welcome.
- Our setting and its practices operate in a way that encourages positive regard for and understanding of difference and ability – whether gender, family structure, class, background, religion, ethnicity or competence in spoken English.
- We support children and/or parents with disabilities to take full part in all activities within our setting.
- We monitor the needs and background of children joining our setting on the admission form, to ensure that no accidental or unintentional discrimination is taking place.
- We share and widely promote our Valuing Diversity and Promoting Equality Policy.
- We consult with families about the opening times of our setting to ensure that we accommodate a broad range of families’ needs.
- We are flexible about attendance patterns to accommodate the needs of individual children and families, providing these do not disrupt the pattern of continuity in the setting that provides stability for all the children.
- Failure to comply with the terms and conditions may ultimately result in the provision of a place being withdrawn.
Your Child's First Day
Setting In Progress
We aim to make our nursery a welcoming place where children settle quickly and easily. Consideration is given to the individual needs and circumstances of children and their families. Your child’s key-person will help your child to settle into our nursery.
During your child’s settling-in period, it will be expected that the adult bringing the child to school may have to stay at the setting for some or most of the session, gradually taking time away from their child, increasing this as and when the child is able to cope. Younger children and children who have not previously spent time away from home may take longer to settle in. We will do everything we can to make the settling in process just as easy as we can.
You would be expected to be contactable by phone just in case your child becomes very upset. The drop off/collection time will be extended each day until your child stays for the full session.
You would be handed over your child’s specific settling-in procedure via the confirmation letter.
Advice on Starting the nursery
We provide flexible arrangements for settling-in new children to give them enough time to become comfortable and for the practitioners and parents to discuss each child’s circumstances, interests, skills and needs.
Prior to your child’s first settling-in session, you will be sent an email with the confirmation letter and important admission forms that you must complete and return before their first settling-in session. This will help practitioners to understand your child needs, likes and dislikes and any other important information that we need to know for their well-being. We will also let you have a list of items that we will need from you. All the items must be labelled and placed in your child’s back pack.
NB: Please note that we will not be able to have your child with us unless all the forms are completed and returned to us.
Children mostly start our nursery in the beginning of the month. We offer up to and a maximum of three settling-in sessions free of charge to allow children to settle-in to our nursery. These sessions are offered in the last week of the previous month. Their first settling-in session at the nursery is kept short. The duration of their stay on the other two days is gradually increased. These sessions prepare children to slowly build bonds with their practitioners and their peers and they familiarise themselves with our nursery routines. By the end of the settling-in sessions children are generally ready to start nursery. However, some children may take longer to settle-in depending on their personal needs.
Advice on preparing your child during their settling-in sessions at the nursery - Handy hints to help a smooth transition:
No one likes to feel rushed during the nursery morning routine — especially on the first day. So please make sure you and your child wake up at a reasonable hour. You are less likely to cause stress by rushing breakfast which may upset your child.
Please bring a child size back pack with your child’s spare clothes and any nappies, wipes if your child is not toilet trained yet. Kindly ensure each item of your child’s clothes and all accessories are labelled.
At this point you may feel anxious but do not let your child sense this. They pick up on emotion very well so try to smile and remain calm while you are still with your child. It is good to reiterate to your child that they will have a good time and that you will be back soon.
Keep goodbyes short and sweet, you will be offered to stay with your child in their classroom on the first day but we suggest that when we think the time is appropriate you give your child a warm goodbye and reassure them you will come back very soon to pick them up. Then go to the door where you will be seen out by a member of staff — don’t linger (they can’t get on with their day until you do).
Just remember, it’s normal for some children to cry when it’s time to separate (though many don’t). But even if your child is crying and clinging to you, most of the time they will be fine a few minutes after you leave. If it’s taking a little longer don’t worry, we have many years of experience dealing with this, and will be there to support both you and your child.
We will expect you to keep your mobile handy. We may contact you if your child doesn’t settle and may request you to return earlier, but this is highly unlikely.
We hope your child gets settled into our nursery very soon and be very happy with us.
FAQ
You should aim to enrol your child as soon as possible. Most good nurseries do not have places available immediately and they maintain a waiting list.
Yes, we accept childcare vouchers. We are registered with many Childcare Voucher providers.
Yes, our nursery is registered with the government funding scheme. Under this scheme all 3 and 4-year-old children are eligible for 15 or 30 hours per week of Government funding payable over 38 weeks. We also accept enrolment for 2-year-old funded children.
To qualify for the 30 hours’ government funding available to 3 and 4-year-old children, either as a completely free place, or a subsidised place, you will need to check your eligibility and make your claim. Kindly click on the link below. This is the same website through which you can also apply for the Tax Free Childcare scheme.
We encourage prospective parents to book an appointment to visit our nursery and see us in action. We will give you a tour of our nursery to show you our resources and talk to you about how children learn and develop and the Montessori ethos we follow. Our viewings our usually completed in half an hour.
If you choose to send your child to our nursery you will be required to fill out our “Enrolment form”. You must submit the form by hand at the nursery along with a non-refundable enrolment fee. This will put your child on our waiting list. Closer to the time of your child’s requested start date we will go through our waiting list to check availability. If a place is available, we will write to you to offer your child a place and will ask you to pay a refundable deposit (fully refundable subject to our terms and conditions of withdrawal. Please read our child admission policy). Upon receipt of the deposit we will send you a confirmation letter via email to confirm your child’s start date, his/her settling-in sessions and details on how to make monthly fee payments. We offer up to three free of charge settling-in sessions prior to child’s start date)