FAQ

Care and support at HLPS

• Are you a nut-free setting?

  Yes, we are a nut free setting.

• My child has specific dietary requirements, can you accommodate this?

  Allergies are catered for, however parents can provide their own snack if needed. 

• What snacks do you provide during the day?

  During the day we provide plenty of healthy snacks and drinks from our own store. This is essential as our children use so much energy whilst they are with us.

  In the winter this includes warm drinks (hot chocolate, Ribena and juice) and snacks (e.g. wholesome wholemeal crumpets, Warm baked croissants, warm soup and fresh bread) to keep their blood sugar topped up.

  In the summer we provide cold drinks and plenty of ice poles, as well as our usual snacks (e.g. fruit, toast and muffins).

  We always welcome Snack Bar donations. However, if you donate some homemade items please remember to include an ingredients list. Thank you!

• How is lunch given?

  If your child stays with us for lunchtime they will need to bring a packed lunch. This means you know exactly what they are eating, and your child gets to enjoy foods they like (rather than having to go along with a pre-prepared nursery offering). For older children, especially, opening their packed lunch can have an element of excitement to it.

  We will happily warm up any food prepared at home (e.g. pasta, beans, soup etc).

  Children sit together at lunch time. Children in our Nest make use of our Scandinavian-style hut. The Robins sit together in the Robins area. The Owls will either sit together in their indoor space or eat in the garden.

• How do you deal with nappies and nappy changing?

  We have suitable changing areas for this. We need you to provide nappies – either in bulk, or by ensuring there are sufficient nappies in your child’s bag.

• We use reusable nappies - is this OK?

  Ofcourse. Just let us know your system and ensure we have sufficient spares to get through the day. If you have any queries, just ask your child’s key worker or any member of staff.

• How does potty training work at HLPS?

  We will work closely with the parents to support and mirror what you do at home. We would say that children need to be pretty secure at home before trying to continue this in the setting.  We usually do not have any expectations on the children until they have a good level of communication and can ask or let us know they need to go or during their time  spent with us. 

• Will my child have a keyworker?

  All children will have a key worker in the setting. If you’re not sure who this is, please ask.

  We think carefully about which key worker to allocate to each child. We are guided by the child’s preferences, where possible, and our knowledge of them.

• Who can I speak with if I have a concern?

  We have an ‘open door’ policy – you are welcome to speak to any member of staff in the first instance. You are welcome to ask to speak with Ruth Sharpe, our dedicated Safeguarding Lead and Manager. If Ruth is away, you can speak with our Deputy Manager – Oliver Jermyn.

• What happens if my child has an accident whilst at HLPS?

  There are different processes, depending on the severity of the accident and circumstances. Seniors are all Paediatric First Aid Trained. Accident forms are completed and parents are required to sign at the end of a session. If we feel the child needs medical attention, we would contact parent.

• My child is unwell - who do I tell and when can they return?

  If your child becomes unwell during a session, the parent will be contacted to come and collect.  If your child is not attending their session, please contact the office and inform them of their absence.

• My child is exhausted at the end of the day but can't settle. Any ideas?

  Children can expend a lot of energy at HLPS and, especially at times of transition, they may sometimes seem tired and/or unsettled in the evening. You will have your own way of responding to this, but – based on our own learning and feedback from parents/carers – we can suggest some of the following:

  • Spend time with your child, if you can.
  • Follow their lead – they may need some quiet time and to rest on the sofa, or they may want to interact with you.
  • Sometimes developing a post-HLPS routine for busy days can help ground children. You might want to develop this alongside your child, especially if they are older and can communicate their wants/needs.
  • Developing a night time routine that is soothing can help (e.g. reducing device/TV time, reading together, a bath)