Barnet

Our Barnet Nursery has specially designed four bright learning rooms with your child’s best interests at heart, each tailored to one of our particular age groups of babies, pre-toddlers, toddlers and pre-school complete with carefully selected sophisticated resources, facilities and modern technology suited to encourage children’s exploration for plentiful learning opportunities. Each room has direct access to outdoor space allowing the free flow of learning and playing both indoors and out.

• Milky Way Room: Under 2 years old

  A warm welcome to the Milky Way Room where we accommodate our babies and pre-toddlers from 6 months onwards. We have created a safe, nurturing and stimulating play area which is bright and spacious to welcome all our little ones as they move around safely in a clean and caring environment.  We have a cosy sensory area positioned just outside of the learning room, where babies can spend time in intimate groups with their Key Person in order to enhance their sensory development.

  Due to the age group in this room, your babies’ care routine can either be mirrored by their Key Person to synchronize what you give your baby at home including feeding, nappy changes and sleep routines, or, alternatively their Key Person can support and structure your babies’ routine to merge with the Nursery routine. A copy of the Nursery routine will be given to you during your first settling-in session.

  The daily routine is tailored around the babies’ individual needs and abilities to help support their growth and development. The younger babies’ have the opportunity to participate in a variety of activities, planned to create a balance between stimulating discovery play and adult led opportunities such as music and singing, creative and creative play such as painting, sticking and cooking.

  Opportunities for exploring the outdoors are built into the daily routines with free-flow access to the attractively designed outdoor play area which incorporates a safe area for younger babies who can experience the natural world around them.  We also take regular walks to the beautiful Highland Gardens.

  As the babies develop and become more confident in exploration, they are provided with opportunities to participate in a wide range of exciting, educational activities. Free-Flow outside play forms a large part of their day where a wide range of toys and bespoke play equipment are available helping develop their balance, co-ordination and physical strength; there is an area for climbing and cruising as well as the freedom to express themselves. At this age, babies also begin to take an interest in books and nursery rhymes, we have a designated cosy area to encourage this.  Group activities are gradually introduced which helps develop the babies’ concentration and language skills. For example, the staff offer ‘Baby Sensory’ sessions twice per week in the Milky Way room, enabling your baby to experience a wide range of new emotions.  We work very closely with you as parents to help and encourage all of these new skills that the babies are learning. barnet nursery

   

• Galaxy Room: Under 2¼ – 3 ¼ years old

  A warm welcome to the Galaxy room where we accommodate our confident walkers and pre-toddlers. When your child transitions to this room they will be assigned a new Key Person who will continue to support them on their Bright Little Stars journey. The Galaxy Room has been created to provide a safe and stimulating environment specifically created for children who are confidently walking. Our carefully planned environment is bright and airy with lots of natural light, rich in colour and offers physical experiences indoors and outdoors. As pre-toddlers explore and use all their senses to learn about the world around them, our learning room offers a rich and varied learning environment, where children can easily-access materials and engaging activities, including a role play area, construction and small world, creative and mark-making tools, puzzles and shape sorters, sand and water, a cosy area for quiet time and relaxation and free flow to our beautifully designed outdoor garden.

  

  The Key Person helps develop the children’s personal and social skills, the children are encouraged to participate in small circle times in the cozy book area, having opportunities to socialize, form friendships with their peers and take turns in simple adult led activities. As the children in Galaxy grow and develop their own interests, their Key Person supports and helps them prepare for the transition into the larger Orion toddler Room. It is vital that every child feels ready and secure before each transition.

  As well as focusing on the Prime Areas of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), we also start to introduce the children to the Specific areas including literacy, mathematics, expressive art and design and exploring the world. Children enjoy learning basic tasks, taking ownership and responsibility. We encourage the children to develop their independence by helping to dress themselves, teaching them how to use a spoon and fork to eat, and how to drink from a cup. We also have the opportunity for those who are ready to transition from nappies to toileting.

• Orion Room: 2¼ -3¼ years old

  

  A warm welcome to the Orion Room where we accommodate toddlers. As the transition is made through to the Orion Room, a new Key Person will be assigned to support your child and continue their learning journey with them.

  The Orion Room is a spacious, bright and stimulating environment with unique access to a free-flow outdoor covered balcony area with access to the main garden. Primarily, the children have free choice as to what to explore, however, we encourage active times for exercise and play and quiet times for calmer, structured activities and speech development. Our beautiful bright group/cosy area encourages the children to spend time independently looking at a wide range of media and reading to build vocabulary and love of books. Staff actively lead group activities to further develop comprehension and language. These include ‘Show and Tell’ and discussions on personal experiences, days of the week, months of the year and weather. The LCD computer screens are used to reinforce learning around phonic letters and sounds as well as the world around them and technology. Key People are important role models in children’s early development, therefore we encourage the ‘Golden Rules’ including good listening and good sharing. The adults also model polite language and respect, forming part of the fundamental British Values. Praise is always given for new achievements to build self-esteem and confidence. We encourage strong parent partnerships, inviting parents in to join in with your child’s learning and development.

  

  As well as participating in a wide range of extra-curricular activities, the children also take part in weekly Science and Botany activities, and learn about Geography and Culture, both forming part of the BLS Learning Programme. Children develop at different rates and each child’s progress is individual to them. The Key Person’s role is very important to encourage exploration and self-help. Children will be encouraged and supported to dress themselves, wash their hands regularly and before meals, learn to self-serve their meals and eat using a knife and fork at mealtimes. When your child is ready, their Key Person will support them with the transition from nappies to toileting. Their independence will grow in preparation for the pre-school Supernova Room. Your child’s Key Person will continue to assess their development through the 7 Areas of learning in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and they will complete a ‘Two Year Old Development Check’ to ensure your child is reaching the expected developmental milestones and their own full potential.

• Supernova Room: Over 3¼ years

  A warm welcome to the Supernova Room where we accommodate our pre-school children. Our aim within the Supernova Room is to ensure that your child is ready and eager to start mainstream school.  Strong parent partnerships are vital for a smooth transition to school; therefore, we meet with you regularly to update you on your child’s progress and development and support you in the steps needed to help you with your child’s transition. The Supernova room has been specifically designed to ensure that children can access a structured programme of play and learning to prepare them for their move to ‘Big School.’

  The EYFS is reflected throughout the learning room and outdoor areas featuring mathematics, literacy (including phonics, ‘reading’ and mark making/writing), understanding of the world with discovery activities, science and botany experiments, role-play areas for personal, social and emotional development and developing their expressive and receptive language, construction areas, expressive art and design including painting, sand and water play.

  

  The children are taught how to keep themselves safe by completing risk assessments and learning to solve simple problems; in small, supervised groups children are encouraged to partake in Healthy Risk Taking and Challenging Play.

  We encompass a ‘School Day’ within the nursery day. This includes, whole group ‘teaching’ sessions, adult-led small group activities and child-initiated learning.  We combine both adult-led and child-initiated activities to encourage independent learning and motivate children. As we prepare children for school we continue to support and encourage good table manners, children confidently self-serve their meals and prepare their own snacks, as well as using a knife and fork at mealtimes. Children are confident to dress themselves and are familiar with toileting and regular hand-washing. The children enjoy helping the adults in everyday tasks. Children’s language is now much more complex therefore we encourage them to join in conversations, learn to use longer sentences and to begin to think about the past, present and future.

  

  The children are encouraged to contribute to group circle times with ‘Show and Tell’ activities, as well as reflecting on their interests, sharing their family life, culture and beliefs.

  The children have an increased interest in social play, such as make-believe, construction and puzzles, which help to develop comprehension and planning, as well as reinforcing important social skills such as sharing and co-operation.

  To assist children in in developing personally, socially and emotionally, BLS are offering mindfulness sessions. This will assist children to be self-aware and provides coping strategies in difficult situations.

  With all the above mind and in order to be able to access the learning provided in our pre-school room, we have room entry requirements.

Take a look at around our nursery and see all that we have to offer you and your little one.

At Bright Little Stars Nursery, Barnet, for your convenience, unlike many other nurseries our fees include an exciting range of extra-curricular clubs, freshly prepared meals and snacks cooked by our on-site chef and milk (excluding formula milk).

Our Barnet Nursery is open Monday to Friday from 8:00am to 6:00pm, 50 weeks per year excluding Bank Holidays for children aged 6 months to 5 years. Our sessions comprise of a choice between part-time or full-time discounted care. Children can be dropped off and/or picked up anytime within their relevant session time. Fees are charged on a monthly basis.

In the best interests of each child, for private care, we ask you to commit to a minimum of 2 full days per week.  This ensures that each child is well settled and is able to participate fully within the curriculum at Nursery.

For further detailed information about our fees or any discounts we are offering please see below or contact our Nursery Manager who will be more than happy to answer any queries you may have.

• Registration, Offers/Discounts and Additional Charges

  Application, Registration and Fees

  A signed and fully completed application form and parent contract together with a non-refundable Registration Fee is required prior to confirmation of a place. Registration does not guarantee a place for the start date / sessions required.

  Offers/Discounts

  Siblings Discount

  To reward our loyal parent partners, we are happy to offer a 10% siblings discount to the eldest child of two children, including twins, attending our Nursery at the same time. For three siblings, we are happy to offer the eldest child a 10% siblings discount and the second child a 5% siblings discount when all three children are attending our Nursery at the same time*.

  Additional Charges

  Please note parents are expected to provide nappies, wipes and formula milk.

  Registration Fee:	£75.00 non-refundable
  Deposit:	2 weeks fees refundable subject to Terms and Conditions
  Late Collection Charge:	£10.00 for every 15 minutes
  Nursery Outings:	As and when they take place

  Swipe left to see all of the table

• Funding, Tax-Free Childcare and Vouchers

  Government Funding

  The Government funds Local Authorities to offer subsidised early education places in settings inspected by Ofsted. We fully participate in offering your child 15 or 30 hours’ funded childcare per week.
  Currently, this will commence the term after your child becomes eligible for funding. Local Authority conditions apply. Extended funding for eligible parents will be rolled out in phases in line with government criteria:

  From April 2024, working parents of children aged 2 will be able to access 15 hours free childcare.

  From September 2024, working parents of children aged 9 months and above will be able to access 15 hours free childcare.

  From September 2025, working parents of children aged 9 months and above will be entitled to 30 hours free childcare per week.

  Funded Early Education entitlement commences the term after they become eligible for funding and are entitled to 570 hours of childcare which is 15 hours per week for 52 weeks a year.  In addition, 3 and 4 year olds of eligible, working parents may also be able to access a further 570 hours of funded childcare; this means 3 and 4 year olds could receive a total of 30 hours funded childcare per week over for 38 weeks a year, providing they meet the government eligibility.

  Bright Little Stars stretches this funding entitlement over the year and adds the cost of providing the many additional services that BLS prides itself on providing for our privately funded sessions. This includes nutritionally balanced meals designed by a qualified nutritionist, extra-curricular clubs, ParentCam, digital access to your child’s online learning journals with real time updates, a home learning platform, qualified teachers leading our pre-school, regular nursery events for children and parents, parent educational workshops with an extensive database of recordings, individualised support for school applications and many other additional services.

  To qualify for the 9 months plus Funding each parent (or the sole parent in a lone parent family) will need to earn, on average, at least the equivalent of 16 hours on the national minimum wage per week and no more than £100,000 per year.  Self- employed parents and parents on zero-hours contracts will be eligible if they meet the average earnings criteria. Families where one parent is not in paid employment (or neither parent works) will usually not be eligible for the additional 15 hours. There are exceptions for parents who are on parental, maternity, paternity, adoption or sick leave. Parents who are studying or in training will not be eligible unless this is combined with paid work which meets the minimum average earnings threshold.

  To find out more please visit the Childcare Choices website.

  Please note:  Whilst we participate in 15 and 30 hours funded entitlement to Early Years Education this does not guarantee the availability of a place.

  Tax-Free Childcare

  All BLS Nurseries are registered and accept payments from Tax-Free Childcare accounts.  Tax-Free Childcare is a more accessible alternative to the Employer Childcare Voucher scheme offering tax efficient savings when paying for your nursery fees. Tax-Free Childcare will be open to all qualifying parents, unlike childcare vouchers which can only be bought by people whose employer offers the scheme.  It is a scheme by which the government will top up a designated childcare bank account by 20p for every 80p deposited, up to a maximum of £2,000 per child per year.  It is the responsibility of the parent to ensure the Tax-Free Childcare payments are set up in line with the terms of the Bright Little Stars Contract.

  Tax-Free Childcare can be used alongside the 15 and 30 hours funded entitlement to Early Years Education and will support families with their childcare costs.

  To find out if you are eligible or for more detailed information and how to register, please visit the Government Childcare Service website.  Please also see the Frequently Asked Questions in our Parent Information for further terms and conditions.

  Childcare Vouchers

  We accept Childcare Vouchers from employers who offer this benefit to their eligible employees as an e-voucher. Vouchers are non-taxable and exempt from NI contributions for employees, whilst offering NI savings for employers. Both parents are eligible to claim as long as they are both in employment.