Choosing A Nursery

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

As the Festive Seasons draw near the management and staff at The Playhouse would like to wish all our Children and Parents a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

To all our prospective parents we know that choosing a nursery is an emotive decision. At The Playhouse, we understand what is important to both parents and children, and our aim is to provide the perfect solution to all parents looking for childcare for their children

So whether you are looking to return to work,

Moving area or whether you just want your child to have the best opportunities in their life,

then come to The Playhouse and see how we can help!

Early Education

Early Education

All 3- and 4-year-olds are now guaranteed a free, part-time (12½ hours per week, 38 weeks per year), early-education place. There are over 37,000 settings delivering free, Government-funded, early education in the maintained, private, voluntary and independent sectors.

For more information on raising the quality of learning and development opportunities for your child, and giving your child the best possible start to their learning journey, see the Early Years Foundation Stage. This replaces the Birth to Three Matters Framework and Foundation Stage, at The Playhouse Day Nursery
5 St Mary's Road
Bearwood
West Midlands
B67 5DG

Tel 0121 429 4261

Childcare - Playhouse Day Nursery

You know your child best and need to choose childcare that will suit the needs of your child and yourself. The Government have created a framework of regulations and a set of National Standards that all providers must meet to ensure that the childcare they offer is of good quality.

Playhouse Day Nursery - 5 St Marys Road,  
Bearwood, B67 5DG.     tel  0121 429 4261  

All childcare providers are required to meet the 14 National Standards. One or more Ofsted Inspector will visit the childcare provider to ensure that they continue to meet the National Standards. Parents can request to see childcare provider inspection report.

OFTED ensures people running childcare services are suitable to do so. Checks are undertaken on the person applying to run a childcare service, as well as those working in the facility and those who have regular contact with children using the service. For childminders any adult living or working on the premises is also checked.

People running childcare services must make sure the premises are safe and appropriate for children. People running childcare services must plan children's activities to help them enjoy playing and learning. Staff: child ratios are based on the National Standards 

Arranging Childcare

Making good childcare arrangements
Choosing childcare provision for your child is only the beginning. As a parent your responsibility is to make sure that the care your child receives is of continuing good quality.

To help your child settle in it is a good idea to visit the provider several times and stay with your child at first. Move on from this to leaving them together for short periods and then maybe try a dry run of an entire day. Remember to ensure that your childcarer has all the infomation they need - contact numbers, any special needs and day-to-day information about how the child has slept, whether they ate breakfast and so on.

It is essential that you have a good relationship with your child's carer - communication both ways is very important. Make opportunity to exchange information each day and build into your routine time for a regular, longer chat. Talk to your childcarer about any problems as soon as they arise. It is important that you and the carer have compatible attitudes and values. If older children are unhappy, don't dismiss their concerns, listen to them and talk to the carer.

Ensuring quality
The Office for Standards in Education - Ofsted - is responsible for registering and inspecting local childcare facilities.

Every childcare provider (childminders, nurseries, playgroups, after school clubs and some crèches) now has to meet 14 national standards relating to issues such as health and safety, equipment and the care and learning they provide. One or more Ofsted inspectors will visit each childcare provider annually to check that the children are safe, well cared for and take part in activites that contribute to their development and learning. You can ask to see your childcarer's Ofsted report.

If you have any concerns yourself about a provider, these can be reported to Ofsted via the Family Information Service but don't forget, in most cases it's best to discuss the matter with the carer first.

Paying for childcare
Many low income families get financial support to pay for childcare uisng the childcare element of Working Tax Credit. The amount of support you can get will depend on your income level, the number of hours you and / or your partner works, the number of children and any actual childcare costs.

Child Tax Credit gives financial support to families with children whether they work or not. Her Majesty's Revenues and Customs (HMRC), administers both Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit.

Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit Helpline: 0845 300 3900
This helpline is used for claims, enquires and general information.

Further information is available about childcare From Playhouse Day Nursery, Bearwood
Tel. 0121 429 4261

Early Years Single Funding Formula

The Early Years Single Funding Formula (EYSFF) was intended to be implemented in every Local Authority from April 2010. Damn Primarolo, Minister for Children, Young People and Families, has taken the decision to postpone implementation of the EYSFF by one year.

The information provided in the recent consultation in December is currently being collated and analysed. The outcomes will be used to further this area of work over the next couple of months.

Only the introduction of the EYSFF has been delayed by one year. The enhanced, flexible entitlement of 15 hours for all three and four year olds has not been delayed and will be implemented in September of this year as planned.

Further information about this postponement is included in the letter from Tony Howell, Strategic Director, Children Young People and Families,which is available from eBriefing.

Services for Early Years and Childcare

Birmingham City Council's services for our youngest children are all about working to encourage and support happy families.

We aim to do this by making childcare for everyone that wants or needs it as affordable and as easily available as possible, so that parents can continue to work if they wish, knowing their children are safely cared for by qualified professionals.

In those childcare settings, we aim to make sure that small children can thrive and develop and begin to become active learners by making friends, through play and many other activities. So we are trying hard to get the right balance of childcare for our city's families and creating exciting social, play and learning experiences for our youngest citizens.