Meal Times
Mealtimes are very important social occasions with time for communicating, sharing and enjoying nutritious and tasty food that has been freshly prepared.
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Our nurseries are very fortunate to have their very own dedicated cook on site who is responsible for preparing lunches in accordance with the company healthy eating policy and the national nutritional standards.
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We offer a pescatarian seasonal menu, and our knowledgeable cooks make adjustments to accommodate a range of cultural, religious and dietary needs.
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All food is freshly prepared and include fruit & vegetables along with fish, eggs, soya, beans and pulses.
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The menus are varied and seasonal, so the children experiment with food and flavours. They are encouraged, but never forced to, eat their meals.
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Helping prepare snack food and baking goodies for tea help with even the most fussy of eaters!
Why Choose Us?
Growing Places is a charitable company, committed to enhancing lives, raising aspirations and creating opportunities for all stakeholders (children, their families, employees and volunteers).
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We offer families flexible nursery provision for 50 weeks of the year. All nursery provision is open from 7.30am until 6pm.
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We accept all government funding, including 30hrs funding places.
This funding can be used between the hours of 8am - 6pm. Additionally, we accept all workplace and government voucher schemes.
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We offer sibling discount 10% reduction for a second child and unlimited holiday rates.
Our Settings
Each of our nurseries have ‘pod’ family' groups supported by key adults. This approach fosters secure relationships, a strong sense of belonging, ownership and independence.
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The Pods display photos and family special people books from home alongside documentation of the children’s explorations in the setting. Helping to build meaningful links between home and nursery. These familiar connections support children's emotional wellbeing and sense of identity.
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Children spend parts of their day together in their pod family groups, as they arrive, mealtimes and after 4pm.
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The nursery environment is designed to be flexible and responsive to children's interests, needs and emerging enquiries. Resources, furniture and learning opportunities can be adapted to support the groups current explorations, enabling children to investigate, question, hypothesise and make sense of the world around them, challenging ideas and theories, whilst developing skills and concepts.
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Age/Stage learning groups have time together developing skills and knowledge in the indoor and outdoor environments. They have opportunities to work independently, collaboratively, investigate, problem solve, find answers to their questions and know that it is only by making mistakes that they learn more.
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Holiday Club
The holiday club at Little Acorns provides a range of opportunities at this small holding, including animal care, growing, fun in nature, sport, games, creative play, and cooking outdoors.
Offering the children the opportunity to be imaginative and creative in their thinking and play.
Children are given the freedom and rust to manage risks, assessing situations as they encounter them. Children are able to anticipate risks and mitigate against these.
We encourage children to explore, think for themselves, find solutions and know that it is ok to make mistakes. In doing so, we build children’s resilience, self-esteem and self-belief, encouraging positive attitudes to future learning.
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Food is paramount to good health, wellbeing and strength and learning.
Nursery | Rating |
|---|---|
Mill Hill | |
Morelands | |
Havant | |
Merryfields | |
Oakmeadow |
Baby food & special diets
We follow government guidance for safe eating in nurseries. In line with Benedicts law we are committed to providing a safe, inclusive and welcoming environment for all children, staff and visitors with allergies.
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Baby bottles are provided daily by parents and follow your routines. You may also provide your own baby food or discuss your weaning preferences with the baby room team who along with the nursery cook will ensure your babies developing needs are catered for.
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Our cooks and management team work with you to understand any food allergies or special diets. You will be required to complete an assessment form which is then communicated amongst staff to ensure that everyone is aware.
