Children’s rooms

The Magic Steps Nursery building has been specifically designed to care for the children over two floors, where every child’s learning will take place through play in a natural, child centred, loving environment. Our professional staff will expertly and innovatively offer unique experiences and activities, nurturing each child’s own uniqueness and individuality through the recognition and celebration of equality and diversity. Magic Steps Nursery is a caring place, with learning spaces for free expression, creativity, investigation and curiosity

We have tailored each floor to accommodate the children, as follows:

Lower Floor: for children aged 3 months – 3 years, our Little Leprechauns

Upper Floor: for children aged 3 – 5 years old, our Pixies

Each floor is age-appropriately designed to expand the children’s learning, with furniture and resources specifically provided to support their individual play and everyday activities. Our Little Leprechauns room allows for children to develop their physical motor skills, with exclusive areas for the smallest and ‘non moving’ baby up to the more active toddler who is learning how to walk and climb. There is a warm and cosy area for sleeping and resting children, and areas for staff to care for nappy changing, potty training and preparing milk. The children have space and freedom for physical development; to develop personal, social and emotional skills; express themselves through art and design; learn communication and language skills; and learn about the world around them.

Staffing ratios ensure definitive care and safety for every child at Magic Steps Nursery. Children from 3 months – 2 years old are cared for on a 1:3 ratio. The more independent children, aged 2-3 years old, are cared for on a 1: 4 ratio. Older children preparing for school, aged 3-5 years old, at a ratio of 1: 8. Our staff receive detailed training in the specific age groups they are caring for, as their knowledge and understanding of children’s developmental ages are integral to the children’s learning and development.

The upper floor at Magic Steps Nursery cares for children aged 3-5 years old. Our Pixies have a spacious, open plan area to build relationships; develop physical skills through large block play and construction; explore arts and design using different media and imagination; develop reading and writing skills; and learn how to listen, pay attention and own self-confidence in preparation for school. They have their own toilet area which can be accessed independently, learning self awareness and good hygiene practice. The children are encouraged to care for their own personal belongings, with photo labelled pegs where they can dress and undress themselves from outside play.

Children search out perspectives and views that intrigue and inspire them… the outdoor area is an essential part of the child’s daily environment and life. Our garden offers significantly different, but complimentary, experiences to young children to the indoors. Both our indoor and outdoor environments are given equal status and attention for their contribution to young children’s well-being, health, stimulation and development. Our Little Leprechauns, on the lower floor, have direct access to the secure garden from the rear of the building through a light and warm conservatory, where staff can support the children to dress appropriately for outdoor play in all weathers. Our Pixies, on the upper floor, can access the garden via a side exit staircase leading directly from their cloakroom area down into the secure garden. Staff will support and supervise the children during these transitional periods.

The Magic Steps Nursery garden is a wonderful space where the children can run, climb, explore and express their individuality, feel the wind on their faces and the warmth of the sun, watch the changing colours of the seasons in the flower beds and grow vegetables to eat, count wildlife, butterflies and mini-beasts. They are free to play games from their own imagination, build dens and hidey holes, pirate ships and mud pies, using the natural resources around them.

“We strive to make a difference to the lives of children and their families by responsibly giving each child the knowledge and skills they need to be successful in the world they live in”.

Childcare vouchers: We accept childcare vouchers, which is a great way for parents to save on childcare costs:

	http://www.edenred.co.uk/
	http://uk.sodexo.com/
	http://www.computersharevoucherservices.com
	https://www.care-4.co.uk

Tax-Free Childcare

You can get up to £500 every 3 months (up to £2,000 a year) for each of your children to help with the costs of childcare. This goes up to £1,000 every 3 months if a child is disabled (up to £4,000 a year).

If you get Tax-Free Childcare, you’ll set up an online childcare account for your child. For every £8 you pay into this account, the government will pay in £2 to use to pay your provider.

You can get Tax-Free Childcare at the same time as 30 hours free childcare if you’re eligible for both.

Click here for further information: Tax-Free Childcare information

Please contact us directly if you would like to discuss any of these funding options in more detail.

Promoting a healthy diet

We understand the importance of a healthy diet for your child. All of our meals are prepared daily on-site using fresh, nutritious ingredients. The menus are carefully planned to provide a well-balanced diet at meal and snack times. Special dietary requirements can be catered for to comply with parents’ wishes and any children’s medical conditions, as long as the nursery is advised in advance of such requirements.

In addition to a healthy, balanced diet we consider mealtimes to be an important social activity. We encourage children to discuss their tastes, food colours and textures, and above all always encourage good table manners.