Empowering Young Minds, Building Bright Futures
Who We Are
At Poplars Nursery, we pride ourselves on providing a safe, happy, healthy, and stimulating environment for children to grow and thrive. Since 1995, we have been meeting the needs of families living and working in the Swindon area, and we are proud to be a privately owned, independent childcare nursery. Our unique setting is nestled in 3 acres of land, offering a range of fantastic facilities both indoors and outdoors.
What We Offer
Our curriculum is designed to meet the needs of children from 3 months to 14 years old, catering to a wide range of ages and abilities. We provide a well-balanced menu using freshly prepared meat and vegetables, with a vegetarian alternative available for children who require it. Our qualified staff hold a minimum of NVQ Level 3 qualification, with some holding Level 6 BA Honours. We also employ apprentices, who gain the knowledge and experience they need to complete their qualifications.
Our Staff
At Poplars, we have around 50 members of staff, including management, administration, maintenance, chef and kitchen staff, qualified staff, and apprentices. Our management team works together to ensure the smooth running of the nursery. All staff members are known by their first names, creating a warm, caring, and friendly atmosphere. Our staff are actively encouraged to develop their own professional development through training, ensuring they are up-to-date with the latest knowledge and skills.
OFSTED and EYFS
As a childcare provider, we must meet the criteria of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), which is defined by the Department of Education. We follow the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum, which focuses on promoting children's learning and development from birth to 5 years old. Our effective assessments and planning cycle ensures that all children's needs are taken into account and that they reach their full potential.
Your Child's Development
We observe all children, which are linked to their learning journals. This is then used to develop planning and to ensure we are applying all areas of the EYFS. We also provide "WOW" sheets for parents to fill in, reporting on milestones achieved by their child. All children have a learning journal, which is regularly updated by their key-person. These hold vital milestones that your children have achieved, such as crawling, first steps, using a spoon, and drawing with a pencil. Learning journals are regularly monitored, and any concerns the key-person may have would be discussed with the Manager and the Special Needs Co-ordinators.
Key Person System
In all rooms, we operate a key-person system. This is to ensure continuous care and development of your child, making it clear that parents have a point of contact for any concerns or questions. This also ensures that children have a constant member of staff to feel comfortable and safe with upon transition into and through the setting. The decision of who will be the child's key-person is based upon which member of staff the child or parent creates an initial strong bond with.
Our Rooms
Children are grouped into self-contained units according to their age and developmental needs. Each unit has a Senior Manager, who oversees the room and ensures that all activities and events are designed to meet the needs of the children within that unit.
Overall Experience
The reviews highlight the excellent experience parents have had with the nursery, specifically praising the staff and the positive impact on their children's development.
Staff Performance
The staff are commended for being fantastic and brilliant in their roles. They are described as being helpful in settling children into the nursery, keeping parents informed, and providing a supportive environment for the little ones to grow.
Parental Satisfaction
Parents express their satisfaction with the nursery, stating that they are really glad to have chosen it and that their children get upset at coming home instead, indicating a strong bond between the children and the nursery staff.
