Introduction
Westwood Nursery is an Ofsted-registered nursery rated as an 'Outstanding Provision' established in 1977. We offer high-quality care and early education for up to 48 children, from six months old to school age.
Our nursery primarily supports the children of University staff and students, but we also warmly welcome families from the wider community when places are available.
The nursery is open from 8.30am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday.
We are open all year round, with the exception of the following three weeks:
- one week over Christmas
- one week at Easter
- August Bank Holiday week
Our aims and objectives
We aim to give all children the very best start in life. Here at Westwood Nursery we provide a safe, caring and stimulating environment where children learn, develop and grow to reach their full potential.
We offer everyone at Westwood Nursery access to high quality childcare and education. Our highly skilled team provide rich learning experiences through individual planning based on children’s interests and motivations.
Staff training and development
We are a team of highly professional, qualified and experienced staff. Access to a comprehensive University Staff Development Programme provides our team the opportunity to continually update and enhance our knowledge. We also take part in regular training courses and conferences for practitioners provided by BANES, NDNA and other external training providers.
We hold monthly staff meetings to enable whole team discussions and ensure we are continually developing and improving our service.
Our staff undergo all necessary safer recruitment checks and obtain clearance from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) before starting their employment.
Parents and guardians
As a parent or guardian, you will receive a set of terms and conditions which relate to the contract between you and the Nursery. You will be required to adhere to your contractual agreement with us, and we will ensure:
- a Parents' Information File containing policies and procedures and the Ofsted Inspection Report is available for you to access at all times
- you are made aware of the procedure for contacting Ofsted
- you are given plenty of opportunities for regular feedback
Parents as partners
We recognise the vital role primary carers play in their child's nursery experience. We encourage parents and guardians to:
- voice your opinions wherever possible, making suggestions and getting involved in discussions regarding any aspect of our childcare provision
- provide key information for your child, such as emergency contact numbers, health information, special educational needs information and relevant home background details
- get involved on a day-to-day basis through regular direct contact with members of staff and the Nursery Manager
Discussions with nursery staff are particularly valuable and we recommend parents take every opportunity to pass on and receive information.
"Both my children have been to Westwood Nursery and our experience has been exceptional. I feel like we’ve got to know all of the staff, and their care and attention has been brilliant. My children are very different, and they’ve both blossomed at Westwood – they’ve both been nurtured and supported. I trust the staff entirely and will be sad when the time comes to say goodbye. Cara, Tara and the team work hard to create a loving, stimulating learning environment where they are always looking to do the best thing for the child." Tamsin
Supporting On-Campus Childcare Group (SOC)
The SOC group meet quarterly to discuss the Nursery provision. Any parent is welcome to raise an item for discussion. You can do so by speaking to our Nursery Manager or one of our parent representatives.
Current members:
- Chris Young: HR Deputy Director: Safety & Employee Wellbeing (Chair)
- Cara Ratukalou: Nursery Manager
- Shamin Sadrafshari: Parent Representative
- Tamsin Willis-Stovold: Parent Representative
- Kathryn Perry: Parent Representative