An Application form for Dinky-Doo Nursery may be downloaded from here.

A full copy of the Dinky-Doo Prospectus may be viewed from here.

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To view our prospectus and services please click the appropriate section below:-

Aims

It is our aim at Dinky Doo Nursery School that every child develops a lively, enquiring mind, feels happy, safe and secure, and fulfils his or her potential in every aspect of progress and growth. To achieve this we provide a well-resourced, stimulating environment that:

- protects and nurtures the well-being and health of the child;
- encourages active learners to question and gain in confidence and motivation;
- encourages a sense of belonging and active involvement in the education process for children and their families;
- ensures that opportunities for learning are fair and each child's contribution and individuality is valued, irrespective of gender, ethnicity, age or background;
- recognises, promotes and protects the language and symbols of our own and other cultures;
- recognises that children learn through exploration;
- values and promotes play as providing meaningful learning;
- provides a broad, balanced curriculum that meets the needs of each child, reflecting the areas of learning set out in national guidelines for 3 - 5 year olds;
- provides opportunities for children to take responsibility and to share in decisions that affect them;
- recognises that the acquisition of knowledge and skills should be planned and appropriate to each child's needs.

We are confident that this approach will give lasting benefits to our children and lay secure foundations for the next stage of schooling.

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Daily Sessions

Dinky Doo Nursery School offers three separate daily sessions with places for 24 children to attend each session.

Session times are:
                                    8.00am - 5.30pm
                                    8.00am - 12.30pm
                                    1.30pm - 5.30pm.

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Admission & Fees

There are places for 24 children from 3 months to the age of five years at the school. 

Application forms are available from the  Nursery Office or this website.

A registration fee is required for each child.

One months notice is required for withdrawal of a child from the school.

The fees from September 2008 are:-
                                    All Day           - £37.00
                                    AM Session    - £18.50
                                    PM Session    - £18.50

This includes all meals but excludes any outings.

Fees are payable 4 weekly or weekly in advance.

Dinky Doo is open all year—including school holidays, apart from Christmas Week and Bank Holidays.

The Dragon School and Lynams staff have priority places at the Nursery and are entitled to  a discount of 10% off all school fees.

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Partnerships

EYDCP

Dinky Doo Nursery works in partnership with The Oxfordshire Early Years Development  and Childcare Partnership who are responsible for the planning and co-ordination of pre-school education and childcare across all sectors in Oxfordshire.

Early Years Grants may be claimed for children from three years.

SURE START

Dinky Doo Nursery works in partnership with Sure Start.           
Sure Start is a Government programme which aims to achieve better outcomes for children, parents and communities by:
increasing the availability of childcare for all children
improving health and emotional development for young children
supporting parents as parents and in their aspirations towards employment.

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Curriculum

At Dinky Doo Nursery the curriculum is based on the provision of a full range of planned and spontaneous learning experiences.

The planned curriculum is based on the guidance recommended by the Department for Education and Skills (DfES). It promotes activities that lay secure foundations for future learning. This is referred to as the Foundation Stage and provides the curriculum for children from the age of three until the end of their Reception class year.

The Foundation Stage curriculum is based around six broad areas of learning:

Personal, Social and Emotional Development
This area is concerned with emotional well-being, knowing who you are and where you fit in. It is about children's view of themselves; their self-esteem and their relationships with others. Children are naturally interested in other people and we offer opportunities to help to develop independence, confidence and resourcefulness as well as their understanding of:

• relationships, feelings and needs
• acceptable social behaviour;
• right and wrong;
• the world around them - the people in their community and those in the wider world;
• the diversity of cultures (different customs and festivals).

Communication, Language and Literacy

It is through language that children learn and make sense of the world around them. Language, written and spoken, enables children to explain themselves, interact with others and to organise their thoughts.

We offer children many opportunities to speak and to listen; to express their ideas in words and in pictures; to share a rich variety of stories and poetry and a love for books and language.

We develop knowledge and understanding of print and that it conveys meaning; that it is possible to record language; that letters stand for something; that print flows in a particular direction and that the alphabet has upper and lower case letters.

Mathematical
Use of mathematical language to help develop concepts during a range of activities forms the foundations on which mathematical understanding is based.

Knowledge and understanding of number; shape and space; pattern; symmetry and positional relationships; measure (time, weight, length, capacity) are all explored. The first hand experiences we offer the children help them to sort, count, sequence and measure.

Knowledge and Understanding of the World

Children learn about themselves and the world around them and begin to make sense of their world. We provide opportunities for children to find out about past and present events in their own lives; to explore their environment and to learn about other living things.

Children develop knowledge and understanding of materials and their properties; of why things happen and how things work. They design and make models using tools and equipment and use information technology to support their work.

We provide the opportunities that will help children to develop enquiring minds and the skills of observation, prediction, problem solving and experimentation.

Physical

Through the daily nursery routines we encourage children to develop the skills of physical control, co-ordination, movement and manipulation. We help children gain confidence in what they can do and to feel the positive benefits of being healthy and active indoors and out.

We provide opportunities that allow the children to develop knowledge and understanding of how their bodies work; of health and hygiene; the need for safety; how to move with confidence and increasing control; to improve their fine motor skills.

Creative

Children learn through their senses. They need time and opportunity to explore and experiment with ideas and materials; to develop their own ideas and to be imaginative; to observe carefully and to develop the ability to use a variety of tools and techniques.

We help children to develop a knowledge and understanding of texture, colour and shape; of drawing and painting; musical forms and rhythm; and of imaginative play, drama and dance.

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Staff

All Dinky Doo staff have been fully vetted by OFSTED  and are fully qualified to either NNEB or similar standard.

Staff turnover is very low ensuring continuity of education and care for the children. Staff regularly attend courses in various areas of the curriculum.

Sara Mander — Proprietor
Qualifications:- NNEB
Experience:- 21 years.

Nicky English — Nursery Manager/Classroom Leader
Qualifications:- Montessori Degree
Experience: 10  years.

Kerrie Oliver — Nursery Nurse
Qualification:- NVQ level 3
Experience:- 5 Years

Sarah Foley — Nursery Assistant
Qualifications:- NVQ level 3  nearly completed
Experience: 2 years

Alex Robinson — Nursery Nurse
Qualifications:- Early Childhood Studies BA
Experience: 4 years.

Nicky Haines — Nursery Assistant
Experience: 6 years at Dinky Doo Nursery.

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General

Nursery Policies
Dinky Doo adheres to strict policies and procedures. These comprehensive guidelines are used to help with the smooth running of the Nursery School and are aimed at assisting both parents / carers and staff, in fulfilling our aims and remaining within the boundaries of all relevant legislation.
Our policies have been drawn up in accordance with OFSTED guidelines and recommendations. 
Copies of our policies are available from the school office.

Complaints
We aim to provide an environment and relationship with you that supports your child and meets his/her requirements. We are open about what we offer and how we operate. However, we also understand that there may be occasions when you may have concerns that you want to discuss. Please feel free to approach any member of staff who, whenever possible, will be willing to listen, talk, give advice and/or resolve any issues you may have. Parents may prefer to approach the Proprietor directly, in which case an appointment can be made.
In the event of a parent having a concern that they do not feel can be discussed with either staff or the Proprietor, a formal complaints procedure can be followed. This has been designed to provide you with a formal mechanism to resolve any complaint you may have that has not been resolved with the staff. Copies are available from the school office.

Disclaimer
Every effort has been made to ensure that this prospectus is up-to-date at the time of going to press. However, in responding to recent legislation, unforeseen changes may need to be made in organisation and/or curriculum. We will do our best to keep parents informed of any changes. Parents should ask the Proprietor about any points of particular importance to them.

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Policies

A full copy of Dinky-Doo Policies may be viewed from here.

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