Frequently Asked Questions

How do I find a special needs nursery near me?

You’ve come to the right place! My nursery is in Hickling, Norfolk, NR12 0XN. Check out the local childcare finder here on the Norfolk Community Directory; I’m listed as Lawson, Louise Mary, a childminder.

Do you offer funded places?

Yes. I know that it is not always easy to cover the costs of childcare and early education, so I am pleased to be able to offer a variety of options, including the 30 hours funded childcare entitlement. If you’re not sure whether you qualify, please speak to me, and together we can work out the right funding option for you. You can find out more about childcare funding here.

Can my child go to nursery for just one day a week?

Yes. They certainly can. And although your child will definitely benefit from being at nursery for one day a week, once they are settled, they may be eager to come back for more! The Government recommends that early years children aged 3-4 years, take up their free entitlement of 15 hours per week term time, or 11.5 hours per week all year round. Please speak to me so that we can work out the best option for you and your child.

Do I need to pay for extra meals and snacks at nursery?

Yes. I charge a nominal amount to cover the basic cost of the ingredients, not the cost of making the meals, so hot dinners work out as cheap as if you’d made them yourself. All meals are balanced and nutritious and meet the varied and sometimes complex needs of the children that attend. If your child is on a special diet, I can accommodate this by working with you to construct an individual care plan. The meals I provide are morning snack, a hot dinner and then afternoon tea. You can take a look at an example menu here.

Do you offer taster sessions?

Yes. I call them settling in sessions. First of all, book a tour of my setting, then once we have exchanged details, we can arrange some settling in sessions. Settling in sessions are the best way to ensure that you and your child are completely happy with me.

Do you have a garden?

Yes. All the children have easy access to a purpose built outdoor play area or garden. It has been carefully planned to meet the needs of our children, extend learning opportunities, inspire creativity, a love of the outdoors and the environment and of course – an excellent place to play. Resources like the mud kitchen, sand and water play, ride on toys, climbing frame and slide, loose parts, and planters for gardening, are available all day, all year round.

My child is a really fussy eater. Can I send a packed lunch?

Lots of children can find food a bit tricky; sometimes it’s a passing phase and sometimes it’s more enduring. But when children are in nursery, they often voluntarily become more adventurous with food, so that’s exactly why I don’t allow packed lunches. However, I will work with you to draw up a balanced menu for your child; so that they don’t starve on my watch!

How will I know if my child is settling in?

Starting nursery is an emotional time for both you and your child. After all, it’s a big step! So I will do everything that I can to help your child settle well and therefore give you peace of mind.

Before your child starts at nursery, you will be invited to attend settling in sessions. These start with you being close by your child’s side; progressing through stages of stepping back to allow your child the chance to explore; and culminating in a confident, happy child, who is content at nursery. You will be able to watch as your child gains confidence; interacting more and more with me and the other children. I am your dedicated point of contact, I will be available to talk with you every day and I will keep you updated with your child’s progress. If there are any problems at any point, rest assured, I will let you know.

Do you provide nappies?

Sorry, no. Please provide disposable nappies for nursery; ones that are healthy for your particular child’s skin. Unfortunately, my tiny setting’s small budget doesn’t quite run to supplying big-brand nappies in different sizes for different children.