Childcare and Early Education

At Southmead Children’s Centre we provide high quality learning opportunities and childcare for children under 5 years of age.

Snowdrops Room (link to Snowdrops) provides this for babies under 2 years old, Orchid Room (link to Orchid Room page) provides this for children 2 years old and Foxglove Room (link to Foxglove Room page) for children over 3 years of age.

We have a well embedded free-flow approach, allowing children access to areas inside and out for much of the day. This enables them to follow their interests and choose where to play independently.

In each room we have clearly labelled resources, using pictures and words, which are easily accessible for the children so they are able to make independent choices about what to play with.

We ensure there are areas that provide access to the seven areas of learning (link to learning page) in all of our rooms, so that although each room is unique and reflects the character of the children and staff in that room, there is still consistency of provision across the whole centre, for babies of 6 months up to pre-school age children

As a staff team we are good at adapting resources and responding to the children’s interests and our free flow approach enables children to take their interests from inside to outside and vice versa.

All three rooms have a calm sleep area where children feel safe and those who need naps are able to take them.

Free Early Education Entitlement

All children are eligible for free nursery places the term after their 3rd birthday, either September, January or April.

All children have an entitlement to free early education of either 15 hours term time only or 12 hours a week all year round. Children whose parents work are entitled to 30 hours a term time only or 24 hours a week all year round.

Some children are eligible for a free nursery place the term after their 2nd birthday if their parents are claiming certain benefits. To find out if you are eligible and to apply for a place please click here.

Paying Childcare

We provide sessions that can be paid for if parents are working. The Childcare Choices website is a useful source of information if parents are looking for support with childcare costs. Childcare Choices brings together all of the Governments childcare offers in one place so it makes information easy to find.