Welcome to the website of the Akhter Early Learning Centre Nursery, Preschool, After School and Holiday Club.
The Akhter Early Learning Centre is registered with Ofsted to provide early years childcare and education for all children irrespective of their race, ethnic origin, nationality or religious beliefs.
Akhter Early Learning Centre Nursery and Preschool offers families a competitive childcare and education solution for children from 3 months to 5 years. As soon as a baby receives their first immunisations he/she may start in the Nursery.
Our staff, who are highly qualified and experienced, will welcome you and your child at a series of settling sessions where we find out as much about your child as possible so we are able to plan for their interests and individual needs. At this point we arrange a key person for you to liaise with and this practitioner will look after your child’s needs and carry out their observations and assessments. This is done digitally through a safe system called eyLog. Practitioners are able to take photos, videos and audio observations and send them to you soon after they occur so you are constantly in touch with how your child is developing. As your child’s main educator, we would ask that you share observations from home with us in order to create your child’s ‘Learning Journey’. Next steps are then produced from all observations to provide opportunities and experiences to take your child to the next step in their development.
Assessments are carried out when children reach their 2 ½ year milestone which we suggest you share with your health visitor. Sometimes during this busy year when children are developing quickly, children may need extra support. Our SENDCO will intervene if required, who is trained to liaise with outside professionals to offer this support. Please see our Local Offer. At this setting we have several areas of expertise which are the ‘Bronze Autism Award’ and the ‘Eklan Communication Friendly Setting Award‘. We have undergone further training and assessments to gain these accolades which we feel have prepared us for our work with children and families. Staff are kept up to date with training and are regularly updated with first aid, food hygiene and safeguarding. Policies and procedures help us to maintain high quality childcare to aid the learning and development of every child who attends the Nursery and to prepare them for lifelong learning. At Akhter Early Learning Centre we follow the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum and are registered with Ofsted. To see our latest Ofsted report, please click on the link below
In our toddler and pre-school rooms children are encouraged to become independent and to become confident and self-assured in preparation for their transition to school. The ‘Seven Areas of Learning’ are;
- Personal, social and emotional development
- Communication and language
- Physical development
These areas of learning are known as prime areas and are a focus for 0-3 years as children need to be secure in these areas before moving into the specific areas.
- Knowledge and understanding of the world
- Literacy
- Mathematics
- Expressive arts and design
These areas of learning are known as specific areas and are further subdivided into individual aspects.
Further information on the ‘Seven Areas of Learning’ can be found by clicking the link below
Funding
We are registered with the Local Authority to take the 15 hour per week 2 year old funding entitlement and applications may be made through the local Children’s Centre once you have been to the setting for a visit and completed a registration form. Funded sessions are also available for the 3 and 4 year old free 15 and 30 hour per week entitlement. Funded places are offered during term time (38 weeks a year) however parents who are eligible for 30 hours per week funding can take their entitlement over 51 weeks of the year.
To enquire about sessions and our availability in our Nursery, Preschool, After School and Holiday Clubs, please call 01279 927020. We welcome visits to the Centre and to ensure that there is someone available to show you round it is always best to make an appointment.
Further information on funding can be found on our help paying for childcare page or by visiting Essex County Council website
Healthy Eating
Our Chef prepares and cooks all meals daily and pre-school children are encouraged to prepare snacks, pour drinks, serve their own meals and wash-up. We cater for all dietary requirements and have strict policies regarding food that contain allergens.
Fresh drinking water is available in all rooms to help children keep hydrated and ready to learn.
Activities
We provide a wide range of activities, opportunities and experiences for children to follow our ethos of ‘Learning through Play’. Loose parts play is high on our priority list for children to explore and develop their creativity. Our outside spaces provide challenge and problem solving and in the summer months children are protected through shade sails and sunscreen. Our atrium provides a large space for all types of physical development and we use related educational businesses to enhance the expertise of our practitioners. Planning provides a balance of adult led and child initiated learning enabling children to reach their full potential.
Term Dates
The Nursery is open 51 weeks of the year with closure over bank holidays and the Christmas and New Year period. Our closures and term dates are detailed on our term dates page.
Children’s Parties
The Nursery is available to hire as a venue for children’s parties up to the age of 10 years of age. Please visit our hire of atrium page or contact the office for details.
Mission Statement
Our mission statement is ‘To ensure that each child reaches their full potential in a caring, safe and stimulating environment within a supportive local community’.
