Quality Childcare From Birth to School Age
Please contact us for more information on 01305 257756 or email office@summertimenursery.co.uk
Secure Foundations, Happy Hearts, Curious Minds.
We are a small nursery and pride ourselves on our family feel.
We are happy to show potential parents around the nursery to meet with the staff and offer them a place or add them to our waiting list.
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We are Located at:
Summertime Nursery & Preschool
C/o Thomas Hardye School
Queens Avenue
Dorchester
Dorset
DT1 2ET
(near 1610 leisure centre)
Please contact us on
Tel 01305 257756
office@summertimenursery.co.uk
Opening Hours
we are open all year except for UK bank holidays and approximately a week over Christmas.
Monday - Thursday
07:30 - 17:30
Friday
07:30 - 17:00
Government Funded Places
Subject to availability we offer funded places for all children between 7:30 - 17:00. The funded hours must be spread over the year and not term time only. the hours per week are allocated equally across the days your child attends.
All about Summertime
The Organisation. Summertime is a 35-place nursery which opened in 2007. We take a maximum of 9 babies age 0-2 years in the baby room and up to 26 children aged between 2 and 5 years in the preschool room. This makes us a small nursery with a family atmosphere ensuring everyone knows your child and that we provide a warm, nurturing environment.
We are registered with Ofsted and comply with the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage. All our Staff are DBS checked before recruitment and are fully Pediatric First Aid trained.
We are a committee run registered Charity which gives you the opportunity to be as involved in the daily running of the nursery as you wish and have time for.
We are an Equal Opportunities nursery and ensure that children are treated fairly and have the same access to all nursery facilities and equipment. We want to be an inclusive setting and want to learn sign language
Ethos. As a parent or carer we understand that choosing the right care for your child is a massive decision. We are a small nursery but able to offer a wide range of experiences from birth to school age most importantly we want to be part of your extended family. We know every child's name in the setting and their personalities, we want to know and care about your child, their lives and their families. It is our aim to provide a home from home that will gently prepare your child for school. We understand that good communication is important and value what each child says - we 'listen' and recognise children thrive best when they feel comfortable, safe, supported and valued.
Essentials. We offer a series of short complimentary settling in sessions before your child’s care with us commences. This helps to gradually build up your child’s confidence, as well as familiarity with their new surroundings, and adapting to the absence of parents. We feel that the settling in period is important to help your child to feel comfortable in joining us.
We ask all parents to supply their own child’s nappies and wipes which we keep at the setting.
Parents are asked to provide lunch boxes. We do not prepare and cook our own hot meals but are happy to re-heat meals you supply.
We Supply fresh fruit and vegetable snacks, milk and water for your child at snack time.
The main entrance is controlled by a security system and all the boundaries are secured by metal railings.
Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Local Offer
Support for children and young people with SEN and disabilities
Some children will join the nursery with an unrecognised and undiagnosed special educational need, we will work together with parents to ensure these needs are identified and that each child is provided with support by the appropriate specialist agencies. We are often the first people to have close contact with a child besides the family, and we will listen and support parents through their child’s special educational learning. We welcome children with special educational needs and disabilities. Your child will be supported and encouraged by the nursery and where necessary outside agencies such as speech therapists, portage or occupational health. Summertime Nursery provides an inclusive environment and uses differentiation so that all children can learn and develop at their own pace. We value each child’s unique strengths and challenge them to fulfil their learning potential through tailored activities.
Summertime nursery is part of Operation Encompass. Operation Encompass is a national police and education early intervention safeguarding partnership which supports children who experience Domestic Abuse.
Summertime Curriculum Statement
At Summertime Nursery, we believe children learn best when they feel safe, loved, and cared for. Before learning can flourish, we ensure every child’s basic needs are met through nurturing relationships, secure routines, healthy food and drinks, opportunities for rest and comfort, and a safe environment.
As a small nursery with a family feel, we take time to know each child as an individual—their interests, personality, likes, dislikes, and family life. We help children develop a strong sense of belonging, build confidence, and feel valued for who they are.
Through play, exploration, and supportive adult interactions, we provide a broad and balanced curriculum that develops communication, literacy, numeracy, curiosity, and independence. We encourage children to have a go, take part, make mistakes, laugh, explore, and learn without fear, helping them grow into happy, confident, and resilient learners.
We value families’ support and knowledge and believe working with parents and carers is essential. By sharing information and experiences between home and nursery, we build secure relationships that support every child's learning, development, and wellbeing.
Our aim is for every child to feel secure, respected, and successful, giving them the strong
foundations they need to thrive both now and, in the future.
Baby Room birth up to 2 years old
Our Baby Room
Most of all, babies need to feel safe, secure, loved and cared for. We understand that every baby is unique, with their own individual needs, routines, preferences and ways of communicating. Their feeding, sleeping, comfort and daily routines are all important, and we work closely with parents and carers to understand and follow their wishes wherever possible. This consistency between home and nursery helps babies feel secure and supported as they settle into their new surroundings.
Our smaller baby room and caring, friendly team provide a calm and nurturing environment where babies can build trusting relationships with familiar adults. We aim to create a warm, welcoming atmosphere that feels like a home away from home, where every baby is known, valued and responded to as an individual.
We believe that when babies feel safe and secure, they are able to explore, learn and develop with confidence. Meeting their basic needs for comfort, nourishment, sleep, affection and reassurance is at the heart of everything we do.
Alongside nurturing care, babies have plenty of opportunities to explore and discover through sensory play, outdoor experiences and age-appropriate activities. Throughout the day, we enjoy singing nursery rhymes with actions and props, sharing stories and books, and creating playful experiences that encourage babies to communicate, explore and develop at their own pace.
Every smile, new sound, movement and little discovery is celebrated. We work in partnership with families to ensure each baby receives the individual care, love and encouragement they need to feel happy, secure and ready to explore their world.
Ducklings Group from 2 years old to around 3
Moving into Our Toddler Room
We usually begin to move children into this room around their second birthday. Every child is unique, and we recognise that settling into a new room is a big step. The number of settling-in visits will therefore be tailored to each child, depending on how comfortable and confident they are feeling with the transition. We work closely with families throughout this process, ensuring each child feels safe, secure and supported.
At this age, children are developing their communication skills incredibly quickly. They are also beginning to develop a greater understanding of their emotions and how to express and regulate their feelings. Our practitioners gently support children as they build these important skills, giving them plenty of opportunities to communicate, make choices and develop their independence.
Children begin to enjoy short circle times, familiar routines, group games, songs and activities with their friends. These experiences help children develop confidence, social skills and a growing sense of belonging within the group, while always allowing us to follow each child's individual interests and needs.
We continue to offer children the opportunity to have a nap after lunch, as rest and sleep remain very important for their growth, wellbeing and brain development. We work with families to understand each child's individual sleep needs and routines.
Toilet learning is also something we are happy to support at nursery. We work in partnership with parents and carers, following their wishes and working at a pace that is right for each individual child. Our aim is to make this a positive, encouraging and pressure-free experience.
Ducks Group 3 years to starting school
Our Ducks Group
In our Ducks group, children’s curiosity about the world around them really begins to flourish. They are becoming eager to understand how and why things happen, asking lots of “why?” and “how?” questions and showing a wonderful enthusiasm for discovering more about the world and their place within it. Our practitioners encourage and nurture this curiosity, providing opportunities for children to explore, investigate, ask questions and share their ideas.
As children grow in confidence and independence, we gently support them in developing the skills that will help them as they prepare for their next steps, including their transition to school. This includes encouraging children to become more independent with using the toilet, managing their own clothing, washing and drying their hands, and taking care of their personal belongings. Every child develops these skills at their own pace, and we offer encouragement, patience and support along the way.
During circle times and everyday activities, children begin to recognise their own written name and explore the sounds within words, including the initial sound of their name. We make these experiences fun and meaningful, helping children to develop a love of communication, language and early literacy.
Although the children may appear increasingly independent and grown-up, they are still young children who need lots of reassurance, understanding and emotional support. We provide a caring and secure environment where every child can feel valued, listened to and confident to be themselves. We celebrate each child’s individual progress, recognising that everyone’s journey towards independence is different.
To find our Nursery is not difficult however the postal postcode is misleading. Instead use these instructions, drive/walk up Coburg Road
DT1 2HR following signs to the 'Sports Centre' (1610 leisure Centre). Walk down the sloping road keeping the Astro turf on your right and you will see the nursery infront of you. Come through the gate and ring the bell you have arrived! Open PDF for image
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