Elmscot and Woodlands were the first Day Nurseries in the area to achieve the new 'Healthy Setting Award' in 2010, and School's Out were the first settings in Trafford to receive the new 'Healthy Club' Award. These Awards are based on the national Healthy School's Award. Hale Day Nursery having just joined the Elmscot group will operate using the same principles and will apply for the award in 2012.
Our menus are renowned and we have often been called upon to advise and support other childcare providers: in 2002, Elmscot gained an 'Outstanding' from Ofsted for our food provision. Woodlands was further recognised in 2009 as one of the best 3 providers of Nursery Food in the country, in the national Nursery World Awards.
Our menus run over a 7 week cycle which allows tremendous variety to reflect the diverse society in which we live, and are regularly reviewed by a qualified dietician. We have a strict food purchasing policy, ensuring we meet FSA guidelines, reducing salt, saturated fat and sugar levels in the ingredients we use, and utilising wholemeal/higher fibre alternatives. Meat is purchased from Taylor & Son's of Sale, a member of the Butcher's Quality Guild, where produce is of exceptional quality and sausages are low salt and home-made especially for us.
All individual dietary requirements can be met.
Physical Development is a specific area of learning within the Early Years Foundation Stage national curriculum, and consquently is a major focus for our curriculum planning. To enhance our own provision at nursery, we also offer specialist weekly exercise and movement sessions by Stretch 'n' Grow (please see more details under 'Curriculum and Activities'). At School's Out, we ensure there are plenty of indoor and outdoor activities planned offering physical exercise: in fact, physical play is one of 5 main areas of daily planning provision for every session.
At each nursery and at most out-of-school Clubs, there are outdoor canopies and awnings to protect children from extreme weather and encourage maximum use of the outdoor play areas. Each nursery has a set of triple buggies, so trips out in the fresh air are not just limited to older children.
School’s Out works closely with the Trafford Childcare Development Team to ensure that Clubs deliver best practice. We also work in partnership with the school and other community agencies to support children with special needs.
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