New Starter FAQs

Starting nursery brings lots of little questions. We’ve answered some of the most common ones below. If there’s anything else you’d like to know, please just ask — we want you and your child to feel comfortable and prepared for their first days at Blue Windmill.

Before your child starts

What happens with settling-in sessions?

Settling-in sessions usually begin at least two weeks before your child’s start date. We will contact you to agree a suitable date.

For the first session, we ask you to stay with your child. This gives them a gentle introduction to the nursery and gives us time to get to know you both and complete any remaining paperwork. This first visit usually lasts around an hour.

Further settling-in sessions can then be arranged with your child’s Room Supervisor and gradually adapted according to how your child is getting on. Every child is different, so there is no expectation that they will all settle in the same way or at the same pace.

What documents do I need to bring?

At your first settling-in session, please bring:

• your funding entitlement letter/code, if applicable;
• photographic ID for parents/carers, such as a passport or driving licence;
• proof of address, such as a recent utility bill or government communication; and
• your child’s birth certificate or passport.

We do not keep copies of these documents, but we are required to check and record certain information from them.

What should my child bring to nursery?

Please send your child with a clearly named bag containing:

• one full set of spare clothes;
• additional underwear/clothing if your child is potty-training;
• nappies, wipes and nappy cream as appropriate;
• suncream and sunhats from around April onwards;
• wellies and puddle suit;
• comforters/dummies if needed;
• named water bottles if appropriate – please do not fill with juice as we only offer water or milk to drink.

Our children spend time outdoors every day, so please make sure they have suitable clothing for the weather.

We would ask that you discourage your child from bringing their own toys from home, as they could get lost or damaged and can sometimes cause upset while children are still learning to share and take turns.

Do I need to label my child’s belongings?

As a minimum, it’s helpful if you can label items which are regularly removed such as footwear, coats, hats and jumpers/cardigans.

The Ovivio Parent App

What is Ovivio?

Ovivio is our nursery Parent App. We use it to keep important information about your child in one place and to share updates with you.

Depending on the information being shared, you can use Ovivio to see things such as your child’s daily diary, observations and photographs, Nursery News, invoices and receipts.

You can also add a Home Observation if there is something your child has been doing at home that you would like to share with us.

How do I get access to Ovivio?

Once we have added you to our system, you will receive an email invitation to access the Parent App.

If you haven’t received your invitation, please check your junk/spam folder first and then contact us so that we can check your email address and resend it if necessary.

Where can I find my invoices?

Open Ovivio and select the three-line menu to enter Parent World, then choose Billing. From there you can view your invoices and receipts.

Please note that invoices are due by the 1st of the month, payable in advance. The invoices are sent out via Ovivio approximately a week before they are due.

Can I update my child’s information in Ovivio?

Some information can be updated through the Parent App. In particular, please keep your child’s All About Me information up to date so that we know about their current routines, likes and dislikes.

If important contact, medical, dietary or other information changes, please also tell Nursery directly rather than relying solely on an app update.

Attendance and absences

What should I do if my child is going to be absent?

If you know your child will be absent or on holiday, please record this as soon as possible through the Ovivio Parent App.

If your child is unexpectedly unwell and will not be attending that day, you can also record the absence on Ovivio or telephone Nursery on 01788 571393. Please note that we can’t guarantee that emails will be seen immediately.

If your child does not arrive at nursery as expected and we have not been told that they will be absent, we will contact you the same day to make sure they are safe and well. If we are unable to reach you, we will use the emergency contact details you have provided until we are able to establish that everything is okay.

What if my child is ill?

Please let us know as soon as possible if your child is too unwell to attend Nursery. Our Sickness, Infection and Exclusion Policy can be read in full on the Policies webpage.

What if somebody different is collecting my child?

If somebody different will be collecting your child, please let us know in advance wherever possible. We will need their name, relationship to your child and the agreed collection password; if they are not known to staff, we may also ask to see photographic ID. We will never release a child to someone whose identity or authority to collect cannot be confirmed.

Your child’s day

What happens when we arrive at nursery?

Once your child has completed their settling-in sessions, you will usually bring them to the door of their room at the start of the day. A member of staff will greet you, take your child into the room and make sure they are settled. At collection time, your child will be brought back to you at the room door and a member of staff will pass on any important information about their day.

Who will my child’s key person be?

Your child will be allocated a key person within their room. Their key person will get to know your child and family and will be an important point of contact as your child settles in. The key person is usually allocated after the first few days of attendance, after we observe how your child interacts with different staff members.

How will I know what my child has done during the day?

Ovivio helps us share some information about your child’s day. Depending on their age and what has been recorded that day, this can include meals and snacks, sleeps, nappies, activities and other updates.

We also share some observations and photographs of children’s experiences and development, but we don’t encourage the team to spend long periods of time on the Ovivio app. Ovivio is a useful way of keeping in touch, but it doesn’t replace conversations. Please speak to us whenever there is something you would like to discuss.

What happens at mealtimes?

Unless your child happens to be sleeping at mealtime, they will usually sit with their friends around a low table, with staff close by. Mealtimes are relaxed and social, and children are encouraged to develop independence by feeding and, where appropriate, serving themselves under supervision.

In the baby room, we follow each child’s individual feeding routine and developmental stage, working closely with parents around milk feeds, weaning and the move towards self-feeding.

Our homecooked meals are prepared by our nursery cook and you can see the three-week rotation of menus on our Eating page.

What if my child has an allergy or dietary requirement?

Please make sure we know about any allergies, intolerances, medical dietary requirements or cultural or religious dietary needs before your child starts, and tell us straight away if anything changes. Where appropriate, we will complete an individual allergy risk assessment and allergy record with you, and this information is shared with the relevant staff and kitchen team so that meals can be prepared and served safely.

There is more information on our Safer Eating, Allergies and Nutrition Policy on our Policies page.

Does my child need to be toilet trained?

No. Children develop at different rates and we will support your child at whatever stage they are at. When they are ready to begin toilet training, we will work with you to keep the approach as consistent as possible between home and nursery. Please send plenty of spare pants, underwear and clothes while they are learning, as accidents are a completely normal part of the process.

What happens if my child sleeps during the day?

If your child needs a sleep during the day, we will follow their usual routine as closely as possible while making sure they sleep safely. Babies sleep in a cot and older children on a sleep mattress, in a suitable quiet area where they can be supervised. We ask parents to tell us about their child’s normal sleep routine and any comforters they use, and all sleeping children are checked regularly by staff.

Do the children go outside in bad weather?

Yes! Outdoor play is an important part of life at Blue Windmill and children have opportunities to spend time outside throughout the year. Please send suitable clothing for the weather, including wellies and puddle suits when needed. A bit of mud is very much part of nursery life, so practical clothes are best.

Keeping us updated

What should I tell Nursery about?

Please let us know whenever something changes that could affect your child or their care. This includes:

• contact details or home address;
• emergency contacts – these are important because we will contact them in an emergency if we can’t reach you;
• medical information, medication or allergies;
• dietary requirements;
• people authorised to collect your child;
• changes to your child’s routine; or
• significant changes at home that may affect how your child is feeling.

Even something that seems small can help us understand and support your child.

Who should I speak to if I have a question or concern?

Your child’s key person and Room Supervisor are good first points of contact for day-to-day questions.

You can also speak to our Nursery Manager, Belinda, or contact the Nursery office on 01788 571393.

Please never worry that a question is too small. Good communication between home and Nursery helps us provide the best possible care for your child.

We have lots of written policies at Blue Windmill Nursery, which helps us to communicate our routines to parents, carers and staff. Many of these can be downloaded via our Policies page.