Parent partnerships is one area of practice that has received a huge boost at Sunshine Day Nursery in Longton, Preston, since deputy manager Jade Ryding achieved EYP status.
Ms Ryding joined the nursery in 2008 with a Level 2 and 3, and after completing a foundation degree, topped up with a BA in Early Years Leadership and then EYPS.
'I enjoyed every minute of the EYP course and it was thoroughly inspiring,' she says. 'The insights provided on parent partnerships have enabled us to now put new strategies in place. These include home visits, workshops, parent observation sheets linked to home learning and activity days.'
Sunshine Day Nursery is registered for 27 children and currently has five full-time staff. Manager Elise Vanden says that its outdoor area is one of its biggest selling points, boasting a willow tunnel, fruit and vegetable growing areas, natural slides and landscaping. Since becoming manager six years ago, Ms Vanden reports the nursery has reassessed its practice and is now far more child-led.
'All of our ideas, practice and policies now stem from looking at the world from a child's point of view,' she says. 'Ensuring staff are well trained is essential to improving practice on an ongoing basis, around the child. Lancashire County Council provided funding for Ms Ryding to undertake her foundation degree and subsequent qualifications, and we also received support to cover her days out of the office to study. Other staff here now have the opportunity to do the same.'
Ms Vanden feels EYPS has been valuable for cascading knowledge down to other staff. 'Jade has passed on a lot of her knowledge through one-to-one sessions with members of the team.
'Parents feel much more comfortable in the nursery as a direct result of Jade's input. They now talk to us and tell us what their children are doing at home. We are encouraging them to contribute to their child's learning journey by attending stay-and-play sessions, story reading and contributing to the home observation sheets. Dads are also now finding the nursery user-friendly, although we've targeted parents, rather than dads specifically.'
Ms Vanden says the nursery enjoys being part of its local community. 'We are all looking forward to our annual fun day in August. We'll be having a barbecue and there will be a bouncy castle, face painting and a graduation ceremony for those leaving. It's a great opportunity to socialise with parents and staff informally, and welcome new families whose children will be starting in September.'
