All Hopscotch nurseries are registered as a provider of childcare on non-domestic premises on the Early Years Register. Hopscotch complies with the requirements for the Early Years Register set out in the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage.
All Hopscotch places are subject to availability, considering staff/child ratios, the age of the child and space requirements.
Other matters which are taken into consideration when offering a place in the nursery are:
When the application / registration was received and deposit paid to secure the place.
Our ability to provide the facilities for the welfare of the child carrying out all reasonable adjustments.
Our ability to provide childcare without the potential for any adverse impacts on the learning and development of other children attending the setting.
Generally priority is given to children taking up full-time places or additional hours
We also offer places to children in receipt of EYF only with no further charge for which no deposit is required. These places are subject to availability and terms and conditions.
Hopscotch operates an inclusive policy and all children regardless of nationality, religion, culture, race, gender, physical ability or disability, health or social class are welcome.
- Our setting is open to all members of the community
- We advertise our service widely and in a variety of areas
- We reflect the diversity of our society in our publicity and promotional materials
- We provide information in clear, concise language, whether in spoken or written form
- When required we endeavour to translate our information and give support to families to enable full access to admission procedures
- We base our admissions policy on a fair system
- We ensure parents aware of our equal opportunities policy
- We do not discriminate against a child or their family, or prevent entry to our setting, on the basis of colour, ethnicity, religion or social background
- We do not discriminate against a child with a disability or refuse a child entry to our setting for reasons relating to disability
- We develop an action plan to ensure that children or adults with disabilities can participate successfully in the services offered by the setting and in the curriculum offered
- We take action against any discriminatory behaviour by practitioners or parents i.e. displaying of openly discriminatory and possibly offensive materials, name calling, or threatening behaviour are unacceptable on
Hopscotch Nursery is committed to taking positive and proactive steps to ensure that we provide a safe and caring environment, free from discrimination, for everyone in our community, regardless of their background or lifestyle.
Encompassing the Equality Act 2010, Hopscotch ensures our service is fully inclusive in meeting the needs of all children, particularly those that arise from their ethnic heritage, social and economic background, gender, ability or disability. We value diversity in all children and their families and we are committed to anti-discriminatory practice and promote equality of opportunity.
We aim to:
- provide a secure and accessible environment in which all our children can flourish and in which all contributions are considered and valued
- include and value the contribution of all families to our understanding of equality and diversity
- provide positive non-stereotyping information about gender roles, diverse ethnic and cultural groups and people with disabilities
- improve our knowledge and understanding of issues of anti-discriminatory practice, promoting equality and valuing diversity
- make inclusion a thread that runs through all of the activities of the setting.
The curriculum offered in the setting encourages children to develop positive attitudes about themselves as well as other children and adults who are different from them. It encourages children to empathise with others and begin to develop the skills of critical thinking.
We do this by
- making children feel valued and good about themselves;
- ensuring that children have equality of access to learning;
- undertaking an access audit to establish if the setting is accessible to all children;
- making adjustments to the environment and resources to accommodate a wide range of learning, physical and sensory impairments;
- making appropriate provision within the curriculum to ensure each child receives the widest possible opportunity to develop their skills and abilities, e.g. recognising different learning styles;
- positively reflecting the widest possible range of communities in the choice of resources;
- avoiding stereotypes or derogatory images in the selection of books or other visual materials;
- celebrating a wide range of festivals
- creating an environment of mutual respect and tolerance
- differentiating the curriculum to meet children's special educational needs
- helping children to understand that discriminatory behaviour and remarks are hurtful and unacceptable
- ensuring that the curriculum offered is inclusive of children with special educational needs and children with disabilities
- ensuring that children learning English as an additional language have full access to the curriculum and are supported in their learning; and
- ensuring that children speaking languages other than English are supported in the maintenance and development of their home language and culture.
At Hopscotch we celebrate diversity in all our children and our families and proactively recognise the differences which make us all unique these wherever we can:
- We welcome the diversity of family lifestyles and work with all families.
- We encourage children to contribute stories of their everyday life to the setting.
- We encourage parents/carers to take part in the life of the setting and to contribute fully.
- For families who speak languages in addition to English, we will develop means to ensure their full inclusion where possible.
- We offer a flexible payment system for families of differing means and offer information regarding sources of financial support.
- We work in partnership with parents to ensure that the medical, cultural and dietary needs of children are met and offer parents the choice of packed or provided lunches.
- We help children to learn about a range of food, and of cultural approaches to mealtimes and eating, and to respect the differences among them.
This policy will be reviewed annually and amended according to any change in law/legislation.