What sets us apart
Open 51 weeks a year
Open nearly all year with a short closure period, supporting consistent routines and dependable childcare arrangements.
Paediatric first aid-trained staff
A qualified team trained in paediatric first aid, ensuring prompt care and reassurance during emergencies or incidents.
Separate baby room for 3–12 months
A dedicated baby room provides a calm, secure space tailored to infants’ care, sleep, and early development needs.
Key person approach
Each child is allocated a dedicated person who ensures the child’s learning and care are tailored to meet their individual needs. That staff member is referred to as a key person. As the main contact, the key person will seek to engage parents to support them in guiding their child’s development at home and engage with more specialist support if appropriate. This key person approach is crucial to a child’s development and building relationships with their families.
The key person plans and tracks the child’s learning and development. Children’s emotional development is paramount, and we do everything to ensure all babies in our care feel loved, comfortable and secure, enabling them to venture and explore their new environment.
First days
Starting at nursery can seem like a daunting experience for parents, but our nurses can help both you and your child feel comfortable and settled in their new surroundings. We are based in Danbury, Chelmsford and Billericay. Contact us at Little Owls Day Nursery. Some tips on how to make this an enjoyable experience and an easy transition for you both are included here, but should you have any queries that remain uncovered, we are always happy to provide additional assistance.
Before the big day
We will arrange two short visits with your child of approximately an hour at a time. These visits are to encourage parents/carers to spend time at our setting to make the child happy. Your child’s key person will often be introduced at your settling-in visit. The key worker will guide you through the process, answering any questions you may have.
Even babies can pick up on positive messages you give them about starting at nursery and the fun that follows. Spend time if you can in the weeks and days prior to the ‘big day’ talking to them about the new experience. Talk about all the fun activities they will be undertaking and how many new friends they will be making.
The nursery will have already provided you with an information sheet regarding your child's requirements in terms of allergies, diet, sleep, etc. We encourage you to exchange as much information as possible with your child’s key worker to help settle your child well and ensure they feel comfortable and secure. As families play an active part in nursery life, we always encourage parents to get involved. If you think you have a certain skill that your children may want to learn, let us know. Little Owls Day Nursery has an open-door policy, and should you wish to come and spend some time with us whilst your child is here, you are more than welcome to do so.
‘My First Day at Nursery’ by Becky Edwards and Anthony Flintoff and ‘Maisy Goes to Playschool’ are two books that have been tried and tested by some of our parents.
On the day
We understand how important it is for your child’s first day to be relaxed and filled with opportunities to play freely whilst we get to know them and their personality. This will ensure the correct experiences, activities and opportunities are provided to them. All children are unique, and our aim is to cater to every child whilst focusing on the Early Years Foundation Framework.
It can be very difficult for parents/carers if the child starts crying as you leave. We understand how upsetting this can be, and our nursery nurses are experts in dealing with these situations delicately. If you feel extra visits are beneficial to your child, we can discuss this further with you. The strongest advice is to smile clearly and give a set point on the day when you will return, which is tangible to the child. Prolonging goodbyes can be more difficult for the child. It is better to leave quickly and allow them to focus on their day and get busy with the activities on offer.
