Norland Nursery - Consultancy services

Norland Nursery in Bath is a beautiful, purpose designed nursery that offers children a unique experience. Children are supported by highly qualified staff and build a trusting bond with their key person ensuring continuity of care. The structure and environment give children security in their surroundings, ensuring they are comfortable and happy, thus creating an ideal environment for them to learn and grow.

As an early years setting, Norland Nursery is very aware that within the climate of policy change, investment is key to ensuring and maintaining high quality care and education. In this respect and drawing on the considerable experience and expertise at Norland, we offer a bespoke Early Years Consultancy Service.  Using a range of services including training, guidance and practical support, our team of highly skilled consultants can tailor a package to meet your specific requirements.

We already work with a wide range of clients, in a variety of contexts, including nurseries, local authorities, training providers, commercial companies and schools.

We particularly specialise in:

Creating rich learning environments, including:

• Developing pedagogy and philosophy
• Designing and resourcing; inspiring and enabling environments and creating opportunities for shared sustained thinking
• Working with families

Leadership and management, including:

• Establishing a leadership framework
• Staff development
• Supervision and performance management

In addition, we can provide support in areas including:

Premises

• Selection
• Effective use of space
• Nursery layout and design
• Appropriate equipment (including outdoor) specific to age

Operational framework

• Ethos
• Key operating costs e.g. salaries/fee structure
• Opening hours
• Marketing and Customer Relationship Management (e.g. collecting client information, segmenting client base and working to add value for each group)
• Template business plan for setting up a nursery (including research guidelines, managing finance e.g. start – up costs, investment, cashflow etc.)
• Nursery registration, inspection etc.

Registration of children

• After school and out of school care
• Administration operating system
• Risk assessments
• Age groups
• Policies / procedures / educational framework / legal requirements

Quality Assurance

• Preparation for OFSTED / OFSTED action plan
• EYQISP / ECERS
• Quality control and assurance
• Continuous improvement
• Benchmarking against standards

Nursery staffing

• Recruitment, including input into interview structure, appropriate qualifications, and the interview itself
• Selection
• Retention
• Appraisals  (including observations), supervisions, performance management (including managing poor performance)
• Staffing ratios and number of staff / children per space
• Staff development and training – work with trainees / student placements, special development needs of nursery managers

Caring for children

• Parental partnerships
• Personalised learning
• Key person system
• Support to devise pedagogy and philosophy including planning and assessment process
• EYFS audit/evaluation and recommendations for welfare and education
• Menus for children
• Staff training