FAQs

Our most recent Ofsted inspection took place in November 2022, and we are proud to say that we received a ‘Good’ rating. Further details about the inspection, including the full Ofsted report, can be found here.

We always recommend that you visit the nursery before registering or joining the waiting list. Appointments must be made in advance in order to reduce disruptions to the children’s routines and to offer prospective parents the opportunity to observe children whilst they play. Appointments can be made between 9.30am – 11.00am or 2.30pm – 4.00pm Monday to Friday. In order to try and navigate some of the dangers posed by the coronavirus pandemic, we also offer virtual viewings outside of nursery hours.

Once you have made a visit to Mini Miracles Montessori and have decided that you would like to register, you will need to complete a Secure My Place Form, which can be emailed to you. Please return this to the nursery, together with the relevant deposit and registration fee, in order to confirm the days you require.

Security is a priority at Mini Miracles Montessori; we have spared no expense in securing our premises to the highest level. The doors remain locked at all times and our facial recognition scanners are constantly in operation. If any member of staff does not recognise a visitor they will not be allowed into the nursery. CCTV cameras are in operation inside and outside the nursery 24 hours a day and children are not released to non-regular parents or carers, unless a photographic identification document has been presented and a specific password has been organised with their Key Person.

Once you have registered with us and your child is due to start their settling in period, you will be asked to provide changes of clothes (including a sunhat in the summer and a pair of wellies in the winter), indoor and outdoor shoes, a water bottle, a milk bottle, any necessary creams/medication and a toothbrush when your child has teeth. We will provide nappies, formula milk, wipes, meals, snacks and buggies for excursions. You may also find it helpful to provide a favourite toy or comforter, especially during the first few weeks of settling in.

Not at all, we take children from 6 months old, therefore potty training is not an issue. In fact, if parents have not approached us and we feel that your child is ready, the Key Person will discuss the possibility of starting to train as soon as possible.

Every child is an individual and will therefore settle into a new environment in their own time. We have found that our comprehensive settling in period at Mini Miracles Montessori works well with most children, however, if you feel that your child needs more or even fewer sessions, this can be planned on an individual basis. We need to give children at least 3 months after their settling in period has begun, before making any judgements regarding their progress. If after this time period you feel that your child has still not settled, alternative routines can be discussed with the Key Person and Manager.

Every child is assigned a Key Person within the nursery. This is a member of staff who will ultimately be responsible for settling the child in, together with the parent. They will write your child’s observations and monitor their developmental progress. The Key Person will inform you of what has taken place during the day, keep a record of sleep, toileting and feeding patterns and be the main person with whom you will communicate regarding any developmental issues. Although all of the Mini Miracles Montessori Team work very closely together, the Key Person is extremely important, especially for babies as they usually need to seek comfort from a familiar face more frequently. Once your child is fully settled, any educator in the room is able to offer daily feedback, under the guidance of the Key Person.

All children attending a full day session are given breakfast, lunch and tea along with three snacks whilst they are at Mini Miracles Montessori. Breakfast is served between 8.00am and 9.00am and is a variety of healthy cereals with milk and wholemeal toast. The Morning Snack is either breadsticks or vegetable sticks with either houmous or plain yoghurt and is usually served around 10.00am. Lunch is freshly prepared on the premises, it is served at 11.30am and consists of a main course and a dessert and is usually a culinary delight. The Afternoon Snack, which is served around 2.00pm, is a variety of fresh fruits. A lighter Tea is served at 3.30pm and this usually consists of finger foods e.g. stuffed pitas, sandwiches, soups and toast, bagels etc. Young babies will have their own menu and the Key Person will work with parents on weaning when it is time. Menus are displayed on the Parents Information Board in the exterior lobby or are available to view online here.

We aim to provide care for healthy children through preventing cross infection of viruses and bacterial infections and promote health through identifying allergies and preventing contact with the allergenic trigger. While it is not our policy to care for sick children, who should be at home until they are well enough to return to the setting, we will agree to administer medication as part of maintaining their health and well-being or when they are recovering from an illness. As with all day nurseries, fees are payable regardless of absence due to holidays or sickness.

Fresh air and outdoor play is essential for babies and children of all ages. It gives them the opportunity to play in larger areas thus encouraging physical development. Natural daylight is also a vital source of essential vitamins needed for healthy skin and bones. We are lucky to have two large outdoor spaces here at Mini Miracles Montessori; a grassy garden and a tarmacked playground. Babies and children will go into the garden/playground or for local walks every day, regardless of weather, to play with bikes, climbing apparatus, swings, build their own obstacle courses and even water, sand and messy play. This is in accordance with the Children’s Act, which ensures children go outside to enjoy learning every day. We are lucky enough to have a small group of children, which means we can take the children to explore their local environment regularly. Children visit the park, library, fire station, local shops and points of interest at least once a week.

Yes, Mini Miracles Montessori belongs to the local Early Years Development for Childcare Partnership. This means that we are inspected twice a year, in addition to any OFSTED visits, we receive support and advice from teachers in the borough and members of our Team receive additional training throughout the year. For our parents, it means that once your child turns 3 years old, your child’s fees will automatically be reduced to incorporate the level of government funding available to you. Every child is entitled to receive this funding from the term AFTER their 3rd birthday.

Mini Miracles Montessori is open 50 weeks a year and is only closed for one week during the Summer Holidays and the week between Christmas and New Year. We are fully staffed throughout the year, as we know families go on holidays at different times. As with all day nurseries, fees are payable regardless of absence due to holidays or sickness.

There is a fee of £100.00 to join our waiting list, which is fully refundable once you join the nursery. There is, however, no guarantee as to when a place will become available. If you decide to take a place at another nursery in the meantime, you will lose this fee.

If you have more than one child attending the nursery at the same time, each additional child is entitled to a 10% discount on all monthly fees.

As we expect high pre-school standards and provide a varied and extensive curriculum, it is important that we develop strong relationships with local schools in the area. Over the years we have established firm ties with independent schools in the surrounding areas and it has eased the enrolment process considerably. Parents can gain an insight into the school prior to visiting and Head Teachers recognise that children from Mini Miracles Montessori are well developed, active learners with a strong sense of self and outstanding interpersonal skills.