Little Palms Nursery 

Little Palms is part of the Early Years Alliance and is located in the centre of Torquay, Devon. In Febuary 2020 we were graded 'Good' by аÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø¿ª½±. We offer 24 аÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø¿ª½±-registered places for both private and funded. We are open from 8.00am - 6.00pm Monday to Friday, 51 weeks of the year, excluding bank holidays and three staff training days.

Our committed, friendly and well-qualified nursery team provides high quality care and learning opportunities for children aged between 2-5 years. We follow the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) with a focus on learning through play and actively encourage parents to become involved in the life of the nursery. The ethos at Little Palms is for children to be given the best early years and we work with parents to support children's individual needs. 

 


We offer:

  • Private childcare places
  • Funded childcare for qualifying two year olds and all three and four year olds
  • The 30 hour funding offer for eligible parents
  • A safe, friendly and fun place for you and your child
  • Learning through indoor and outdoor play activities
  • A well-qualified, kind and caring team
  • A dedicated person to give focused support to your child
  • Limited spaces available 
  • Healthy snacks and meals are prepared and provide on site.
  • A app that provides you with updates on your child's learning and development, routine and lots of photos of your child's time at Little Palms. 

Latest news

This year we were proud to have been awarded a Top 20 Nurseries in the South West award from Daynurseries.co.uk


     

            


Find out more

To arrange a visit please contact Peter Curnnow-Yates - Nursery Manager on 01803 290471 or email littlepalms@eyalliance.org.uk  

About us

Little Palms has stimulating approach to early years development and learning for very young children. Within a safe, friendly and fun environment, children are supported by qualified, caring staff in developing a wide range of skills and interests. The children enjoy learning through play experiences in bright indoor and outdoor play areas.  We are nationally managed by the Early Years Alliance, one of the largest providers of childcare in England with over 50 years experience delivering childcare and practical, professional support to early years practitioners.

Our nursery plans its activities with the children's interests at the Center and in accordance with the EYFS with a strong focus on exploratory, imaginative play and healthy eating. We recognise and understand the huge benefits that free flow play has on the positive development of very young children. Every child in our care is supported by a key person who understands their individual needs and offers special care and support to them. health & safety and safeguarding policies and procedures are in place to ensure that every child is protected and feels safe and happy with us.

The children learn through play and we follow the EYFS guidelines. Our daily routine incorporates all aspects of the early learning goals, and we do this through a wide variety of activities within our indoor and outside space.

Natural resources have enhanced the small world provision and this is enabling the children to extend their imagination in their play. Small world and imaginative play help the children to develop relationships with peers and adults, using language and interactions whilst playing alongside each other

  • Personal, Social and Emotional Development - All children have a key person, which incorporates group times, stories and games, circle games, mealtimes, helping children with independence and develop a sense of belonging. We have resources including emotion pebbles, books and pictures that enable children to talk about how they are feelings.
  • Communication and Language - We have a range of books available throughout the nursery environment, both fiction and non-fiction books. Imaginative play develop positive relationships with children and practitioners, extending and supporting language development. Our book area has been enhanced giving children the opportunity to sit and read books and listen to stories in a comfortable environment.
  • Physical Development â€“ Our garden at Little Palms gives opportunities to run, climb, hop and jump, and to explore whilst managing risk and challenge, investigate and explore their environment. Indoors children are developing new skills including self-serving at snacks and meal times, cutting own and pouring own drinks. They feed themselves using utensil , use scissors for cutting, pencils, paint brushes and tools for mark making and construction and threading
  • Literacy â€“ Children have opportunities to develop a love of books, singing songs and rhymes. Throughout their time at Little Palms children are able to join in familiar stories, repeating phrases alongside looking at books independently and shared experiences with their peers and adults. Opportunities to mark make and talk about their pictures, to write and recognise letters from own name and to take part in activities that include letters and sounds and early talkers. Children are able to self-mark their name following snacks.
  • Mathematics â€“ Children have opportunities counting, rhyming and singing number songs. They discover and explore quantity, empty and filling containers, size and shape, looking for shapes and numbers in the environment and exploring patterns. Children use construction materials building towers and creating arrangements, using positional language and sequencing times and events in their day.
  • Understanding the World – The children develop a sense of belonging whilst at Little Palms and parents are encouraged to be a part of this, providing photographs linking to our activities, based on children’s interests. Children have been developing the garden, growing seeds, plants and vegetables and entering these into a local village show. Children show their own identity building friendships and developing and understanding of what they have in common and what makes us different.  Children have opportunities to investigate ITC resources which include remote control cars, torches and light boxes.  
  • Expressive Arts and Design â€“ Little Palms provides opportunities for children to explore and engage in creative and sensory activities, from mark making to painting, play dough and gloop, gluing and sticking. Children dance and sing using music, scarves and tapping out their name.  Role play and being imaginative is based on children’s interests, enhanced by creating areas such a beach, a garden Centre and a kitchen.

 

      

The children have been exploring some seasonal activities. We have been planting seeds with the children and growing plants, flowers and vegetables. The children were inspired and painted sunflowers which we displayed. Alongside this we had a garden Centre role play and planting area for the children to explore. We celebrated their success of growing vegetables by entering into a local village show and we are very proud the children were awarded a Highly Commended for their runner beans.

We created an indoor beach which the children have been able to dig, fill, tip and pour. The have searched for buried treasure and this led onto drawing our own treasure maps. They have sold ice creams to their friends, cooperating with each other, turn taking and using numbers in their play.

We have extended the children’s self-help skills, and the children now dish up their own lunches, alongside being more independent at snack times, preparing and cutting fruit, pouring own drinks and washing up their dishes. They also have the opportunity to self-register at snack time by writing and marking their own name.

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To arrange a visit please contact Peter Curnnow-Yates, Nursery Manager on 01803 290471 or email littlepalms@eyalliance.org.uk  

Our Team

Our well qualified, committed and experienced team work hard to create a caring and learning environment in the nursery. We understand that every child develops differently and at different times, each child has key person who understands how their individual needs and interests. This helps us to ensure that every child feels involved, stimulated and happy in our care. We follow rigorous staff recruitment selection and supervision procedures to ensure that anyone joining our team undertake relevant security checks including Disclosure and Barring Service disclosure, references and qualification checks. Parents are reassured knowing that child protection and safeguarding underpins every aspect of our practice and will continue to remain a priority for us.

Your 'key person'

Every child who joins the nursery receives support from an experienced member of the team. They are responsible for your child’s individual needs and known as the ‘key person’.& The key person is your main point of contact however all nursery staff are happy to feedback on your child’s developmental progress on a daily basis or discuss any concerns with you. They will also keep records of your child’s progress and achievement, which are always available for you to see and contribute towards. Your child’s key person will make time to find out from you about your child’s interests, likes, dislikes and special requirements. Please share any important or useful information when you register your child and throughout their time with us. This helps us to give your child the most appropriate care and learning to suit their developmental, emotional and physical needs. You can access and contribute your views to your child's progress and achievements in their records.


Our team

 

 Nursery Manager -Peter Curnnow-Yates

 

 

 

Nursery Worker & SENCO - Jenni - Level 4 Qualified 

 

Jenni has worked at Little Palms since opening in 2015, during this time Jenni's experience in Special Educational Needs has impacted on many children and families who she has been able to support. Jenni's work in supporting children and families with SEND has been amazing and she has the children at the Centre in all that she does.  

I have worked in Early Years for 20 years and hold my Advanced Diploma in Childcare and Education qualification. I have experience working with a number of children and for 17 years. I have specialized in SEN, taking lead on supporting children with additional needs.

In Jenni's spare time she enjoys spending time with her family. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Setting cook - Tracey - Food Hygiene 

Tracey has worked at Little Palm since it opened in 2015 and makes amazing meals, our four week menu meets the EYNP requirements ensuring the children in our care have balanced, nutritional meals.  Although Tracey spends a lot of time in the kitchen, the children love to help her with collecting vegetables from the garden, showing her what they have been doing. All of the team have Allergy Awareness training, however if your child's does have an allergy, Tracey will work with Sascha to ensure dietary needs are met. 

Tracey is a firm favorite with the children who often comment that the meals are 'delicious'.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Find out more

To arrange a visit please contact Peter Curnnow-Yates Nursery Manager on 01803 290471 or email littlepalms@eyalliance.org.uk  

Day Nurseries Id: 

65432217486

FAQs

Do you have childcare places available at the moment?

Yes we do! Simply contact us to discuss you and your child’s needs.

Do you offer funded entitlement for 3 & 4 year olds?

Children are eligible for the funding in the term following their third birthday. The funding is available for 15 hours per week and were eligible 30 hours funding is available.  

Do you offer funded entitlement for 2 year olds?

If your child is two-years old, your child may be eligible to attend the 2 year old funded childcare programme. The funding is available for 15 hours per week. Please ask us.

What sessions do you offer?

Am sessions, PM sessions, Full days sessions.

Do you provide hot meals?

Yes, Our cook provides a wide range of home cooked healthy food daily.

Are you able to accommodate children with different dietery requirements?

Yes, We can accommodate all dietary requirements and our cook is happy to meet with you to dicuss dietary needs. 

What qualifications do your staff have?

All staff hold relevant early years qualifications. 

How many staff will be looking after my child? 

We currently employ 6 staff that work with the children. We hold a 1-4 ratio for our 2 year olds and a 1-8 ratio with our 3 and 4 year olds. We are also able to offer 1:1 funded support for individual children.

How quickly can my child start?

All children are offered a period of settling in to ensure that they feel supported and secure in the setting and are ready to learn. This is based on an individual child's own pace.

 


Find out more

To arrange a visit please contact Peter Curnnow-Yates Nursery Manager on 01803 290471 or email littlepalms@eyalliance.org.uk  

Contact Us

Girl on phonePeter Curnnow-Yates- Nursery Manager

Little Palms

32 Market Street

Torquay

Devon

TQ1 3AQ

01803 290471

littlepalms@eyalliance.org.uk

Little Palms
ZigZags Children's Centre
32 Market Street
Torquay
TQ1 3AQ
United Kingdom
Tel: 01803 290471

'We cannot put in to words how much we thank you for all you have done. She is a different child to when she started with you and that is down to the hardwork you have all put in. She will not forget Little Palms and the fun she had with you' 

'We would like to thank you for the great work you do. She has shown wonderful progress through the time she has been attending the nursery, we will miss you all a lot'. 

'Thank you all. Little Palm Nursery, for everything you have done for me. I will never forget you and I will come and visit from time to time'.  

'Would just like to say a massive thank you for all the support you have given us throughout his time at nursery'. 

'Thank you for helping him become a confidnet little monkey that he is. He had a great time with all of you'.