Little Dots Daycare

A Message from Lord Pickles and Lord Blunkett, followed by Little Dots Daycare's best practice article

The ability to listen and learn from one another has always been vital in parliament, in business and in most aspects of daily life. But at this particular moment in time, as national and global events continue to reiterate, it is uncommonly crucial that we forge new channels of communication and reinforce existing ones. The following article from Little Dots Daycare is an attempt to do just that. We would welcome your thoughts on this or any other Parliamentary Review article.

Rt Hon The Lord David Blunkett

Rt Hon The Lord Eric Pickles

www.littledotsdaycare.com

1LITTLE DOTS DAYCARE |

BEST PRACTICE SPONSOR 2020

Founders Lynsey Morris

and Clair Way

Recognising the importance

of the early years in child

development

Little Dots Daycare was founded in 2011 by Lynsey Morris

and Clair Way. At the time, Clair possessed 20 years of

childcare experience, while Lynsey had experience in sales

and marketing prior to becoming a mother in 2008. However,

both had a passion for childcare and professional development

and in the nine years since, Lynsey tells the

Review

that they

have developed “the perfect team”.

Clair can always be found at various training courses or with her head in a book

about improving the quality and standards of our childcare provision, as well as

looking at new and unique ideas to engage the children of Little Dots Daycare.

As a lover of the great outdoors, Clair has recently been studying for her forest

schoolqualification.

I started my career in sales and marketing before having my first child and

as a new mother, I became aware of the importance of finding the perfect

childcare provision. I knew that, working together, Clair and I could create a new

and exciting childcare facility for the town of Witney. I believed that with my

management experience and Clair’s childcare knowledge, we would be the perfect

team. Almost ten years into our operations I am glad to have been proven right.

Location, location

Once we had found the correct premises – a derelict building that had been empty

for five years – we set about creating a vibrant, warm and welcoming childcare

facility for 39 children, from newborn to age five. We wanted to provide a setting

that truly was a home from home. Our goal was to offer nutritious, home-made

REPORT CARD

LITTLE DOTS DAYCARE

»Founders: Lynsey Morris and

Clair Way

»Founded in 2012

»Location: Witney, Oxfordshire

»Services: Pre-school nursery

for children between 0 and

5years

»No. of staff: 52

»Ofsted: “good”

»www.littledotsdaycare.com

Little Dots Daycare

THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW

Highlighting best practice

2| LITTLE DOTS DAYCARE

meals prepared by our very own

mother, who all the children call Nanny

Kitchen, in addition to a stimulating

and engaging environment with a

free-flow structure to the outdoor

learning space. We opened our doors

in August 2012 and within 12 months

we were at full capacity and starting

to think about ways to expand. By

2015 we had plans in place for a new

preschool area, meaning we were able

to increase our provision to 70 places.

In 2017, another opportunity

presented itself, with the opportunity

to take on a second setting, a 70-place

nursery set in the beautiful grounds of

a country park estate. Again, it was in

much need of repair, so we set out to

develop a safe, warm and stimulating

environment, opening our doors

in2018.

Around the world in 80 teas

Clair and I are extremely passionate

about the importance of the early

years in child development. We

understand that offering education

that is both structured and fun results

in confident, happy and inquisitive

children. As a mum to two children

myself, I also understand how difficult

it can be to choose the right childcare.

Therefore, we offer a settling-in period

that helps our children get to grips

with their new surroundings and also

puts the parents’ minds at ease so they

can go back to work feeling safe in

the knowledge that their children are

happy, well cared for and content.

Within both settings we wanted

to offer a range of activities and

experiences for all of the children, so

every week we engage in cooking

activities. We have a dedicated sensory

room at each site with dedicated daily

sessions for smaller groups of children,

from the babies through to preschool.

We have changeable role-play areas,

physical space and cosy corners, while

using the garden and outdoor space to

create outdoor learning areas for all of

the children to enjoy.

We look at teas from around the world

and each week we talk about different

countries and the food they eat, and

then enjoy cooking these speciality

dishes while also greeting the children

each day in the chosen language for

that week. We encourage the children

from the age of two upwards to

engage in phonics sessions, which they

all love.

Children enjoying the

garden and outdoor areas

We wanted to

provide a

setting that

truly was a

home from

home

“

3LITTLE DOTS DAYCARE |

BEST PRACTICE SPONSOR 2020

We have weekly music classes along

with our wonderful dance class with

Disco Duck. We understand the

importance of number recognition, so

the preschool children and teachers

can often be found with their wands,

dancing the “Digit Dance” where we

use our wands to make the shape of

the numbers.

The good, the bad and the ugly

We want parents to feel part of the

nursery environment so every year

we have a full calendar of events

including a Mother’s Day afternoon

tea, Father’s Day BBQ, grandparents’

day and Christmas party. We offer

parent meetings with their child’s key

teacher so they can discuss their child’s

individual learning and development.

Clair and I have a team of 52 childcare

practitioners based over the two settings

and we offer extensive training for

each team member to enrich their own

learning and experience within the early

years. We encourage all of our team to

be involved in the weekly class plans and

individual planning, and we celebrate

our team’s successes with employee of

the month and employee of the year.

We also encourage each team

member to voice their ideas, praise for

one another or concerns through an

anonymous system we call the good,

the bad and the ugly. This is a way

for those that may not be confident

enough to openly talk about such

issues in a group environment to jot

down their thoughts, which we then

share within team meetings. This has

proven a great way to ensure that

all voices are heard and no issues

are ever left unaddressed, which

in turn means we have a happier

workforce that can fully enjoy their

days with each of the children within

thesetting.

We encourage our team to expand

their expertise and development by

completing further qualifications in

childcare while also hosting a large

number of training events on site

covering the characteristics of effective

learning, first aid, safeguarding,

working with babies and much

more. By keeping ourselves and the

team informed and motivated, we

are always able to offer the highest

level of childcare to the children of

LittleDots.

understand

that offering

education that

is both

structured and

fun results in

confident,

happy and

inquisitive

children

“

Creating a fun and

stimulating environment

for children

www.littledotsdaycare.com

This article was sponsored by Little Dots Daycare. The Parliamentary Review is wholly funded by the representatives who write for it.

Rt Hon Michael Gove's Foreword For The Parliamentary Review

By Rt Hon Michael Gove

This year's Parliamentary Review comes at a momentous time for parliament, as we collectively determine the destiny of the United Kingdom.

On October 31, the UK will leave the European Union. The successful implementation of this process is this government's number-one priority.

Three years after a historic referendum vote, we will deliver on the decisive mandate from the British people. Trust in our democracy depends on it. Until that final hour, we will work determinedly and diligently to negotiate a deal, one that abolishes the backstop and upholds the warm and close relationship we share with our friends, allies and neighbours in the EU. But in the event that the EU refuses to meet us at the table, we must be prepared to leave without a deal.

As the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, it is my job to lead on this government's approach, should that scenario happen. Preparing for Brexit is my department's driving mission. But while I am leading this turbocharged effort, the whole of government is committed to this endeavour.

Ministers across Whitehall are working together to ensure that every possibility is considered, every plan is scrutinised and every provision is made. A daily drumbeat of meetings means that we are holding departments accountable, so that preparations are completed on time.

The chancellor has confirmed that all necessary funding will be made available. And we have mobilised thecivil service, assigning 15,000 of our most talented civil servants to manage our exit from the EU.

We will make sure that on November 1, there is as little disruption to national life as possible. Our trade relationships will continue to thrive, thanks to agreements with countries around the world worth £70 billion. Our country will remain secure, thanks to nearly 1,000 new officers posted at our borders. And the 3.2 million EU nationals now living and working among us can remain confident, with absolute certainty, of their right to remain in the UK.

Above all, our goal is to be transparent. Soon, we will launch a public information campaign so that citizens, communities and businesses are ready and reassured about what will happen in the event of “no deal”.

In my first few weeks in this role, I have travelled to ports and tarmacs, borders and bridges, all across the UK –from the seaside of Dover to the rolling green hills of County Armagh. I have heard from business owners and border officials, farmers and hauliers. They are ready to put an end to uncertainty. And they are ready to embrace the opportunities ahead.

Our departure from the EU will be a once in a lifetime chance to chart a new course for the United Kingdom. Preparing for that new course will be a herculean effort. But this country has made astounding efforts before. We can do it again.

Rt Hon Michael Gove
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster