Early Steps is open Monday to Friday 51 weeks a year. We do not close for public holidays however we do close between Christmas and New Year. Nursery Morning Sessions.......7.30am - 1.00pm Afternoon Sessions ....1.00pm - 6.00pm Afterschool (term time only) Monday......... ............3.15pm-6.00pm Tuesday.....................3.15pm-6.00pm Wednesday................3.15pm-6.00pm Thursday....................3.15pm-6.00pm Friday.......................12.30am-6.00pm Holiday Club (school holidays) Full day........................7.30am-6.00pm

There are many ways you can obtain financial help with your childcare fees. Below are some links to help guide you on ways to either receive help or save money. TAX Credits are one way you can get help with childcare costs. Click on the image to be redirected to the official Government page to see if you qualify for help with you childcare costs. Childcare vouchers are an excellent way of reducing your childcare costs. If you are working it is possible to sacrifice some of your salary (up to £243 per month) towards childcare vouchers, this means you will not pay tax on this portion of your salary. Both parents can apply for this option. The link on the left will take you to one of the provider’s sites; however there are numerous alternatives, for further details please speak to Katie or Carol. Many education authorities such as West Lothian College offer financial assistance to parents attending courses who need help with their childcare costs. The link to the left will direct you to West Lothian College site, please speak to Carol or Katie for advice regarding other education providers.

Currently we are NOT in partnership with West Lothian Council to offer these places. We do work with many parents offering a wrap around service to compliment the provision offered at a council nurseries. If your child attends a Council/School nursery in may occations the hours offered do not fit with your working pattern. In these cases we can drop your child at the council nursery or collect them and look after them until you finish work. Your child is also only offered a maximum of 3 days at the council nursery, again we work with parents to fill the gap in childcare needed. Please speak to us to discuss your individual needs.

Wrap Around Care is a service to help parents when their child is offered a place at a Council Nursery. Children split their day between Early Steps and Council Nursery, with the Early Steps arranging transport. There are various ways this service can operate depending on your individual needs and which sessions your child attends. . Breakfast Club - Children are dropped off at Early Steps, we will give them breakfast and then take them to their morning session at their Council Nursery. . Morning Session - Children are dropped off at Early Steps and given breakfast before going to Council Nursery. At the end of their session, we will collect them and bring them back to Early Steps for the remainder of the morning. . Afternoon Session - Parents drop their child at the Council Nursery, we will collect them at the end of their session and return them to Early Steps for the rest of the day. . Full Day - The child is dropped off at Early Steps, they will recieve all meals and snacks at Early Steps and will be taken to, and picked up from their Council Nursery for whichever session they attend. . Due to the multiple options and levels of service on offer, please contact us to discuss your individual needs.

REGISTRATION; The first thing you should check is if the nursery is registered with the Care Inspectorate. Check details of the registration of the nursery, is this a new registration but the nursery has been around a lot longer. This can be due to a change of hands or the current owners have made a change to their registration, when this happens all previous inspection reports, complaints and enforcements for the nursery are removed. If this has happened, ensure you ask why the change was made to the registration and also if they have any copies of previous inspection reports for you to read. Most nurseys will be happy to supply these. INSPECTION REPORTS: Read the Inspection reports, make sure you read the report and dont just look at grades as these do not always tell the whole story. Grades are based on an individual inspector and are subjective, if you read the full report you should gain a better picture of the nursery. STAFF; Look at the age of the staff and ask how long they have been with the nursery, a high turnover of staff or high level of young/inexperienced staff may not be a settled and secure environment for your child. Ask what qualifications the staff have, not only in childcare but also First Aid, Food Hygiene, Curriculum training. Ask how staff maintain their knowledge and keep up to date with current legislative requirements. Are all of the staff registered with SSSC and have they all completed either PVG checks or Disclosure Scotland checks this includes all staff within the setting such as drivers, cooks and cleaners. Make sure the staff ratios are maintained at all times and ask how staff levels are maintained when the school/state nursery runs are being carried out. SECURITY; Check the security of the premises, how easy was it for you to get in. If you can walk straight in so can someone else!! Have a look at the outside areas, are these safe and secure, how easy would it be for a little one to escape. ACTIVITIES; Are there plenty of resources around inside and out to keep your little one busy and interested. What additional classes are available (French, Swimming, etc) Are there opportunities for outings Are there any links with the local library bus, fire brigade, police etc. WARMTH AND CARING; How do the staff interact with your child and other children when you are in, do they remember your childs name? Ask other parents to recommend a nursery.