The team
The same faces at the door year after year is what parents mention most. Staff are paid above the sector rate and trained on the nursery's time; every one has an enhanced DBS check, paediatric first aid and Level 3 or above.
Opened the nursery in 2011 after ten years as deputy of a nursery in Llandaff and a degree in early childhood studies. The registered person with Care Inspectorate Wales, the designated safeguarding lead, and the one who does the 30-hours applications with parents at the kitchen table. Still does two mornings a week in Acorns because, she says, the office is not the job.
Joined in 2015 as an apprentice and runs the Oaks and the forest school programme at Forest Farm. Level 3 Forest School Leader, Level 5 in early years leadership, outdoor first aid, and a Welsh speaker who runs the register and the songs in Welsh. Deputises for Bethan and holds the keys to the tool box, which the children know.
The rooms
Safeguarding
The highest level of criminal-record check, including the barred lists, for every member of staff, the cook, the cleaner and the bank staff, renewed on the update service. Held on file with the dates; Care Inspectorate Wales sees the register at every inspection.
Every member of staff holds twelve-hour paediatric first aid, renewed every three years, so there is never a room without it. Dafydd and the two forest school assistants hold outdoor first aid as well.
Bethan is the designated lead and is in the building every day; Dafydd deputises. Every member of staff does safeguarding training yearly, the policy is in the hall, and a concern is recorded and acted on the same day.
Nobody collects a child who is not on the collection list with the password you set, including grandparents in an emergency, until you have rung. The door is on a buzzer, the garden gate is bolted, and the register is counted at every transition.
Work here
We pay above the sector rate, train on the nursery\'s time, close for the week at Christmas, and give every room lead a budget and a free hand. Apprentices work alongside a Level 3 for the whole qualification and most stay. Welsh speakers and forest school assistants are the people we are shortest of. Write to Bethan with what you have done and which room you would want.
Tell us your child's age and the days you are thinking of, and we reply within the working day with a time to walk round every room while it is open, the garden, the kitchen and the fees. No pressure and nothing to sign; the waiting list is free to join afterwards. Or ring Bethan.