“…Cuddles (Canford Heath) has been amazing and my boy loves going and doesn’t even flinch when I drop him off. At just before 10 months old he was coming home able to feed himself with a spoon as well as lots of other things they have taught him and he is now so sociable with all children he meets :-) I highly recommend this nursery and can’t thank them enough for how lovingly they have looked after my son.”
Canford Heath Day Nursery
an inspiring child friendly environment
Day Center Details
Address:
Cuddles Day Nursery
Learoyd Road
Poole
Dorset, BH17 8PJ
Telephone:
01202 672671
Contacts
Nursery Manager: Fran Morgan
Admin Manager: Bill Arnold
Links
Ofsted: Download Report
Registration Form: Download Form
Photo Gallery: Cuddles Gallery
UK Day Nurseries
We aim to provide the future generation with the skills to help them become confident, self-assured individuals who have the enthusiasm to learn.
Canford Heath had its Ofsted inspection in 2017 and was awarded an “OUTSTANDING” grading, which demonstrates that the setting is providing outstanding practice in all areas. This recognition from Ofsted shows that Cuddles provides children with excellent quality of learning and care experiences, which will set them on the right path for a brighter future. It also shows the commitment that we have to giving each child the best start in life possible.
Canford Heath is a purpose-built facility – specifically designed to enhance children’s learning and well-being where care and consideration have been given to all aspects of the environment.
Cuddles Day Nursery believes in providing the best service possible. We always encourage feedback from both parents and staff because we recognise that this is the main way in which we can improve. We also set our day-to-day standards higher than necessary (not just when the inspectors come), and communication with parents has a major part to play in this. Transition through each area (babies, toddlers, pre-school and then finally the move to school) is handled sensitively and is carefully planned for each child.
The interior is designed in a bright, attractive, clean, warm and welcoming way, to make everyone feel comfortable and at home. The furniture and equipment have been carefully chosen to be high quality and age-appropriate, allowing children to learn through the freedom to play with the importance of safety in mind.
The large outside area has been fully designed and equipped to allow children the freedom to play safely (using a mixture of imagination and physical dexterity) with security being a priority.
As a privately run day nursery, we aim to provide a secure and loving environment in which your child can grow and develop to their maximum potential in every aspect of their early lives.
We aim to encourage the physical, intellectual, linguistic, emotional and social skills that your child needs to develop their self-esteem and confidence, so that they may become happy, independent, fun-loving children with the enthusiasm to learn and make friends.
What the parents say
Session Times
As a nursery, we try to be as flexible as possible to suit most parents’ needs. The following are our normal operating times but if you would like care outside of these hours, please come and talk to us.
The nursery is open from Monday to Friday and closes on bank holidays and one week between Christmas and New Year.
08:00 – 13:00pm
13:00 – 18:00pm
08:00 – 18:00pm
Take a tour around our nursery
Introduction from the Nursery Manager
My name is Fran and I have been working at Cuddles since September 2001. The Canford Nursery is purpose-built and has been running since 2001. We have nine rooms and cater for children from six weeks to 14 years old.
Each room has its core staff to ensure continuity for the children and parents. We have amazing outdoor facilities and the children spend time outside every day, using bikes, scooters, tunnels, sandpits and water trays.
As manager of the setting, I qualified with an NVQ 3 in Early Years Education in 1999 and in 2008 I gained my Foundation Degree. In 2012 I attended Winchester University and gained my Early Years Professional Status qualification.
I have attended many courses over the years, which include food hygiene, first aid at work, Special Educational Needs, as well as a management course. I am also the nursery SENCO. As well as all of this, I am a qualified gymnastics coach and take the older children to Rossmore Leisure Centre for a weekly gym session.
Nursery Philosophy
- To have fun and be happy.
- To become confident and independent.
- To make friends and develop the necessary social skills to do so.
- To develop a love of learning.
- To develop his/her gifts and skills to maximise potential in all areas.
- To feel secure and respected within a loving environment.
Our Rooms at Canford Heath
Before starting the nursery, your child will be given at least two free-of-charge settling-in sessions to ensure there is a smooth transition from home to the nursery. We also offer home settling-in sessions for the younger children, especially if they have never left Mummy or Daddy before.
Natterjacks and FireFlies 0-2 years
At Canford Heath, we have two baby room where children are cared for in small peer groups of between 9 and 12 children per group, aged 6 weeks to 2 years. There is a robust key person ethic so that your child can build a close relationship and attachment to one person. This close key person bond system helps to nurture your child’s well- being and support their growing skills and individual needs. The staff/child ratio in this room is 1:3
There are three rooms that take our toddlers at Canford Heath – The Little Hoots room, Wide Eyes and Komodos. In these rooms we encourage our young toddlers to explore the environment around them, supporting their growing independence and giving confidence in their language and communication skills.
This lively toddler room is called Little hoots and they are able to take 24 children from 18 months/ 2 years; staying in this room until their 3rd birthday. During the lead up to them moving, they will have some settling-in sessions in their new room to help them adapt to the different environment and the change in key person.
We are able to offer two year olds who are eligible for 2 year free entitlement up to 15 hours of free childcare per week – (term-time only) in these rooms. During this time we will also undertake a two year check on your child which focuses on the three prime areas in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). These are; Personal, Social and Emotional Development, Communication and Language and Physical Development. You will be invited to attend a meeting which will last about an hour, where we discuss your child within the home environment and show you an account of them within the nursery setting. This is then shared with your Health Visitor and maybe used at your child’s two year check. The staff/child ratio in this room 1:4.
This energetic toddler room is called Wide Eyes and they are able to take 16 children from from 18 months/ 2 years; staying in this room until their 3rd birthday. During the lead up to them moving, they will have some settling-in sessions in their new room to help them adapt to the different environment and the change in key person.
We are able to offer two year olds who are eligible for 2 year free entitlement up to 15 hours of free childcare per week – (term-time only) in these rooms. During this time we will also undertake a two year check on your child which focuses on the three prime areas in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). These are; Personal, Social and Emotional Development, Communication and Language and Physical Development. You will be invited to attend a meeting which will last about an hour, where we discuss your child within the home environment and show you an account of them within the nursery setting. This is then shared with your Health Visitor and maybe used at your child’s two year check. The staff/child ratio in this room 1:4.
This spirited toddler room is called Komodos and they are able to take 12 children from 18 months/ 2 years; staying in this room until their 3rd birthday. This is slightly smaller and is able to offer a more intimate group as there are only limited spaces. During the lead up to them moving, they will have some settling-in sessions in their new room to help them adapt to the different environment and the change in key person.
We are able to offer two year olds who are eligible for 2 year free entitlement up to 15 hours of free childcare per week – (term-time only) in these rooms. During this time we will also undertake a two year check on your child which focuses on the three prime areas in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). These are; Personal, Social and Emotional Development, Communication and Language and Physical Development. You will be invited to attend a meeting which will last about an hour, where we discuss your child within the home environment and show you an account of them within the nursery setting. This is then shared with your Health Visitor and maybe used at your child’s two year check. The staff/child ratio in this room 1:4
Once your child reaches the age of three they will move to their new room. Prior to their move your child will also have had settling-in sessions to help them adjust to their new surroundings. The pre-school room helps them start to adjust ready for the reception class at school as there is more of an emphasis on gaining independence skills and really getting them ready for the leap into school life.
The children’s learning and well-being are fostered by staff who role model and support children in their development, motivating children to become enthusiastic and confident learners. The children in this room have the opportunity to have free gym sessions at Rossmore Leisure Centre with a member of the team who is a fully qualified gymnastics coach. There is also a chance to take part in free weekly trips to the woods where children learn to use the outdoor resources and experiment with nature in the natural environment. The 15 hours of free entitlement is also offered in these rooms and can be stretched to cover the whole year. The staff/child ratio is 1:8.
These rooms are open term-time only which coincides with the BCP Council’s school dates. Both the Rang-a-tangs and Conchitas operate in exactly the same way and provide care and education to children from three years upwards until they leave to enter school.
The staff provide activities to help get your child ready for school and they are inspired to have an avid curiosity and enthusiasm for learning new skills. These rooms operate from 8:45am-2:45pm daily and the 15 and 30 hours free entitlement is able to be used in this room. There are various sessions available to accommodate parents including a morning, afternoon or full day session. The staff/child ratio is 1:8 in the pre-school rooms.
Hetty Hornets room is open term-time only which coincides with the Borough of Poole’s school dates. The Hetty Hornets operate in exactly the same way as the all year round rooms and provide care and education to children from three years upwards until they leave to enter school.
The staff provide activities to help get your child ready for school and they are inspired to have an avid curiosity and enthusiasm for learning new skills. These rooms operate from 8:00-1:00pm, 1:00-6:00pm and 8:00-6:00pm daily and the 15 and 30 hours free entitlement is able to be used in this room. There are various sessions available to accommodate parents including a morning, afternoon or full day session. The staff/child ratio is 1:8 in the pre-school rooms.