Welcome to Sunshine Corner
Sunshine Corner is an Early Years Alliance childcare service located in Kent, Canterbury.
The Early Years Alliance is the largest voluntary sector provider of childcare in England with over 50 years experience delivering childcare and practical, professional support to early years practitioners.
Our committed, friendly and well-qualified nursery team provides high quality care and learning opportunities for children aged between 0-5 years old.
We use in the moment planning in accordance with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) with a strong focus on learning through play and actively encourage parents to become involved in the life of the nursery.
Children are supported by caring staff in a safe, friendly and fun environment to stimulate their interests and develop a wide range of skills. Every child within our care is supported by a keyperson who understands their individual needs and offers care and support tailored to them to support their learning.
Health and safety policies and procedures are in place to ensure every child is protected, happy and safe within our care.
Places and opening times
We offer 56 Ofsted-registered places and are assessed as 'Good' by Ofsted.
We currently have childcare places available. We are open from 7.30am to 5.30pm Monday to Friday, 51 weeks of the year, excluding bank holidays and three staff training days.
We offer
- Funded childcare for qualifying two year olds and all three and four year old
- 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
Find out more
You are welcome to visit during our opening hours or please contact Hayley Nash, Nursery Manager on 01304842223 or by email on sunshinecorner@eyalliance.org.uk
About us
Sunshine Corner offers a stimulating approach to early years development and learning for very young children.Our nursery plans its activities 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.
Rigorous health & safety and safeguarding policies and procedures are in place to ensure that every child is protected and feels safe and happy with us.
December
During December the children have been learning all about Christmas, how far Mary and Joseph traveled and the gifts left for Jesus. The children also enjoyed singing festive songs, making crafts and visiting Santa grotto.
Impact on children's learning
- Learning about giving and receiving
- Learning about traveling and distance
- Learning new rhymes and playing with sounds
- Developing fine motor skills.
The children are still extending their learning about traveling, using different means of transport and building on the garden.
Cultural Events
During January the children really enjoyed learning about Chinese new year, they tried different foods using chop sticks to pick it up. We explored Chinese symbols and made our own symbols using different materials. Also they looked at the animals in the Chinese calendar.
Impact on children's learning
- Learning to use chop sticks, building fine motor skills.
- Learning about cultural events.
- Developing self help skills and confidence.
- Learning about animals and what they represent on the Chinese calendar, also numbers and number language.
The children are still extending their learning and confidence in using different mark making tools to experiment with, also number songs and rhymes.
Find out more
You are welcome to visit during our opening hours or please contact Hayley Nash, Nursery Manager on 01304842223 or email sunshinecorner@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 know that every child develops differently and at different times. Every child has a key person who understands 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 undertakes 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 child's '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.
All staff have many years of experience from 1-25yrs, our team are fully trained in early years ranging from early years level 2 qualification to level 4 and pediatric first aid.
Our Team at Sunshine Corner Nursery
Nursery Manager
Hayley Nash - NVQ Level 4 Childrens Care Learning Development
CMQS Level 4 Certificate in managing quality standards
Btec National Diploma in Childhood studies
Designated Safeguard Lead
Deputy Manager/Senco
Sally Heathcote - Btec National Diploma in Childhood studies Level 3
Early Years Senco Trained
Fire Safety Qualified
Senior Workers
Tracy Butcher - Level 3
Donna Townsend - NVQ 4 in Childhood Studies
Nursery Workers
Maria Cudworth - Level 3
Karen Monks - Level 3
Toni Brazier - Level 3
Danielle Butcher Level 3
Laura Motte-Styles - Level 3
Nursery Assistants
Emily Martin - Level 3
Chanelle Shackelton - Level 3
Jessica Da Costa - Diploma in Mottessori Pedagogy Level 4.
Kirsty Davidson
Olivia Davis - Lunch time cover
Administrator
Chantel Espie
Nursery Cook
Nicola Hanagan - NVQ 2 Hospitality and catering, Food safety for catering Level 2
Flexible Workers
Teresa McDonald
Courtney Heathcote - Level 3 Health and Social Care
Caitlan Nash - Level 3 Health and Social Care
Jessica Sellwood - CACHE Level 3
Find out more
You are welcome to visit during our opening hours or please contact Hayley Nash, Nursery Manager on 01304842223 or email sunshinecorner@eyalliance.org.uk
65432129572
FAQs
Do you have any childcare places available at the moment?
Yes we do, please contact the nursery to arrange a visit and to collect an application form.
Do you offer funded entitlement for three year olds?
Children are eligible for the funding in the term following their third birthday. The funding is available for 15 hours per week. Some children maybe eligible for 30hrs if parents meet the criteria.
Do you offer funded entitlement for two year olds?
If your child is two years old, your child may be eligible to attend the two year old funded childcare programme. The funding is available for 15 hours per week. Please ask us.
What sessions do you offer?
Sunshine Corner opens five days a week all year round.
Sessions are from 8.45-11.45 and 12.45-3.45pm and 8.45-3.15pm.
Children can attend all day from 7.30pm-5.30pm.
Do you provide hot meals?
At Sunshine Corner we have a nursery cook that provides fresh healthy meals for us daily.
Are you able to accommodate children with different dietary requirements?
Yes, all staff are trained in allergy awareness,and our cook caters for a variety of needs.
What qualifications do your staff have?
The nursery manager is trained to level 4 in childcare , we have a senior trained to level 4 in childcare. The setting workers are trained to level 3 in childcare and we have two nursery assistants. Our Senco is also fully trained.
How many staff will be looking after my child?
We have a total of 11 staff and 4 flexible workers who care for the children and one nursery cook, cleaner and a nursery administrator. Plus a Manager and Deputy Manager.
How quickly can my child start?
Once your child has been offered a space we have a settling in process for all children joining the setting this usually takes around 1-2 weeks depending on each individual child.
Find out more
You are welcome to visit during our opening hours or please contact Hayley Nash, Nursery Manager on 01304842223 or email sunshinecorner@eyalliance.org.uk
Contact Us
Hayley Nash , Nursery Manager
Sunshine Corner
Atlee Avenue,
Aylesham
Canterbury
Kent
CT33BS
T: 01304842223
E: sunshinecorner@eyalliance.org.uk
www.eyalliance.org.uk/sunshine-corner-nursery
"I can’t speak highly enough of this nursery. All three of my children have attended and the standard has remained excellent throughout. The nursery is always clean, the staff have a low turnover and are always frozen and knowledgeable. The quality of the food is excellent. I love the app as it means even when I’m at work, I can be kept up to date with what the kids are up to, whether they’ve had a nap and what and how much they’ve eaten. I’ve never worried about leaving my children there and cannot fault the nursery. Highly recommended." ( child aged 3 years and 1 year - 2020)
"My first child started Sunshine Corner nursery six years ago and since then both of her siblings have also attended the nursery. It's lovely that so many members of staff are still working here, a familiar face is always nice. All my children settled well and have had really positive experiences at Sunshine Corner. The room is always bright and full of colour with the children's artwork or crafts, there is a huge range of ever-changing activities for the children. Both of the eldest children had a brilliant transition from nursery to primary school, with their key workers making sure their needs were met with things they needed to know before school. Staff were always helpful and efficient when it came to potty training and carrying on what we would be doing at home. The staff at Sunshine Corner have always got a smile on their face and are easy to approach with anything we need to share about our child. There is also a great level of communication between the nursery and parents." 9 Child aged 2 years - 2020)
"The staff are amazing.
The nursery it's the cleanest I've seen (there was many to check), also the food its high level.
Just an amazing journey for my little one!" (child aged 3 years - 2020)
"Sunshine Corner Nursery is a wonderful place. My son has come on leaps and bounds and thoroughly enjoys his time there. I feel confident that he is safe and well looked after and that he’s also learning and having fun." (child aged 2 years - 2020)
"My son has been going to Sunshine Corner Nursery for almost two months now, in the baby room and he loves it. He settled straight away and loves exploring and playing. There are so many different things for him to do. All the staff are so friendly and incredibly helpful. Very lucky to have this nursery on my doorstep." Child aged 1 years - 2020)
"My daughter has been going to Sunshine Corner Nursery for nearly a year, and she absolutely loves it. The staff are so warm and welcoming. She always says how much fun she's had. They do a wide range of activities with her, and she's always coming home and telling me what new things she's done and learnt. I always recommend this nursery when speaking to new parents. Fantastic nursery." (child aged 3 years- 2020)
"I thought I would ask my 3-year-old daughter what she thought about nursery as she has been going since she was 11-months-old.
Her comment was "I love my friends, I love the big girl who looks after me in the big room. It's my favourite playing in the garden, and I have my own peg. The grown-ups are nice, and l love them holding my hand."
She is very happy and settled, and I am confident that when she goes, she will be well looked after and will have a fun-filled day, which I hear about on the way home in the car." (child aged 3 years - 2020)
"All staff at Sunshine Corner Nursery are fantastic, I have my baby in the 0-2 area, and she absolutely loves going. I never have any worries or concerns when she is there. She has a severe dairy allergy, and they are amazing with taking extra care to keep her from having any reactions.
They keep to any routines your babies have even helped my little girl to self-settle, in the cot, which has helped me massively.
Thank-you to you all." ( child aged 1 year - 2020)
"We have had all three of our boys go to Sunshine Corner over the last 10+ years. The service has remained outstanding throughout. All three children loved their time at Sunshine Corner, and our youngest still attends.
As a preschool, they have helped each of my children in different ways, our eldest was extremely energetic and hard to control at times, with guidance we changed a few things and he was a different child. Our second child had speech issues, and again with the help from everyone at Sunshine Corner, his speech improved significantly.
All children are different and require different things, Sunshine Corner is able to cater to these needs with a smile on their faces. I couldn’t fault a single thing. They are always improving their play areas and outdoor space, my children love all the staff, they do an awesome job!" ( chils aged 3 years - 2020)
"It’s an amazing setting that I have recommended to a few other parents.
Always clean, safe and all children well looked after.
Management is very understanding and helpful." (child aged 3 years - 2020)
"The nursery accommodates for all children and is very good for times throughout the week. The staff are fantastic and care for each individual children needs, always treating them with dignity and respect. The food is lovely there, which my child thoroughly enjoys. They also do a lot of fundraising for the nursery, which I think is great." ( child aged 4 years - 2020)
"I will definitely recommend this nursery to friends and family. Firstly, I would like to thank all the staff for always being ever so helpful anytime I need help, and their friendliness is absolutely fantastic.
The ambience of the nursery is always clean and tidy, and I was impressed with when I first visited the nursery.
Since my son started the nursery he looks forward to going each day, even during the Christmas holidays he kept on asking everyday ‘Mummy are we going to nursery today’ I will say no it’s Christmas darling! That shows he settled in the nursery. My son’s speech has improved tremendously since he started; now he’s able to make sentences and also express his needs/ wants appropriately.
I just want to say a massive thank you to the manager and to his keyworker as well as all the nursery staff who have supported my son these past few months he’s been there." (child aged 3 years - 2020)
"My daughter has been attending since she turned two in September. I am so, so happy with the nursery and all the staff.
My daughter was extremely shy to the point I couldn’t even leave her with family. She is now like a different child. She is confident and will go and talk to anyone. She loves all the staff and is always so excited to go in the morning. The staff always let me know how she has been and has helped with any issues we have been having at home with advice. I cannot compliment this nursery enough!" ( child aged 2 years - 2020)