We have a longstanding staff team of nine full-time workers, most of whom have been working at St Andrew’s for more than 12 years. Six of these are keyworkers with special responsibilities for six children on a daily basis. In addition we have a staff member (our SENCO) who has particular responsibilities for children with special educational needs. We have never needed to use agency workers.

All staff have a childcare qualification and are CRB checked. We are all trained in safeguarding children and health and safety. Most staff are trained in first aid and basic food hygiene. We close for up to four days a year for a range of staff development and training. Recent activities have included training in role play, phonics awareness, creative activities, supporting boys in early education, speech and language training, raising the attainment of black children and using the Common Assessment Framework (CAF).

We are committed to including parents as partners. This is an integral part of the Early Years Foundation Stage approach, and it means that we value all our families, that we are welcoming, approachable and communicative, that we learn together with parents, that we reflect a child’s home language in the nursery, that we involve fathers and male carers, and that we reflect regularly on how we are interacting with parents and carers.