NORCOT EARLY YEARS CENTRE

Norcot Early Years Centre is a large state run children's centre for 3 - 5 years olds with 120 part-time and 30 full-time places. We also have 50 neighbourhood nursery daycare places for 0 - 5 year olds and we provide wraparound care. We are sited in Reading near the river in the Thames Valley, west of London. We are part of a mixed socio-economic and cultural community; all children attending at present are within the 0 - 5 years age group.

The centre provides a broad, balanced curriculum following the guidelines of foundation stage and birth to 3 matters. The staff work in two teams to provide workshop based provision. Each child and their family are encouraged to work in partnership with staff to build a profile as a record of their development and progress. We have a well developed Special Needs Policy and practise ensuring early identification, support, planning and evaluation. Families are closely involved and work with centre or outside professionals where needed.

Norcot Early Years Centre is a children's centre and is at present providing support for nursery units and classes in Reading. We run workshops for early years providers during session time, providing models of good practice. We have developed information packs for professionals and parents and carers. These cover a wide range of issues such as difficulties with sleep patterns, new babies, separation and bereavement.

We are constantly developing the centre to maximise its potential as a learning environment.

We have a range of other services at the centre including support with speech and language from our speech and language therapist, family support groups, parenting groups, toddler groups, a father's group and advice from Job Centre Plus, TEA shop and Children's Information Centre.