Once Upon A Time Nursery | Norwich based childrens nurseries

At Once upon a time we aim to provide families the very best childcare in Norwich. Set up in 2007 by Julie and John Banbury, we’re a family-owned, family-managed business with four nursery schools. All of our settings offer a homely, safe and friendly environment. And our wide range of resources has been chosen to inspire young children.

In 2017, Julie and John welcomed their daughter, Georgia, into the business. We’re proud to have two of our nursery schools currently rated as ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted and two rated as ‘Good’.

Our number one priority is to take care of your child. Knowing that your child is safe and secure, being encouraged to try new things and given reassurance when needed – you’ll know they’re in capable hands.

Alongside this, our settings share the same four aims for your child to work towards during their time with us. Whichever Once upon a time setting they attend, they’ll be supported to grow in independence, become an effective communicator, understand emotions and, very importantly, develop a love of books.

These aims have a direct impact on our activities and input into every child’s individual learning journey.

Growing Independence

This might start as learning to walk, developing a sense of self and trying out new self-care skills like feeding themselves. This may develop into choosing their own resources, building a sense of responsibility for our ‘golden rules’, having self-belief and trying to put on their own coat and shoes.

Being an effective communicator

This might start as understanding simple instructions, taking part in action songs and learning basic sign language. This might develop into singing familiar songs, understanding their vote has an impact and trying out lots of new vocabulary.

Understanding emotions

This might start as expressing their own emotions confidently and learning to take turns. This might develop into an ability to self-regulate their feelings, understand how others might be feeling and showing resilience.

Having a love of books

This might start as enjoying nursery rhymes, engaging with story bags and beginning to have favourite books. This might develop into remembering parts of their favourite stories, recognising patterns and rhythm in books and bringing books to life through artwork or play.

Tapestry is an easy-to-use, online learning journal that helps nursery practitioners and parents to record, track and celebrate a child’s progress.

From first steps and messy play to learning phonics and new games, there’s so much for young children to do, learn and take in during their early years. Tapestry enhances this special time, helping our practitioners to capture children’s experiences as well as monitor learning and development. Each child’s journal is shared online with their parents, who can see special moments, view their child’s progress and even add their own content. Parent involvement is something we promote at all times while your child is at nursery. By working together, we can achieve the very best outcomes for your child.

Text, images and videos are uploaded throughout the day via our hand-held tablets. Every entry helps to create a complete story of a child’s time at Once upon a time.

Tapestry covers the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Key Stage 1 (KS1) and Key Stage 2 (KS2), and is designed to simplify and improve recording within these curricula. It is used by hundreds of nurseries, pre-schools and schools all over the country. Each setting receives its own web address and secure log-in details, as well as full viewing and editing controls.

When your child leaves Once upon a time we provide you with a copy of your child’s journal as a keepsake. This is also sent to your child’s Infant School.

Millie’s Mark is an exceptional achievement that all four of our settings hold. It means we go above and beyond minimum requirements in keeping children safe. We provide parents reassurance that all our Early Years Practitioners and Apprentices are paediatric first aid trained and competent. Safety is at the forefront of our mind when your child is in our care.

100% of our team members complete their Ofsted approved 12 hour paediatric first aid training every three years. Six of these hours are hands on, learning and refreshing skills that include choking, dressings and CPR. Our managers ensure their teams do plenty of refreshers between those dates so they feel confident, ready and capable in their abilities should a child need their help.

Millie’s Mark was founded by parents Dan and Joanna Thompson, after their nine month old daughter died after chocking on food at her nursery in 2012. They created this voluntary scheme for nurseries to achieve so that more Early Years Practitioners would feel confident in the administration of first aid.

What happens at nursery?

We plan for fun!

Our teams plan a themed range of activities which are then developed based on the children’s interests, curiosity and imaginations. Play is a child’s work.

Outdoors – rain or shine

We encourage the children to spend time outside whether it’s to let off steam, play quietly or simply to get some fresh air, whatever the weather!

Story time

We wouldn’t be Once upon a time without story time. We read stories morning and afternoon. In fact, many of our activities are planned around the books we read.

Meal times

We provide breakfast, a home-cooked lunch, afternoon tea plus morning and afternoon fruit snacks. We provide child-friendly, nutritional and balanced menus.