MiniStars Creche at The UK Centre for Carnival Arts
MiniStars Childcare is housed in the dynamic UK Centre for Carnival Arts (UKCCA), which is the first Centre of its kind dedicated to the professional development of carnival artists in the UK. Carnival Arts develops highly skilled art forms across music, movement and costume which has been brought together by UKCCA to inform and inspire their courses, workshops, seminars, outreach, exhibitions, showcases, galas etc. Our nursery was completed in July 2009 and has environmental sustainability, which was achieved by incorporating hi-tech materials and designs into external and internal fabric of the building design.
Childcare Provision
MiniStars Childcare is a private childcare provision accommodating 33 children aged 6 months to 5 years, with a focus on learning through play and utilising the many experiences gained from the wonderful outdoors. We strive to ensure that your child will learn, develop and be challenged in natural and diverse ways.
MiniStars Childcare is housed within a newly built, vibrant and natural learning space, where our highly qualified professional staff will provide support, comfort and quality cared for children in their most formative years.
UK Centre for Carnival Arts
MiniStars work in partnership with the UK Centre for Carnival Arts, by mirroring their curriculum activities which includes music, visual arts, theatre, multimedia, dance, literature, and the creative arts amongst other disciplines. We provide children with planned opportunities to work with the artists, musicians, dancers and other creative professionals who will encourage them to develop confidence in their own creativity and to learn in new ways. These practitioners, by acting as role models, work with the children to develop their communication skills to be able to express themselves, be evaluative and be able to comment on their learning. The children at MiniStars will develop an idea of self and a love of learning by interacting with differing professionals and experiences.
Imbedded in our activities is to allow children the time to explore and experiment by playing with high quality resources and equipment. Through consistent supervision and interaction with the children we ensure that they feel secure enough to try new ways of exploring and by using all of their senses to learn. Children’s creativity develops most productively within a rich learning environment supported by sensitive and responsive adults. An environment that lets them imitate what they see, experiment with ideas and, more importantly, contribute their own ideas, is an environment where they will flourish.
Children need to spend some time with adults who are themselves creative. They will learn effectively when they encounter experiences and resources that stimulate their curiosity. At MiniStars we provide opportunities for challenge and not only promote age related activities but also stage related ones too.
Healthy bodies are also an important part of our mission; our children will eat wholesome healthy foods freshly prepared on-site each day. The children are provided with breakfast, a mid morning snack, hot lunch with pudding and also a light tea. The nursery fully supports and encourages the Government recommendation of an intake of at least five portions of fruit or vegetables per child per day. For example, we make available fresh fruit each day, which is displayed at child level in a bowl, where our children can help themselves throughout the day; water is also available.
MiniStars achieved a fantastic OFSTED report in its first year of opening!
Ofsted Report April 2010 concluded that MiniStars Childcare is a ‘good’ setting with outstanding features. The provision puts the needs of the individual child at the heart of the care and learning that it delivers, read more visit www.ofsted.gov.uk
Download a MiniStars Application Form here: MiniStars Application Form.pdf
To find out more about MiniStars visit the MiniStars Website.