Our inclusive ethos
At Happy Bears Early Years, we believe that every child is unique, capable and deserving of the very best start in life.
We are committed to creating a warm, welcoming and inclusive environment where all children and families feel valued, respected and supported. We celebrate diversity and recognise that children develop, learn and communicate in different ways. Our curriculum and practice are designed to ensure every child has the opportunity to participate, belong and thrive.
We work closely with parents, carers and professionals to understand each child’s individual strengths, interests and needs. Through strong partnerships, early identification and personalised support, we strive to remove barriers to learning and development, enabling every child to reach their full potential.
At Happy Bears, children’s emotional wellbeing is at the heart of everything we do. We foster positive relationships, nurture confidence and self-esteem, and support children to develop resilience, independence and a lifelong love of learning.
Our child-centred approach values children’s voices, interests and experiences. We provide an environment where every child feels safe, heard and included, regardless of their background, culture, language, ability or individual circumstances.
By embracing inclusion in all aspects of our practice, we create a community where differences are celebrated, kindness is encouraged and every child is given the opportunity to flourish.
Attendance and Absence
At Happy Bears Early Years, we understand that regular attendance helps children build secure relationships, develop confidence and make the most of their learning opportunities.
We ask families to inform us as soon as possible if their child will be absent from a session. Accurate attendance records are maintained for all children and form an important part of our safeguarding responsibilities.
If a child who is expected to attend does not arrive and we have not received notification of their absence, we will contact parents or carers to ensure the child’s wellbeing. Where necessary, we may also contact emergency contacts if we are unable to reach a parent or carer.
We encourage families to provide additional emergency contacts and to keep all contact details up to date so that we can communicate effectively in the event of an emergency.
Where attendance concerns arise, we work in partnership with families to understand any barriers and provide support where needed.
Any unexplained or prolonged absences will be followed up in line with our Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy.
At Happy Bears Early Years, children’s safety, wellbeing and happiness remain at the heart of everything we do.
Our full Absence and Attendance Policy is available upon request.
Illness & Medications
We kindly ask parents not to give Calpol or any other fever‑reducing medication before bringing their child in. These medicines can temporarily lower a temperature and hide signs of an underlying illness, which makes it much harder for us to spot when a child is genuinely unwell. If your little one isn’t feeling themselves, the best place for them is at home where they can rest and recover comfortably. If your child has recently been unwell or you’re unsure whether they should attend, please speak to a member of the team so we can support you.
Confidentiality
At Happy Bears Early Years, we respect the privacy of all children, families and staff.
We are committed to handling personal information responsibly, securely and in accordance with UK data protection legislation. Information shared with us is treated confidentially and is only accessed by those who need it to support children’s care, learning, development and wellbeing.
We work closely with parents and carers and will always seek consent before sharing information with other professionals, unless there is a safeguarding concern or a legal requirement to do so.
Our staff team receive training in confidentiality and data protection and understand the importance of protecting sensitive information at all times.
Further information can be found in our Confidentiality Policy and Privacy Notice, which are available upon request.
Safeguarding at Happy Bears
At Happy Bears Early Years, the safety, wellbeing and happiness of every child is our highest priority.
We are committed to providing a safe, nurturing and inclusive environment where all children, including those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), feel valued, respected and supported to thrive.
We believe that safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. Our staff team are trained to recognise and respond to concerns about a child’s welfare, and we work closely with parents, carers and external professionals to ensure children receive the support they need at the earliest opportunity.
Our approach is child-centred and inclusive. We understand that children may communicate their needs, feelings and experiences in different ways, and we are committed to ensuring every child’s voice is heard. We actively remove barriers to participation and work in partnership with families to support children’s emotional wellbeing, development and safety.
Happy Bears Early Years follows robust safeguarding policies and procedures in line with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), West Sussex Safeguarding Children Partnership guidance and statutory safeguarding requirements.
Our Safeguarding Team
Samantha – Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), Nursery Manager and SENCo
Kayleigh – Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) and Deputy manager
Lisa - Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) and SEND Support Assistant
Together, we work closely with children, families and external agencies to ensure that every child receives the support, protection and early help they need to remain safe, happy and able to thrive.
Copies of our safeguarding and child protection policies are available upon request.