Starting Nursery is an important landmark. You can be sure that the Nursery staff, working in partnership with you as a parent, will strive to make this a positive and exciting event for your child.
We value each child as an individual whose needs and interests are unique and who, through carefully structured play experiences, will develop intellectually and socially to enjoy the benefits of being part of a wider group beyond that of the family.
At Nursery we hope to lay the foundation of your child's education and to encourage positive and stimulating attitudes to learning which will be of value throughout your child’s time at school.
Learning through Play
At Nursery there will be opportunities for your child to experience a wide range of activities, use a variety of equipment and develop skills which will promote positive attitudes to learning throughout school life and beyond. Activities and opportunities will be centered around the six areas of learning from the The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS); Personal, Social and Emotional Development, Communication, Language and Literacy, Problem Solving, Reasoning and Numeracy, Knowledge and understanding of the World, Creative Development and Physical Development, often covering several areas at the same time (more information about the EYFS and the areas of learning can be found on the website ‘www.teachernet.gov.uk/teachingandlearning/EYFS’.
Much of your child’s learning and development will take place through ‘play’ activities which are planned with a particular educational purpose in mind.
As a school, one of our most important aims is that each child should do as well as they possible can.
To help us achieve this, we continually assess each child’s progress when they are engaged in learning and use this information to plan the work or activities they need to do next. We spend a large amount of time observing children when they are involved in self initiated/directed play and recording observations through notes and photographs. The children also undertake adult-led activities, where they will work individually or in a small group on a focused task under the direct supervision of an adult.
This term these are some of the areas we will be investigating:-
Spring Term 2012
4th January - 10th February
Half Term
20th February - 30th March
For more detailed information about learning this term please see the copies of letters withinin the section entitle: Letters to Parents.
For examples of the children’s work and them engaged in their learning please have a look in the section entitled ‘Children’s Work’.
Transition into Nursery
Our Nursery provides the first link between Home and School, and one of the first things we will do is talk to you to find out as much as possible about your child. You know so much about them so please use this transition period as a time to share all knowledge with us.
If you register your child you will receive a letter which will include dates and information about your child’s transition.
Elements of transition:
Informal Information Evening – we will provide you with a wide range of information, time to look around the nursery and ask any questions you have.
Home Visit – if you would like us to we will visit your child at home. This visit is intended to be an informal short visit to meet your child in an environment which they feel comfortable.
Children often remember this visit and feel more secure when they come to visit us at the Nursery.
Rayne Pre- School visit – if your child visits Rayne Pre-School the Pre-school staff visit with your child for a short afternoon session. This ensures your child has familiar people with them and is an excellent opportunity for us to begin getting to know your child. If your child goes to another setting we can arrange for them to visit during this session or at an alternative time.
Afternoon visit – your child will then be invited to spend a short afternoon session at the Nursery. This will provide your child with the opportunity to become more familiar with the staff and environment.
There will be plenty of opportunities for you to ask questions and to share information with us during this time.
We also stagger the start dates for the children to begin Nursery to ensure that their transition is as enjoyable and secure as possible.
Admissions Arrangements
The Nursery provides half day places for 52 children aged 3-4 years, these are split into morning and afternoon groups. The majority of our children will transfer to our main school but some places are usually available to children outside our catchment area who will attend other local schools.
If you are interested in place for your child at our Nursery please contact the school office to register your child’s name. We will then send you an information pack prior to the term your child should begin Nursery.
