Our Nursery
Welcome to St Andrew’s Nursery
Welcome to St Andrew’s CE School Nursery. This handbook provides information about our Nursery, its aims, curriculum and activities.
This will answer many questions that you may have about your child beginning their learning journey at St Andrew’s Nursery.
The Importance of Nursery Education
Early Years’ education is vital for children, giving them opportunities to extend their levels of social, emotional, physical and intellectual development.
We provide a friendly, nurturing and secure environment in which all children can acquire and develop essential skills, concepts, attitudes and knowledge that allow them to become independent, inquisitive and caring members of society.
Children in Nursery have the time, space and resources needed for investigation, exploration and socialisation. They are encouraged to engage in activities and to enjoy self-chosen challenges as they learn through their first-hand experiences.
Children will build relationships with adults and other children, broadening their communication skills and developing language.
We carefully monitor the children’s learning and offer equal opportunities, valuing them all as individuals. Children will be supported by staff, according to their individual needs and abilities.
As a part of St Andrew’s CE School Nursery your child will be a part of the school community. The Nursery incorporates Christian values that the school uphold; respect, perseverance and friendship.
Nursery Entitlement
Who is the Nursery Class for?
The Nursery Class is for children from the school term after they turn two years old to statutory school age.
Session Times
At St Andrew’s CE School Nursery, we offer the following 3 hour sessions throughout the week during term time. You can also do a full day session from 9:00am until 3:00pm.
These sessions will make up your child’s funded entitlement. We offer the flexibility to book sessions to meet your requirements and if needed to extend these sessions through provision of additional hours. This may incur an additional fee and is subject to availability (see charging and admissions policy).
The Nursery also has wrap around care that can be booked in advance every term.
Childcare and lunchtime options are available at an additional fee (see Charging and Admissions Policy)-
If you believe your child is entitled to funded hours, please visit the link below:
https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/
Nursery Staff
The Nursery is overseen by an Early Years Phase Lead, who is a qualified teacher and is staffed with appropriately qualified Early Years Practitioners. The staff will create an effective relationship with your family, in order to nurture your child’s development. You will also have a key worker for your child, who will be responsible for supporting them whilst they are in Nursery.
Punctuality
Children are expected to arrive and be collected from Nursery promptly. If you do arrive late please go to the main School office.
Illness
There are times, after an illness, when it is necessary to keep your child away from Nursery to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. Please call the school office for advice.
With sickness and diarrhoea – it is important that your child has been symptom free for 48 hours before they return to Nursery.
School office- 01386 41351
School email- office@st-andrews.worcs.sch.uk
Parental Partnership
Working in partnership with parents and carers is an essential. You know your child better than anyone; you can tell us what they like or dislike and it is important to involve you in their Nursery experience. Working together we can build upon and develop your child’s existing knowledge and strengths.
Stay and Play
These 1 or 2 hour sessions are an opportunity for you to come into Nursery to take part in activities with your child. It also provides the opportunity for you to discuss your child’s progress with their key worker.
Communication
As part of St Andrew’s CE School Nursery you will receive weekly whole school newsletters, regular communications about upcoming events will be sent via emails and text. Regular communications will be sent via our class-based app, ‘Class Dojo’, this will give you information on your child’s activities and learning.
It is important that you keep your contact details up-to-date and advise us of any changes immediately, as it is essential for emergency contacts and any urgent updates e.g. Nursery closure due to inclement weather.
Parents’ Meetings
Whilst we will endeavour to make it possible to speak to your child’s key worker at the beginning or end of a session, it may be necessary to make an appointment to meet at a mutually convenient time.
In the summer term, you will also receive a written report detailing your child’s achievements and development.
Clothing
Children are required to wear the School jumper or cardigan, on top of suitable casual clothing.
These can be purchased from: https://www.theschoolshopuk.co.uk/
Ensure your child is wearing shoes that are appropriate for outdoor play. The children will need to be able to take them off, and put them on, by themselves.
For forest school sessions your child will need to wear warm clothing that you do not mind getting a little muddy! The children will need lots of layers, a long sleeved top and bottoms, wellington boots and waterproofs.
All items of clothing and footwear should be clearly labelled with your child’s name.
Please send in any nappies, wipes or spare clothing that your child may need in a clearly labelled bag.
Nappy Changing:
Parents will be asked to complete a consent form to enable staff to change your child’s nappy or clothing, should they need this during the day. Staff will follow procedures laid out in the Intimate Care Policy on our website (https://www.st-andrews.worcs.sch.uk/).
Lunch Time
Lunch should be brought to Nursery in a small lunch box/ bag, clearly labelled with your child’s name. We encourage healthy eating and recommend that children have a sandwich or savoury item, fruit or yoghurt, as well as a drink of water, sugar free squash or fruit juice.
Fruit and Milk
The children receive fruit and milk every day for their snack. Water is available to drink throughout the Nursery session.
Nursery Curriculum
Pregnancy and the early years of a child's life are the most important for their development. From making friends and relationships, becoming lively communicators to success in school and later life – this is an important time for you and your child and there are lots of people on hand to help you and your family flourish.
Children develop more rapidly during the first five years of their lives years than at any other time. That's why they are called the foundation years – the building blocks for life! An Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework is in place in England. It describes what children should learn and what levels of development they can be expected to reach by the end of Early Years Foundation Stage. More information on the revised curriculum please visit www.foundationyears.org.uk.
St Andrew’s Nursery Curriculum
Learning should be fun!
At St Andrew’s Nursery, we want children to be enthusiastic about their education. We offer a wide range of opportunities that follow the children’s interests and next steps. We also link closely with the Reception Classes in School to ensure progression and opportunities for personalised provision. We track your child’s progress throughout their education in the Early Years Foundation Stage which ends at the end of their Reception class year. There are seven areas of learning that provide children with the skills, knowledge and understanding they need to develop to ensure
maximum achievement in the future; the seven areas are:
|
Prime Areas of Learning |
The prime areas are strengthened and applied through 4 specific areas: |
|
Personal, Social & Emotional Development Communication & Language Physical Development |
Literacy Mathematics Understanding of the World Expressive Arts & Design |
Nursery Timetable
- Our Nursery morning session begins at 9 am until 12 midday. The afternoon session is from 12:00 noon until 3:00pm.
- On arrival at Nursery your child is encouraged to find their photograph or name and hang up their coat and bag on their peg.
- The children then have some time to settle into the Nursery activities with staff support. As they become more used to the routine they will become more independent in settling into activities.
- During the session, children will come together on the carpet in small groups, or with the rest of the class. They will participate in fun and educational activities that will support mathematics and phonics learning ready for your child’s journey to school.
- We encourage independence and child initiated learning by providing a period of uninterrupted free-flow play in our nurturing and enabling environment. The children will be able to explore both indoor and outdoor environments.
- Throughout the session there will be the opportunity to participate in specific adult lead activities.
- This is a wonderful opportunity to develop speaking and listening skills for your child.
- During the session, groups will return to the carpet for group time, which may involve talking about events and experiences followed by stories and rhymes. This will support the children to reflect on their play, communicate and learn with their key worker and peers.
- At home time, parents should wait outside the main entrance for Nursery and children will be released to their parent or known adult authorised to collect them.
- Our timetable will also include Forest School sessions and Parent Stay and Play Sessions.
We look forward to getting to know you and your child as you start your introduction to school life.
If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact the school:
office@st-andrews.worcs.sch.uk
01386 41351
PLEASE NOTE THAT A PLACE AT ST ANDREW’S CE SCHOOL NURSERY DOES NOT GUARANTEE A PLACE AT ST ANDREW’S CE RECEPTION CLASS WHEN YOUR CHILD REACHES SCHOOL AGE. YOU MUST APPLY FOR A PLACE VIA SCHOOL ADMISSIONS BY 15TH JANUARY.