Nursery
   

Aims of the Nursery

In our nursery we aim to:

• Provide opportunities for children to learn how to work co-operatively and to develop self esteem and a strong self image
• Help each child to become an enthusiastic and independent learner
• To involve parents fully in the overall development of their child’s potential
• To provide every child with a sound grounding for all future learning

Nursery Staff

In addition to the Nursery Class Teacher and Nursery Nurse your child may also meet other classroom assistants, parent helpers, student teachers and Year 6 pupils who come to help in the Nursery classroom. Usually children call teachers by their surnames and everyone else by their first names. Our school nurse is available for advice by appointment.

The term before your child starts in the Nursery we invite you to visit us. Then we arrange to visit you at home just before your child’s admission date.

In this way we can find out about your child’s interests and experiences, answer any of your questions and help make the transition from home to school as smooth as possible.

We admit new children a few at a time and ask that you stay with them on the first day until they have settled. If your child is unhappy when you leave please feel free to telephone us at any time during the session to find out how she / he is getting on.

The Organisation of the Nursery Day

The Nursery operates two equal sessions, each with a maximum of 26 children and two members of staff. The morning session runs from 9.00 – 11.30am and the afternoon session from 12.45 – 3.15 pm. It is important that you collect your child on time as young children are easily upset if they are left waiting for a parent or carer to arrive. Adults come into the Nursery to collect and deliver their children. Please use the ‘child collection book’ at the entrance to the Nursery to inform us in advance if someone different is collecting your child.

Please close the gates leading to the Nursery when you deliver and collect your child.

On arrival at the Nursery children take their names and self register, hang up their coats and place their drinks in the crate provided. They are then encouraged to choose freely from any of the activities that have been set out and you are welcome to stay with them for a short time until you feel they are settled.

Children are encouraged to use a wide range of activities both inside and outside and all children are expected to help tidy up at the end of each session. At snack time the children have ‘golden time’ when we sing rhymes, share news and feelings. Before the children go home we gather together to review what the children have done during the session and to share stories and songs.

During the session children will be encouraged to use both the indoor and outdoor areas. The outdoor play area has a covered area so children are able to play outside in all weathers and a range of equipment is available to develop their physical, social and play skills.

Whilst inside children will take part in a wide range of activities including:

•    Home corner and role play area
•    Graphics and writing area
•    Books and tapes
•    Computer
•    Games, puzzles and maths activities
•    Small construction and investigative activities
•    Sand and water play
•    Clay, dough and other malleable materials
•    Art and craft activities
•    Junk modelling and woodwork
•    Large construction, including block play, model making
•    Cookery

Once a week the children have a music time with our music specialist where they learn songs, respond to music and experiment with a range of musical instruments.

We are able to use the school’s facilities to support the children’s learning and regularly make use of the school hall for drama, dance and physical education activities.

We join the whole school for some assemblies, celebrations and special events such as Book Week or Sports Day as appropriate. The Year 6 pupils often give up their playtimes to join us in the Nursery and this helps the Nursery children to feel they are part of the larger school community.

What your child will be learning

Children in the Nursery follow the Foundation Stage Curriculum which develops children’s knowledge, skills and understanding towards the Early Learning Goals in:

•    Communication, Language and Literacy
•    Mathematics
•    Knowledge and understanding of the world (includes science and technology)
•    Creative
•    Physical
•    Personal and social

Each term we choose a broad topic area e.g. ‘Living things’, ‘All about me’, ‘People who help us’ and ‘Journeys’, through which we move the children through the stepping stones towards the Early Learning Goals. Many of the activities we offer are designed to bring together several of these learning areas through interactive and creative play opportunities.

Each half term parents receive a curriculum overview which outlines the main focus of the weeks ahead. All adults in the Nursery encourage children to develop their language, learning and listening skills through talking to them and encouraging them to ask questions and remain curious about the activities in which they are engaged.

We monitor children’s progress in several ways. We target several children per week to carry out focussed observations which inform our planning and we use digital photographs to record their achievements. We also keep some samples of work in their scrapbooks which are sent home at the end of their time in Nursery. Every child’s progress is reviewed each term and these assessments contribute to the end of academic year report which is conveyed to parents verbally or through Richmond LEA’s Transfer Document.

Parental / Carer Involvement

At the beginning of each half term parents / carers receive a letter explaining the current topic and there is a notice by the door each week which reminds parents / carers what the half termly focus is. We welcome all contributions from home which help us to make our work more relevant and interesting for your child. Parents / carers are actively encouraged to seek further information about what is happening in school and Nursery staff are always happy to discuss any issues that arise. It is important that there is close liaison between home and school. It is helpful if we are aware of the experiences, special events and interests of your child.

We very much appreciate parental help in the Nursery as it enables us to offer a wider range of opportunities. If you would like to become more involved then please speak with the Nursery staff.

Parents are invited in for formal parents’ evenings in the Autumn and Spring terms and informal discussions on their child’s progress takes place during the Summer term.

• Borrow books regularly
• Talk to your child about their experiences at school
• Value the things that they bring home and let us know about anything important that they are doing outside school
• Provide a drink every day in a labelled container which your child can manage independently (no glass or cans please)
• We ask for a financial contribution each half term towards cooking and some craft activities
• Please keep jewellery and toys at home as they can get lost or broken
• Please bring any suitable ‘junk’ which can be used for modelling activities

The school keeps a waiting list of applicants for Nursery places and children’s names can be added from the age of 2 years. Children are normally admitted in September or January of each year. Priority is given to those living within our catchment area with places being offered first to 4 year olds and then 3 year olds. Further details about admissions criteria can be found in Richmond’s publication ‘A Parents Guide … entry to nursery class’ and Darell’s own Nursery Admission policy which is available from the school office.

The nursery and school are separate institutions. While many of our children go on into the Reception class of the school before their 5th birthday, attendance at Darell Nursery is NOT a guarantee of a Reception place in this school. A place in Darell Nursery is similarly not dependent on an application having been made for a Reception place in the school.