Children start to learn about the world around them from the moment they are born. The care and education offered by Countesthorpe Nursery School helps children to continue to do this by providing all of the children with interesting activities that are suitable for their age and stage of development.

For children between the ages of 3 and 5 years, the Nursery School provides a curriculum for the early years foundation stage of education. This curriculum is set out in a document, published by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority and the Department for Education and Skills, and called Curriculum Guidance for the Foundation Stage.

Countesthorpe Nursery School follows this guidance.

The guidance divides children’s learning and development into Prime areas and Specific areas

Prime areas

•Personal, Social and Emotional Development •Physical Development •Communication and Language

Specific areas

•Literacy •Mathematics •Understanding the World •Expressive Arts and Design

The curriculum provided by Countesthorpe Nursery School

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Our Staff will:

• give time and attention to each child;

• talk with the children about their interests and activities;

• help children to experience and benefit from the activities we provide

• allow the children to explore and be adventurous in safety

• keep a detailed learning journey for each child.

• be subject to regular CRB checks.

The staff who work at Countesthorpe Nursery School consists of Lead teacher, Nursery Nurses and Learning support assistant. The work is overseen by the Headteacher.

Learning Journeys

The Nursery School keeps a learning journey for each child. This is a record of your child’s time at Nursery School with input from parents, carers and other settings. It is an ongoing file that shows interests and development and progress through the EYFS framework.

Governing Body

The Nursery School has a constituted Governing Body. More information can be obtained from the school office.

How parents take part in the Nursery School

Countesthorpe Nursery School recognises parents as the first and most important educators of their children. All of the staff are co-workers with you in providing care and education for your child. There are many ways in which parents take part in making the Nursery School a welcoming and stimulating place for children and parents, such as:

• exchanging knowledge about their children’s needs, activities, interests and progress with the staff;

• helping at sessions of the Nursery School;

• sharing their own special interests with the children;

• being part of the management of the Nursery School; as a Governor

• taking part in events and informal discussions about the activities and curriculum provided by the Nursery School;

• joining in community activities in which the Nursery School takes part; and

• building friendships with other parents in the Nursery School.

Parent helpers

The Nursery School has a rota which you can join if you would like to help at a particular session or sessions of the Nursery School. Helping at the session enables you to see what the day-to-day life of the Nursery School is like and to join in helping the children to get the best out of their activities. All parent helpers are subject to a police check through the Criminal Records Bureau.

Working together for your children

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Joining the rota is not the only means of taking part in the life of the Nursery School. You can offer to take part in a session by sharing your own interests and skills with the children. Parents have visited the Nursery School to: play an instrument for the children; show pictures of their childhood; and share with the children their interests or particular aspects of their work.

Do feel free to arrange to drop into the Nursery School, if you would like to see it at work or to speak with the staff.

Learning opportunities for adults

As well as gaining qualifications in early years care and education, the Nursery School staff undertake further training to help them to keep up-to-date with thinking about early years care and education.

The Nursery School also keeps itself up-to-date with best practice in early years care and education through various publications.

The Nursery School’s timetable and routines

Countesthorpe Nursery School believes that care and education are equally important in the experience which we offer children. The routines and activities that make up the Nursery School session are provided in ways that:

• help each child to feel that she/he is a valued member of the pre-school;

• ensure the safety of each child;

• help children to gain from the social experience of being part of a group; and

• provide children with opportunities to learn and help them to value learning.

The session

Each session begins with the simple task of self -registration. The children then join in with the large range of free flow activities within the indoor learning area. When the children are all settled we begin group work and enhanced activities. During the session the children will also take part in singing and dancing activities and story time. There will also be an Outdoor Learning session where the children can learn through play in our well developed outdoor area.

Snacks

The children self -select their own snacks during the session. Fruit is available 4 days a week. Toast is offered on 1 day. We ask for a small contribution towards this. Milk and water is available every day.

Joining in

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Copies of the Nursery School’s policies are available, in school, for parents to read.

The Nursery School’s policies help us to make sure that the service provided by the Nursery School is a high quality one and that being a member of the Nursery School is an enjoyable and beneficial experience for each child and her/his parents.

The staff and Governors of the Nursery School work together to adopt the policies and they all have the opportunity to take part in the annual review of the policies. This review helps us to make sure that the policies are enabling the Nursery School to provide a quality service for its members and the local community.

Special needs

As part of the Nursery School’s policy to make sure that its provision meets the needs of each individual child, we take account of any special needs which a child may have.

The Nursery School works to the requirements of the 1993 Education Act and The Special Educational Needs Code of Practice (2000).

Safeguarding

We believe it is of the utmost importance to have excellent systems for protecting children and safeguarding their welfare, throughout all the activities which the Nursery School undertakes. This means that staff and volunteers must be alert to possible concerns about every child, and to report these in a proper fashion. We have a safeguarding and child protection policy: parents may request a copy of this.

Staff and volunteers in the school have a duty to report their concerns whether this means the child may be in need of additional support or help of some kind or whether it is thought that a child may have been abused or be at risk of There are four categories of abuse: physical,sexual,emotional,neglect. In some cases the school is obliged to refer children to Children’s social care staff, for children to be assessed for their needs or if an investigation into possible child abuse is required.

The Designated Senior Person for Child Protection is the Headteacher, Mr Bowpitt. In his absence, the Designated Senior Person is Sue Clarke, the Lead Teacher

After registering your child the process of your child’s entry into Nursery will start the term before your child is due to start with us. You will receive a registration pack and an invitation to a parents meeting. Following this you will be offered a Nursery visit and a home visit. We hope that you and your child will be happy and confident for the start of their new adventure.

Clothing

The Nursery School provides protective clothing for the children when they play with messy activities.

The Nursery School encourages children to gain the skills which help them to be independent and look after themselves. These include taking themselves to the toilet and taking off - and putting on - outdoor clothes. Clothing which is easy for them to manage will help them to do this.

Countesthorpe Nursery School hopes that you and your child enjoy being members of the school and that you both find taking part in our activities interesting and stimulating.

The staff is always ready and willing to talk with you about your ideas, views or questions.

Policies

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Countesthorpe Nursery School The Drive, Countesthorpe, Leicester. LE8 5PB

Phone (0116) 277 3489Email info@countesthorpe-nur.leics.sch.ukWebsite www.countesthorpenurseryschool.co.uk

www.countesthorpenurseryschool.co.uk