St. Bartholomew’s C.E. Primary School

Foundation Stage

Nursery Class

www.st-barts.lancs.sch.uk

Here at St. Bartholomew’s we believe that all children should be given the very best possible start to their education. We hope that this booklet provides you with some insight into the ways all staff contribute to and support the school ethos and provide a caring environment where individuals feel secure and happy.

Our Foundation Stage Team are :

Nursery class: Mrs. J. Reed and Mrs. J Grimshaw

Reception class: Mrs. J Shaw and Mrs. H Ashworth.

Headteacher: Mr. M Mackley.

The Nursery Class

A place in St. Bartholomew’s Nursery is for five mornings or five afternoons per week.

Session times are:

8.55 to 11.55am

Or 12.25 to 3.25 pm

Children are eligible for a Nursery place in the term after their third birthday i.e. September/ January/April, depending on numbers. They should be dry and toilet trained.

Throughout the year childcare students will spend time in the Nursery class training with us.

Our aimsIn this booklet we emphasise the aims of our school so that parents can appreciate what we are trying to do and support us in our objectives. These are:

• To provide opportunities for all pupils to fulfil their potential personally, socially, emotionally, intellectually and physically within a supportive and positive school environment.

• To provide an environment that is stimulating and well organised to allow children to explore, experiment, plan and make decisions.

• To nurture each child's individuality building on past experiences, recognising and valuing what a child can do.

• To provide a curriculum which enables each child to progress at their own rate.

• To provide an environment in which children feel safe, secure and happy.

• To provide a wide range of educational opportunities for pupils to acquire the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to become responsible and

successful members of society with the ability to adapt to changing demands.

• To help pupils to understand, value and respect all members of society, regardless of disability, gender, race, colour and religion.

Young children start school from different backgrounds and the different experiences and skills which the Early Years staff recognise and value. The children are given opportunities to develop as unique individuals and to achieve their full potential.The children in the Foundation Stage will be assessed during their everyday activities and their achievements recorded in their ‘learning story’. Throughout the year you will be invited to open days, which will be an informal opportunity to look around and discuss how they are progressing, and to view your child's work on the walls and in displays. In the Foundation Stage we are lucky to have daily contact with most parents and we feel that this is the most useful way of discussing important matters and sharing experiences in an ongoing manner.

The Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum (EYFS)Well-planned play, both indoors and outdoors, is a key way in which young children learn with enjoyment and challenge. In playing, they behave in different ways: sometimes their play will be boisterous, sometimes they will describe and discuss what they are doing, and sometimes they will be quiet and reflective as they play. In the EYFS the children will cover all six areas of the curriculum through everyday activities. Your child may not come home clutching a piece of work every day, but their learning may have involved that day using a simple program on the computer, discovering that things float or sink, or mark making in the sand making letter formations. All of these activities and many more take place and have great value in the learning process, so please do not think that if your child doesn't come home with a piece of work, that they have not achieved anything. We aim to record as many of these events using photographs, which will go into your child's learning story. We will provide your child with a Nursery folder in order for them to bring some of t heir work home. Folders will be sent home throughout the term unless work is being kept for display. We ask for the empty folder t o be returned to Nursery.

Personal, Social and Emotional Development The children are encouraged to be independent, and the classrooms are arranged to enable children to choose and replace equipment easily. The children are taught to share, take turns and play alongside other children. They are encouraged to think about other people, and develop a sense of their own self worth. We ask parents to encourage their child to be independent, in putting their coat on, taking it off and to be able to hang their coat up.

Communication and Language The children will learn to express themselves using a growing vocabulary. They will listen and respond to stories, songs, poems and nursery rhymes.There are many opportunities for imaginative play. Structured play areas are organised to complement topics and to enable children to imitate real life situations. Imaginative play provides children with opportunities not only for social development, but language and mathematics as well. Role-play is a valuable way of helping children come to terms with emotions such as sadness, joy and fear.Physical Development Our outdoor area is used as an extension to the classroom. There is a fully enclosed play area where children can run, jump, climb and play in safety. We have sessions in the hall for drama, dance, small apparatus, music and parachute activities. Many of our activities during the week are designed to develop children's coordination. Threading beads, working with play dough, pouring sand and water, which all help to strengthen fingers and develop control.

LiteracyWe have quiet areas where children can look at books, read stories or listen to a story. There are opportunities for sharing books in larger groups during carpet sessions.We have a writing area, and also provide writing materials in role-play areas to encourage children to make marks to represent writing during play. Other writing activities include letter formation exercises and shared writing with adults.Mathematics We have many games such as jigsaws, sorting trays, threading beads and lotto, which help to develop mathematical skills. Children have the opportunity to build models using bricks and junk materials to develop their awareness of space and shape. The children will learn

number rhymes and take part in counting games and activities to encourage understanding of maths concepts. Through numeracy games and activities, children will learn to recognise numbers, count groups of objects and begin to use addition and subtraction methods in basic calculations.

Understanding the World Through this area of learning, the children will develop an awareness of their environment, other people and the features of the natural and man-made world.The natural world is explored through the development of science skills. We also have sand and water areas inside as well as an outdoor sandpit in nursery.Children have access to ICT equipment, including interactive whiteboards. They access a wide range of programs to support and extend work in language, maths science and art. Children will be taught to use simple computer commands, to control a mouse and in Reception, children will be taught how to print their work.Expressive Arts and Design Creativity is an important areal in the foundation stage and we set up a range of areas and activities to develop creativity. We offer a wide range of creative activities throughout the week, both indoors and out. We also have dough, painting, modelling and craft activities. The children take part in music, dance and drama activities throughout the year. During creative activities and design technology, children will learn how to use scissors and other tools safely. They will have the opportunity to learn and make models from a variety of materials, and will be encouraged to talk about their work.

In our planning we ensure that there are opportunities for children to engage in activities planned by adults and also those that the children plan or initiate themselves. We display weekly activities on the parent’s noticeboard outside the Nursery class door, and also in the display board outside the Nursery entrance. On the noticeboards

we will often put notices and reminders. Please take time to read them.

Learning Stories When your child achieves something new it is recorded in their ‘Learning Story’. We also encourage the children to contribute to their learning journey through discussion with them.

Foundation Stage Fund

We ask that parents who have children in the nursery contribute £1.00 per week towards the Nursery fund. This will be collected at the beginning of each half term. This contribution allows us to purchase ingredients for baking, special toys and equipment and many extras that really enhance topics and the curriculum. Please send any money in a named envelope.

Children’s clothing

In the nursery, children get involved in lots of activities, and although protective overalls are provided, they are not always completely effective, so please do not send children in their best clothes to the nursery. Please make sure your child brings a coat to Nursery as a lot of learning takes place outdoors.

Sometimes the children may have the odd 'accident’. In this case we will change them into spare dry clothing. Please could you wash and dry this and send it back into school. You can send in a change of clothes for them from home if you prefer.You know your child best, and are aware of which clothes your child can manage themselves - please ensure that your child has clothes on that are easy for them manage when going to the toilet. Please avoid dungarees and belts. When buying shoes for school, those with

Velcro fastenings or slip- ons are much easier for small hands.Jewellery In the interests of safety we do not allow any jewellery to be worn. Absences

If your child is absent from Nursery please telephone to let us know. The school number is 01254 884534. Infections are easily transmitted to others at this age so if you suspect your child is not well please keep him/her at home. If your child has been sick, or has had diarrhoea, it is recommended that they should not return to school within 48 hours. For safety reasons we cannot accept tablets or medicines for dispensing during the sessions, with the exception of asthma inhalers. If any child needs to receive medication during the time they are at school, it must be administered by the parent/guardian.

Emergency Contact

Please make sure you return the personal details form to Nursery before your child starts and please inform us of any changes.

A Healthy School

At St. Bartholomew’s we participate in the National Fruit Scheme for Schools. Each day your child will have a piece of fruit or a vegetable, which may include an apple, a pear, a banana, a carrot, a satsuma or cherry tomatoes. Children in the nursery are all entitled to free milk. Sometimes we will have a snack that fits in with our topic for the week.

Some ways to help your child's teacher

In this booklet we have stressed the importance of a partnership between home and school. We have included here some ways you can help:

• Collect and deliver your child on time. If someone else is picking up your child please let us know beforehand. In the EYFS we can only release children into the care of individuals who have been notified to us by you, the parent or guardian. We ask, therefore, that you inform us who will be collecting your child, and let us know of any changes. We also ask that for safety reasons that all children are brought to and collected from the EYFS by persons over the age of sixteen.

• If you need to have a quick word with the teacher, try to arrive early, or see them at the end of a session.

• Inform your child's teacher if anything has happened at home which might affect your child at school (e.g. the death of a relative or a family break up).

• If your child seems unhappy at school, or you are worried about him or her, ask to speak to the teacher. It may be a small issue that can be solved easily.

• Read and respond to letters that the school sends home.• If your child has an activity to do at home try to set

aside time to work with him or her.• Never use the teacher or the school as a threat.• Build up your child’s confidence in the school and the

teachers – always talk about them in a positive way.• Inform us of a change of address or contact details.• Leave toys at home as they may get broken or lost.• Please support and reinforce decisions made by the EYFS

staff.

Some ways to help at homeYou can help at home by teaching your child nursery rhymes, reading stories and encouraging a respect for and an interest in books. Pointing out signs in the environment can also help to develop early reading skills.Allowing your child to see you writing, and encouraging them to 'write', perhaps by letting them write you a shopping list, will show your child that writing has meaning.Your child will settle into school much better if he or she:• Has sufficient language to communicate and ask questions• Is toilet trained• Is used to short spells of concentration• Is used to listening to short stories• Can remove outdoor clothes

• Can tidy up after playing with toys• Enjoys rhymes and songs• Can put on own coat• Can hang own coat up

Children with additional Learning Needs

All children are special and are precious in God’s eyes, and sometimes some children need a little extra support.We endeavour to meet the needs of all children and if your child should need some extra support then we will work with you in meeting their needs.

ChildcareSt. Bartholomew’s does not offer a child care service. However, we are aware of local childminders who have links to the school. We are happy to provide contact details if needed. Please note, this is not an endorsement or recommendation of their services.