Nursery
At Chandlers Field Nursery, each child is encouraged to succeed in all areas of learning through a broad and balanced curriculum and stimulating environment. We aim for our pupils to develop into independent, resilient and caring children who are proud of their achievements. We follow the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum and offer a wide range of learning opportunities with the emphasis on the children feeling happy, to enable them to adapt to a group environment and learn important social and co-operative skills. The curriculum is play based: the daily routine and the teaching of early literacy and numeracy gradually become more structured as they move through the Foundation Stage (Nursery & Reception).
The children who attend our nursery can engage in a variety of stimulating learning opportunities through our large, well-resourced inside and outside areas. These areas are well organised with a range of resources which the children can access independently. Our bright, purpose-built nursery classroom has been thoughtfully designed so that children can independently access quieter, cosy areas as well as engage in music, investigative play and art and design. The children can move freely between the inside and outside area.
We provide a safe outdoor play area for imaginative, investigative and physical skills to grow. The children have access to bikes & scooters, bats & balls, trim trail and large play equipment. The outdoor undercover area and resources allows outdoor play all year round and in most weathers.
Children’s interests and backgrounds are reflected in the environment and planning, which allows children to extend their learning, share ideas with their peers and use their imagination. As well having their own secure self-enclosed spacious area, the nursery children benefit from access to the wider school’s facilities. As part of our school community, our nursery staff have access to high quality professional development opportunities which means our provision is always improving.
The Nursery Sessions
Nursery doors open in the morning at 8.45 and in the afternoon at 12.30. Each half term parents / carers will be invited to stay for the first 15 minutes to take part in ‘Sharing Time’; an opportunity to engage in an activity with your child or to have a chat with your child’s key worker. At 8.55am and 12.45pm, children go to their groups for a short group activity after which they can choose from a range of activities either in the classroom or the nursery outside area. At the end of the session, children participate in music, dance or singing as a whole group. Throughout the week children will be invited, either individually or in a small group, to join-in with short focused activities to develop a particular skill. The morning session will end at 11.45am and the afternoon session at 3.30pm.
Learning and development
Each child has an on-line learning profile called ‘Tapestry’ which parents have access and can contribute to. Parents can also complete an ‘apple’ detailing any achievements or significant learning / developmental steps which can be displayed on our ‘Proud Parent Tree’ and then transferred to children’s learning profiles. Key workers are available to talk to at the start and end of each day and parents can make an appointment at any time if they would like to have a longer discussion. Children receive a written report at the end of the year and parents are invited to drop-in to discuss this further if they wish. We send out a weekly nursery blog via ParentMail and information is also displayed in the entrance to the nursery.