Little Foresters Western Downland Nursery Class
Background There are several quality providers for nursery children in the wider area of our locality. However, with the closure of some local provision within the last 5 years, we were approached by a few parents to consider having a school based nursery class as part of our school. Governors spent time researching what this might look like and the advantages and disadvantages this may bring to Western Downland. At all times the Governors were mindful to ensure that there would be no detrimental impact to our school. Part of the research involved viewing other schools with a school nursery class.
Consultation & Trial Sessions After Governor agreement to move ahead with the proposal, our next step was to trial taster sessions and to consult with a range of departments and stakeholders. This meeting is part of the consultation process: to obtain agreement on reducing the age range from 4-11 to 3-11 for the school and to provide an opportunity for parents to ask questions and share their views about the proposal.
Our Aims We aim for Western Downland’s Little Foresters Nursery Class to be a place where children feel happy and safe to learn and will develop a firm foundation for their school journey. We recognise that for any parent, choosing the very best childcare is of paramount importance. Therefore, you will find that Western Downland offers children: • a place to feel happy and safe to learn • where everyone is valued equally • learning and enjoyment is at the heart of what we do • The Christian values of Love, Fellowship and Righteousness form our foundation and shape our community • expectations are high • we recognise and celebrate children’s individual talents and abilities and nurture their individual potential. involvement is educationally nourishing and spiritually uplifting •
We understand that the requirements of each and every family are different and we are proud to offer a flexible nursery facility which has been designed to provide an individually tailored approach for you and your child ’ s needs. Whether you are looking for childcare for few sessions or for the whole week, we are committed to ensuring your child is cared for in an environment where they will feel safe, happy and nurtured. Our team of dedicated staff are committed to the highest quality care and education for every child. We know that the best indicator of our success is happy children and the happiest children are those who are stimulated through their environment and the learning opportunities they engage in each and every day. We are thrilled to be able to offer a stunning environment with a devoted team of staff committed to making the most of endless opportunities for your child. “ The Early Years Foundation stage is a real strength of the school. “ Ofsted 2017 ” Parents are overwhelmingy positive, with many commenting on the ’nurturing environment’ and the ’family feel’ of the school .” Ofsted 2017
Benefits Ideal accommodation and facilities for the nursery class, • including specialist Forest Schools provision • Expertise of highly qualified school staff who understand where the child’s Learning Journey progresses to. Access to school facilities to extend opportunities and help the • children become familiar and confident in their surroundings before starting school • Seamless continuity for children as they progress from nursery to reception
Forest School Our Forest School environment is set in the Damerham site school grounds. The woodland area provides a rich and stimulating setting for children to explore, play and learn. Through Forest School, children learn how to handle risks and to use their iniative to solve problems, cooperate with others and develop resilience as well as expand their knowledge about the natural world around them. They understand boundaries of behaviour both physical and social, establish and grow in confidence and self-esteem, becoming self- motivated and independent learners.
The Nursery Classroom In addition to exploring the Forest School area, the nursery class also benefit from their own purpose built classroom and outdoor area. The Nursery Classroom is linked to the reception classroom in our Early Years unit. The links with the reception classroom along with access to school expertise and facilities ensure the children are familiar and confident in their surroundings before they start school.
Opening Times and Fees Our nursery class is part of Western Downland School, therefore sessions are designed to fit in with the school day. The nursery will be open during term time only. We aim to be flexible so offer a range of start and finish times along with the option of whole or half day sessions. Morning start times: 8.30am and 9am Afternoon start time: 12pm Collection times: 12pm, 3pm or 3.30pm You will be able to use your 3 and 4 year old EYE funding. It is possible to attend the nursery for over your funded hours by paying £4.75 per hour for any additional hours.
Staffing One of the things that makes our nursery unique is that we have a fully qualified teacher to lead our nursery setting as well as an experienced senior Early Years Leader and support staff with many years experience in caring for young children. We are proud of the passion, enthusiasm and caring approach staff have at Western Downland.
Snacks and Lunches During the morning and afternoon sessions children will be provided with a healthy snack. Our in school catering team offer the opportunity for our nursery children to have a hot meal at lunch time at a cost of £2.15. We offer a varied menu and there is always a meat and a vegetarian option available. We also welcome children bringing home packed lunches if they wish, please make sure these are nut free. We are able to cater for a range of dietary requirements and allergies.
Accessibility and Equality We are an inclusive school and have a Special Education Needs and Disability coordinator (SENDCo- Alice Richardson) who works closely with outside agencies as well as school staff to ensure that individual children’s needs are carefully assessed and provided for.
Admissions to Little Foresters We can take children from the term of their third birthday (2year and 9months+). Spaces will be allocated on a first come first serve basis. The Nursery can take up to a maximum of 18 children. Please be advised that admission to Little Foresters Nursery DOES NOT mean automatic admission to Western Downland CE (VA) Primary School and parents/carers will need to apply in the normal way for admission to their chosen school in the September following your child’s 4 th birthday.
Next Steps Provision for Spring Term 2 : We are offering 3 starting and finishing sessions each school day. Sessions will go ahead if 5 or more children are booked in. Provision after Easter: We will be able to offer EYE funded sessions
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