Welcome to

The Early Years and Foundation Stage

at

Bowbrook House School

Please keep this booklet to refer to during the year.

Welcome from the Head of the Prep Department.

We offer our Early Years children a wide breadth of opportunities;

expansive grounds, Cookery, an outside learning curriculum and

specialist teaching in Music and PE.

Our youngest children are housed in a lovely classroom with easy

access to an exciting outside play area. The children are positioned

in the heart of our school.

Our aim is to offer exceptional care and outstanding educational

experiences to each and every child. Our small class sizes ensure

that we get to know every individual child and can offer tailored

programmes for learning.

Should you require information that is not included in your handbook

or wish to learn more about the vision for Bowbrook House, please

contact Miss Sally White (Nursery/ Reception teacher) or myself. I

hope you find the following information useful.

Yours sincerely

Sarah Ridge

Head of the Prep Department

Contents

Members of staff/Main Events

The School Day

Extended Day

Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum

Reading

Letter/Number formation

General Information

Absence

Attendance

Behaviour

Break/Snack

Birthdays

Change of details

Child Protection and safeguarding

Communication

Contact details

Health and Safety

Lunches

Medication

Naming uniform and Property

Parent Evenings

Policies

Security

Uniform

Staff

Mrs S. Ridge Head of the Prep Department

Miss S. White Nursery / Reception Class Teacher

Mrs S. Shepherd Early Years Teaching Assistant

Mrs E. Allen Early Years Teaching Assistant

Miss A. Parker Early Years Teaching Assistant

Miss L. Buzzing Music Teacher

Miss P. Arnold PE Teacher

Mrs C. Semczyszyn Drama Teacher

Mr C. D. Allen. Headmaster.

Main Events

September New Parent’s Evening

December Nativity Play

Reports issued

March Parents’ Evening

July Speech Day

Sports Day

Reports issued

Aims

To create a happy, stimulating environment, inside and outside, in

which children will lay down the foundations of their education and

develop a lifelong love of learning

The School Day

Staff arrive early to prepare activities. We ask that children are

delivered to the classroom from 8.20 – 8.50am. The school day

begins at 8.50am with registration.

The school day ends at 3.30pm for all children. Parents should wait

outside the Nursery/Reception classroom to collect their children.

If someone other than yourself is collecting your child, written

notification is essential.

May we remind parents that it is their responsibility to supervise

children on the school site and that children should not be anywhere

in the school grounds unsupervised.

Extended Day

Pupils going into prep have a pre – prep playtime from 4.00 – 4.20pm

in the Infant play area, from this time the children are then

directed to the J5 classroom where they are given squash and a

biscuit. This prep session lasts until 5.00pm.

Children not collected by 5.00pm are then transferred to prep in the

dining hall and are to be collected by 5.30pm. These prep sessions do

have an additional charge.

EARLY YEARS FOUNDATION STAGE (EYFS) CURRICULUM

All children are considered to be high achievers in their own right

and it is the academic life of a school that is paramount to their

development. Discovering what inspires a child and encouraging in

them the desire to learn is our purpose. We aim to do this by

offering a broad curriculum and a wide range of experiences. It is

our firm belief that the children can be learning during every part of

the school day.

The school is unique as it can truly offer each child an individual,

bespoke education. No two children are alike and therefore each is

encouraged to progress at a rate suitable to his/her own abilities.

The teachers’ task is to provide motivation, stimulation and

stretching for every child. With such guidance each one can, with

confidence, happily explore individual capabilities to the full. Within

school, we aim to educate in a way that complements the experiences

of home life. Good manners, courteous behaviour and respect for

others are an integral part of Bowbrook House.

The Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum is comprised of three

prime areas of learning:

Personal Social and Emotional Development

Communication and Language

Physical Development

Alongside these prime areas there are four specific areas in which

the prime skills are applied:

Literacy

Mathematics

Expressive Arts and Design

Understanding the World

Our children are stimulated through a topic based approach that

includes all areas of the curriculum. There are daily opportunities

for children to explore and investigate through play situations

alongside more formal teaching in small group activities and during

whole class carpet time sessions. The children attend specialist

teaching sessions such as Forest Schools, PE, Music, Music and

Movement and ICT. A timetable outlining the structure of the week

will be handed out during the first week of term.

Upon entry to Bowbrook your child will begin their personal Learning

Journey whereby their learning and progress will be tracked.

Learning Journeys are kept in your child’s classroom and we

encourage parents to look at them as often as you wish and also

contribute to them.

The Learning Journey.

The curriculum within the Early Years Foundation Stage is planned

around four main themes:

There are seven areas of Learning and Development:

A Unique Child

Positive

Relationships

Enabling

Environments

Learning and

Development

Every child is a

competent learner

from birth who can

be resilient,

capable, confident

and

self-assured.

Children learn to be

strong and

independent from a

base of loving and

secure

relationships with

parents and/or a

key person

The environment

plays a key role in

supporting and

extending

children’s

development and

learning

Children develop and

learn in different ways

and at different rates and

all areas of Learning and

Development are equally

important and inter-

connected

Personal,

Social and

Emotional

Development

Communication

and Language

Mathematics

Literacy

Understan

ding of the

World

Physical

Development

Expressive

Arts and

Design

The seven areas of Learning and Development are further divided

into strands, and children’s progression is recorded in order to

support and encourage them throughout their journey.

The aim of this Learning Journey is to:

Celebrate

children’s

achievements

throughout their

time within the

Foundation Stage.

Serve as a

reminder of the

wonderful

experiences that

they have.

Monitor the skills

that children are

developing.

Enable staff to

plan effectively in

order to meet

children’s learning

needs.

Show children’s

progression.

Record children’s

viewpoints.

Highlight the

discoveries

children make.

Support children

when they are

challenged.

Within this book, the staff in the Early Years are recording some of

the ways in which your child is travelling along a Learning Journey

which is unique and special to them.

During these academic years, some materials from this learning

journey may be used to support the completion of an EYFS Profile.

An EYFS Profile is a legal document that enables Year 1 teachers to

plan an effective, responsive and appropriate curriculum that will

continue to meet all children’s needs after they leave the Foundation

Stage.

General Information

Absence

If your child is unwell, please inform the school office as soon as

possible. An explanatory note or email MUST be sent with your child

upon return to school. This is a legal requirement. If your child has

been sick then he/she must be kept at home for a period of 48

hours after sickness ceases.

Infection spreads with speed in a school environment and we are

keen to minimise this. Hospital/dental/GP appointments should be

made outside of school hours, wherever possible. If this is not

possible, we would be grateful of prior notice on such occasions.

Attendance

Attendance is crucial to children’s learning. Unnecessary absence

from school is disruptive to the overall curriculum and a child’s

progress. This should be avoided. Strict records are kept of

attendance and officially reported each year.

Should your child be late in to school or need to leave before the

end of the school day then they should sign in/out at the main

office.

Behaviour

We encourage polite, well mannered, thoughtful behaviour at all

times. Some behaviour strategies that we use on a daily basis are

positive praise, stickers and smiley face charts. The Bowbrook

House Code of Conduct should be followed at all times.

No form of corporal punishment is to be used, implied or

threatened.

BOWBROOK HOUSE CODE OF CONDUCT

B – Behaviour – we always try to be good.

O – Our school – we are so proud of it.

W – Welcoming – everybody feels welcome.

B – Brave – we enjoy trying something new.

R – Respect – one another’s belongings.

O – Ownership – responsible for our actions.

O – Organised – we are always prepared.

K – Kindness – towards each other.

At Bowbrook House we always “Work with Pride”

Break

There are two main supervised break times during the school day for

EYFS. The morning break lasts 20 minutes. There is also an outside

play after lunch is served. Children play outside every day, in all

kinds of weather and we ask that every child has a pair of named

trainers or wellington boots to change into.

Snack Time

We ask that children have 2 snacks each day one for morning break

where a choice of milk or water is offered and also a snack for

afternoon break. We fully recognise the benefits of being a

“Healthy School” as stated in the Department of Health guidance:

“A Healthy School promotes the health and wellbeing of its pupils

and staff through a well-planned, taught curriculum in a physical and

emotional environment that promotes learning and healthy lifestyle

choices.”

Break time snacks should therefore be fruit, vegetables or a healthy

sandwich. No chocolates, crisps or sweets are allowed. Fresh

drinking water is continually on offer.

Birthdays

Birthdays are recognised at lunchtime and in our Prep School

assemblies. Pupils may bring treats to share with the class on their

birthday. Treats MUST NOT contain nuts or traces of nuts.

Change of details

Any change in personal circumstances or details must be sent in

writing to the School Office. This is especially important when

emergency contact numbers change.

Child Protection and Safeguarding

The School adheres to the directives regarding Safeguarding

Children in Education. The School’s Child Protection Policy gives clear

indication of the steps taken should there be concern regarding any

child within the school. This policy is available for parents to read on

the school website. The School’s Designated Safeguarding Officer

(DSO) is the Headmaster, Mr Allen and the deputy Safeguarding

Officer is the Deputy Head, Mrs Harfield.

Communication

You are your child’s first educator and we aim to form excellent

home-school links. We believe good communication is essential and

send home a Home School Diary every day. Should you have any

concerns regarding your child, we encourage you to speak to your

Class Teacher. We want you to feel completely confident about

every aspect of our school. Any question about school matters,

please ask. We are here for your child and we are always pleased to

meet or speak with you. You can contact your child’s Class teacher

directly at the beginning or end of the school day or arrange an

appointment by telephoning or emailing the School Office.

Contact Details

Bowbrook House School

Main Street

Peopleton

Worcestershire

WR10 2EE

Tel; 01905 841242

e-mail: enquiries@bowbrookhouseschool.co.uk

Health and Safety

Parents will be contacted immediately should their child be involved

in an accident. It is imperative all contact numbers are kept up to

date with the school. Please notify in writing or email the School

Office with any changes.

Lunches

Lunch is prepared on site by our catering staff. Within reason,

special dietary requirements will be catered for. Menus are posted

on our School website and they are designed to be balanced and

healthy. Fresh produce is used whenever possible. All pupils are

expected to partake of school lunches unless prior arrangement has

been made.

Medication

In the event of an emergency or for a diagnosed medical condition,

which requires your child to have medication at school, please speak

with the Headmaster. Administering of other medications, including

non – prescription, to pupils is a service that the School is not

obliged to undertake. Written permission is required from parents

before medicines will be administered by Bowbrook House staff.

Naming Uniform and Property

Please clearly label all articles of clothing. For reasons of safety, we

do not advise labels to be sewn on the outer side of clothing. Please

name, where possible, any other personal effects to avoid loss or

confusion.

Outings

Periodically pupils are taken on educational trips from the school. All

visits are carefully supervised and parents are informed well before

the event. A full Risk Assessment is carried out in advance of any

trip to ensure the children’s best possible safety. Teachers leading

school outings carry a mobile in case of emergency.

Parent’s Evening

These are held once a year, during the spring term. The Head

Teacher and teaching staff are willing to arrange appointments with

parents at any time and for any reason.

Policy Documents

A list of policy documents is available for parents to view upon

request. Or they can be located on the school’s website. We also

keep a policy file for the EYFS in their classroom.

Security

Safety and security is of the utmost importance at Bowbrook House.

All visitors must report and sign in at the School office. Procedures

and policies are continually being updated and reviewed.

Uniform

Parents will please ensure that their child arrives at and leaves from

the school looking presentable and dressed correctly in their school

uniform, taking ‘pride’ in their appearance. All uniform, equipment

and games kit must be appropriately named. All pupils are required

to wear summer uniform in the second half of the summer term or

from when the Headmaster declares summer uniform to be ‘in

session’.

BOWBROOK HOUSE SCHOOL

UNIFORM LIST

Infant School - Nursery/Reception/I1/I2

Boys Girls

School Blazer* Maroon Pullover*

School Tie (Striped)* White Shirt

Grey Trousers/Shorts Grey Socks Black Shoes Wellingtons

School Waterproof * School Coat*

Book Bag* School Scarf (Optional)*

School Blazer*

Maroon Pullover* School Elasticated Tartan Skirt*

School Tie (Plain)* White Shirt

Summer Dress* White Ankle Socks (Summer) Grey/Maroon Tights (Winter)

Black Shoes Wellingtons

School Waterproof* School Coat*

Book Bag* School Scarf (Optional)*

Boys P.E Girls P.E.

Swimming Bag* School Maroon Tracksuit*

White Polo Shirt White Shorts

White Ankle Socks White Trainers

School Sun Hat* Navy Swimming Shorts

Swimming Bag*

School Maroon Tracksuit* White Polo Shirt

White Shorts White Ankle Socks

White Trainers School Sun Hat*

Navy Swimming Costume

As from the 25th July 2016 all School Uniform will be sold by Schooltogs of Worcester

Schooltogs of Worcester 31A New Street Worcester WR1 2 DP

Telephone: 01905 28658 www.schooltogs.com

Opening Hours: 9.00-5.00 pm Monday-Saturday. Schooltogs of Worcester provide an ‘online’,

‘click and collect’ and ‘instore’ service’

Bowbrook items * available from Schooltogs