Harrison Nursery SchoolHarrison Nursery SchoolParents’ Information Evening Parents’ Information Evening

Wednesday 25Wednesday 25thth August 2010 August 2010

About Harrison Nursery School …About Harrison Nursery School …

Curriculum – children learn through play …Curriculum – children learn through play …

Settling inSettling in

ExpectationsExpectations

Other information Other information

The Nursery The Nursery CurriculumCurriculum

Personal, social & emotional development Personal, social & emotional development Sharing, independence, getting along with others, Sharing, independence, getting along with others,

confidence …confidence … Physical developmentPhysical development

Outdoors – running, climbing, jumpingOutdoors – running, climbing, jumping Fine motor – using scissors, pencil control, Fine motor – using scissors, pencil control,

woodwork, threading …woodwork, threading … Language developmentLanguage development

New vocabulary, using sentences, talking, New vocabulary, using sentences, talking, listening, stories, rhymes, singing …listening, stories, rhymes, singing …

Creative & aesthetic developmentCreative & aesthetic development Artwork, music, dance, movement …Artwork, music, dance, movement …

Early mathematical developmentEarly mathematical development Shape awareness, counting, matching, Shape awareness, counting, matching,

jigsaws …jigsaws … The World around usThe World around us

Gardening, seasons, nature, baking, science Gardening, seasons, nature, baking, science and technology …and technology …

What we want children to What we want children to BEBE at the at the end of their year in nursery school is end of their year in nursery school is more important than what we want more important than what we want

them to know.them to know.

We want them to be - We want them to be - o HAPPYHAPPYo INDEPENDENTINDEPENDENTo CONFIDENTCONFIDENTo SOCIALLY COMPETENTSOCIALLY COMPETENTo COMMUNICATIVECOMMUNICATIVEo THINKERSTHINKERS

Settling inSettling in

It is the policy of Harrison Nursery School It is the policy of Harrison Nursery School that all children will have the opportunity that all children will have the opportunity to settle in at their own pace and with to settle in at their own pace and with adequate support from parents and staff.adequate support from parents and staff.

Each child has a day and a time on which Each child has a day and a time on which to start – this helps to ensure that your to start – this helps to ensure that your child’s teacher is available to spend time child’s teacher is available to spend time with you and your child.with you and your child.

What you can do now …What you can do now …

Tell your child what to expect from school Tell your child what to expect from school but don’t oversell it!but don’t oversell it!

Be realisticBe realistic Be positiveBe positive Make sure you read all the information Make sure you read all the information

provided, also available on our website provided, also available on our website www.harrisonnurseryschool.co.ukwww.harrisonnurseryschool.co.uk

The night before …The night before …

Make sure you have your child’s school Make sure you have your child’s school clothes and bag all ready the night before, clothes and bag all ready the night before, involve your child with thisinvolve your child with this

Make sure all clothes are clearly labelled, Make sure all clothes are clearly labelled, shoes includedshoes included

Settling inSettling in

Don’t worry if your child doesn’t settle on the Don’t worry if your child doesn’t settle on the first day, you are not alonefirst day, you are not alone

Feel free to talk to your child’s teacher or Feel free to talk to your child’s teacher or ring at any time during these early days if ring at any time during these early days if you are concerned about your child or you are concerned about your child or simply require reassurance that everything simply require reassurance that everything is alright.is alright.

What if your child is upset when What if your child is upset when you leave …you leave …

Children vary in their emotional reaction to the changes Children vary in their emotional reaction to the changes taking place and in the length of time they take to settletaking place and in the length of time they take to settle

Common reactions –Common reactions – Walking in without a backward glance and not even looking backWalking in without a backward glance and not even looking back Walking in without a backward glance for the first few weeks and Walking in without a backward glance for the first few weeks and

then showing signs of anxietythen showing signs of anxiety Protesting loudly on separation but becoming settled within a Protesting loudly on separation but becoming settled within a

few minutesfew minutes Unsettled on and off throughout the first few weeks but gradually Unsettled on and off throughout the first few weeks but gradually

improving throughout the yearimproving throughout the year

All these reactions can be difficult for you to deal with but it is All these reactions can be difficult for you to deal with but it is important to remain calm and consistent.important to remain calm and consistent.

DO NOT DISCUSS YOUR WORRIES DO NOT DISCUSS YOUR WORRIES OR CONCERNS IN FRONT OF OR CONCERNS IN FRONT OF

YOUR CHILDYOUR CHILD

AN ANXIOUS PARENT CAN LEAD TO AN ANXIOUS PARENT CAN LEAD TO AN ANXIOUS CHILDAN ANXIOUS CHILD

Saying goodbyeSaying goodbye

Smile and reassure your child that you are Smile and reassure your child that you are coming back latercoming back later

Hand him or her over to a member of staff Hand him or her over to a member of staff (if necessary) and WALK AWAY(if necessary) and WALK AWAY

Phone if you are worriedPhone if you are worried If we need you we will contact youIf we need you we will contact you

More tears …More tears …

It is not uncommon for a child to begin to It is not uncommon for a child to begin to cry at home time. Do not over investigate cry at home time. Do not over investigate this, talk to your child when they are home this, talk to your child when they are home and they have had a rest and a snackand they have had a rest and a snack

Most likely they are just over tired – they Most likely they are just over tired – they will be as they adjust to schoolwill be as they adjust to school

Do not interrogate them about their day at Do not interrogate them about their day at school!school!

HometimeHometime

First day – stay for 1 hour (10am – 11am)First day – stay for 1 hour (10am – 11am)

September – 12noonSeptember – 12noon

October – 12.30pm (dinners commence October – 12.30pm (dinners commence Monday 4Monday 4thth October) October)

After Hallowe’en – 1.15/1.30pmAfter Hallowe’en – 1.15/1.30pm

Dropping off and collecting your Dropping off and collecting your childchild

PLEASE BE ON TIME!PLEASE BE ON TIME! DO NOT BE LATE – it is particularly DO NOT BE LATE – it is particularly

important during the first few weeks that important during the first few weeks that you are there to collect your child on timeyou are there to collect your child on time

If you know you are going to be late If you know you are going to be late please phone and let us knowplease phone and let us know

Please share this message with all the Please share this message with all the people who will be collecting your childpeople who will be collecting your child

What to do if your child doesn’t like What to do if your child doesn’t like school …school …

Don’t panic or get impatientDon’t panic or get impatient Gently try to find out why, something may have Gently try to find out why, something may have

happened in the playground the day before etc.happened in the playground the day before etc. Don’t try and scare your child about his/her Don’t try and scare your child about his/her

teacher or the Principal e.g. ‘If you are badly teacher or the Principal e.g. ‘If you are badly behaved you will be sent to the Principal’s behaved you will be sent to the Principal’s office!’office!’

Friendships – they often change friendships Friendships – they often change friendships about 500 times during the first year!about 500 times during the first year!

If you are still worried – talk to usIf you are still worried – talk to us

ExpectationsExpectations

We have expectations of the children and we support them in We have expectations of the children and we support them in achieving these.achieving these.

We expect children to – We expect children to – o Share equipment when appropriateShare equipment when appropriateo Tidy up after themselvesTidy up after themselveso Abide by our rules e.g. no running inside, no hitting, no Abide by our rules e.g. no running inside, no hitting, no

taking toys from someone elsetaking toys from someone elseo Take some responsibility e.g. cleaning up their own mess at Take some responsibility e.g. cleaning up their own mess at

the art tablethe art tableo Choose activities sensibly – use their initiativeChoose activities sensibly – use their initiativeo Exercise a degree of self-disciplineExercise a degree of self-disciplineo LISTENLISTEN

ExpectationsExpectations

We aim for independent learning supported We aim for independent learning supported and enhanced by appropriate adult and enhanced by appropriate adult interventionintervention

ParentsParentsWe expect parents to – We expect parents to –

o Read all communications e.g. news sheets, curriculum Read all communications e.g. news sheets, curriculum information, songs & rhymes sheetsinformation, songs & rhymes sheets

o Read notices in the hall about the curriculum, events, Read notices in the hall about the curriculum, events, achievements, holidays, etc.achievements, holidays, etc.

o Keep children at home if they are sickKeep children at home if they are sicko Bring children to school on time & collect promptlyBring children to school on time & collect promptlyo Inform us of upsets or changes at home especially if they Inform us of upsets or changes at home especially if they

might affect your child’s performance or behaviour at schoolmight affect your child’s performance or behaviour at schoolo Maintain communicationMaintain communicationo Please do not park in the staff car park!Please do not park in the staff car park!

What you can expect What you can expect of usof us

o CareCareo Create a secure, safe & stimulating Create a secure, safe & stimulating

environmentenvironmento Provide a wide range of experiencesProvide a wide range of experienceso Meet your child’s educational and personal Meet your child’s educational and personal

needsneedso Assess & monitor progressAssess & monitor progresso Inform you of achievements & problemsInform you of achievements & problems

Other points to noteOther points to note

o Library – books for parents & childrenLibrary – books for parents & childreno Contributions from home – junk, buttons, Contributions from home – junk, buttons,

wool, material, etc.wool, material, etc.o Labelling property – especially uniform and Labelling property – especially uniform and

shoes!shoes!o Volunteers – complete criminal record check Volunteers – complete criminal record check

form and return to schoolform and return to schoolo Parents Support Group – first meeting on Parents Support Group – first meeting on

Thursday 9Thursday 9thth September at 7pm in school September at 7pm in schoolo Dinner money & snack – please note changesDinner money & snack – please note changes

Other points to noteOther points to note

o Change of clothingChange of clothingo Dinners – please allow your child time to Dinners – please allow your child time to

settle into the dinner routinesettle into the dinner routineo Birthday cakes – please mention to your Birthday cakes – please mention to your

child’s teacher a few days beforechild’s teacher a few days beforeo Coming into and leaving school – please Coming into and leaving school – please

ensure your child is holding your handensure your child is holding your hando Website – Website –

www.harrisonnurseryschool.co.ukwww.harrisonnurseryschool.co.uk

MANY THANKS FOR YOUR TIME, MANY THANKS FOR YOUR TIME, INTEREST AND SUPPORTINTEREST AND SUPPORT