Bewsey Lodge Primary School

NurseryInformation Booklet

September 2019

Welcome to

Bewsey Lodge Nursery!We aim to make the transition from home to

Nursery as smooth and inspiring as possible. We hope that both you and your child/children are

excited about this new stage in their life and we are all looking forward to being part of it.

We hope that the information in this booklet, together with chatting to us, will answer any

questions you may have about your child starting Nursery. Please never hesitate to ask if you are

unsure of anything.

Who’s Who?Mrs Wright- Head Teacher

Miss Pope – Deputy Head TeacherMrs Bailey- SENco & Safeguarding Lead

Miss Turnbull – Early Years Phase Leader Mrs. Clifford– Nursery Lead

Miss Catterall – Nursery Teaching AssistantMiss Kellet – Nursery Teaching Assistant

School Contact Number: 01925 632730Nursery email:

barbara.clifford@bewseylodge.co.uk

UniformThe children are required to wear a Bewsey Lodge polo shirt. These are

available to buy from Nursery at the beginning of the session and are

priced at £6 each. For safeguarding reasons, children should wear their polo shirt to Nursery every day.

Nursery SessionsYour child will attend one of the following:

A morning ‘place’  (8:30-11:30 am) An afternoon ‘place’  (12:30-3:30pm) A ‘30 hour place’ - please refer to the "Terms and Conditions for 30

hours" document for further information about 30 hour funding, (this is available via the website, on the Nursery page).   Children who stay all day need a packed lunch from home.

Most children attend for either 5 mornings or 5 afternoons per week. There is no cost for these sessions.

It is very important that children arrive and are collected on time.  Please be aware staff are not responsible for your child out of these hours.  If you do not collect your child on time regularly, you will be

charged for the extra time outside of the session. Additional sessions – these are available to our morning and

afternoon place children who don’t qualify for 30 hour funding. If our numbers allow, we can offer an extra session for your child/children in addition to their funded 15 hours morning or afternoon place. So, if you purchase an extra place for a day your child will be in Nursery 8.30am-3:30pm. They will need a packed lunch from home and will be supervised by Nursery staff whilst eating and playing. You will need to book these sessions up to 2 weeks in advance, please speak to Mrs. Clifford to reserve a place.

Nursery GroupsYour child will progress through groups

which are age-related these are:caterpillars,

cocoons &

butterflies

These groups are used to track your child’s progress againstage-related targets and for some adult led activities, eg. our phonics programme, Read, Write, Inc. For most of their time in Nursery, your child/children will be engaged in child-led learning; they will select activities and friends to play and learn with. For focus activities we will use flexible grouping informed by continuous assessments.

Detailed information about what your child/children will be learning in Nursery and how they will be learning is included in the “Our Vision for EYFS” document, this is available via the website, on the Nursery page, please ask if you would like a printed copy.

Your child/children will be assigned a key worker, this will be Miss Catterall, Miss Kellet or Mrs. Clifford, all of us will work with all of the children and we all take responsibility for their wellbeing and development. You will be informed who is your child’s/children’s key worker early in the term.

Start of the sessionPlease help your child to find a peg and encourage them to hang up

their coat and any bags, (lunch bags will be stored inside the classroom).

Together, please help your child to find their “name on a star”, they will add this to the “We are stars” board in the class room; this is their first

task before they select an activity and start their Nursery session.As the term progresses, the children will be encouraged to select

magnetic letters to make their name, then overwrite their name, then copy write their name & eventually write their name independently. This is an initial activity for you to share with your child/children and

should be a lovely start to their session and a great way for you to leave them with their friends and us.

Occasionally, children can become upset when leaving a parent. We know how difficult it can be to leave your child if they are upset but please try not to worry. Children usually become calm within a few minutes and start to play happily. Sometimes it is best to say goodbye and reassure your child that you will return for them in a short while. If you are at all worried you are welcome to phone school to see how your child has settled.

When you hand over your child/children please tell us anything that may be relevant for us to know or talk about with your child, this communication is valued tremendously by us.

Nursery Routine Self Registration: the children find their “name star outside

with parents and carers then come in and add their names to the class star board. After a few weeks we will introduce magnetic

letters for the children to copy their name then progress to overwriting and independently writing their names with whiteboard pens. The children play with their friends for a while to settle into the session.

Carpet Time: The children enjoy a short carpet session together, relevant to our theme before caterpillars, cocoons and butterflies learn through activities tailored to their age and next steps in learning. They will sing songs, join in with rhymes, listen to stories complete activities as a team, ... The sessions will be a mixture of early literacy, developing their maths skills and enhancing their knowledge and understanding of our world.

Independent learning: The children choose activities set up in the different areas inside and outside or carry out an activity with an adult.

Fruit time: Children sit at tables with the adults and their friends. They share a healthy snack with a choice of milk or water to drink.

Phonics: We use a phonics programme called Read, Write, Inc., the children work in groups led by the teacher and teaching assistants.

Independent learning: The children choose activities set up in the different areas inside and outside or carry out an activity with an adult.

Home time: The Nursery gate will be unlocked at the end of the session and the children will leave Nursery one at a time as the safety of your children is our priority. No child will be allowed to leave Nursery without their designated person – please let us know if for any reason this changes.

School Links

The Nursery and Reception class are part of the Foundation Stage therefore work closely together in a

number of ways.

We celebrate the children’s achievements, both socially and academically, with a Foundation Stage assembly

every Friday morning at 9.00am. If your child has been selected for a certificate, you will be invited to come to this special assembly and celebrate their achievement s together. Please make sure we have up-to-date mobile

phone numbers, we text your invite on Thursday.

Visits and TripsThe Nursery usually have trips out each term for example we may go to Sankey Valley Park for an

autumn walk or Chester Zoo to see the animals, we are inspired by books in the library, etc. Parents are always

informed of any trips or visits we arrange for the children

and must accompany their child on any outings, these a fun activities to share!

Stay and PlayWe hold a ‘stay and play’ session every half term.

Please read the fortnightly newsletter for these dates.

We all welcome you to join us during these sessions for an hour, to be involved in your child’s learning.

Sharing Learning Journeys

TapestryOnline Learning Journey

At Bewsey Lodge we use Tapestry, which is an online learning journey. When we register your child to the

system you will receive a username (which will be your email address) and a password (that will be emailed to

you).

You can then log on and view the observations that we complete in Nursery about your child. You can

comment on them if you wish! You can also share your learning from home and upload photographs.

Little LinksBefore & After School Club

Breakfast club 8 - 8:30am

After school club 3:30-6pm

See Mrs. Price in the office for more information!

The Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum – what your child learns at

NurseryIn the Foundation stage, learning takes place through play and first hand experiences. We aim to build on children’s existing skills and interests and to develop

these further through well planned free play and

focused activities led by and adult. We also introduce phonics teaching when we feel it is appropriate.

There are 7 areas of the curriculum:

Personal, Social and Emotional Development: Developing confidence and independence Learning to concentrate Enjoying sharing and being able to form good

relationships

Communication and Language Developing speaking, listening and attentive skills Developing understanding of language

Literacy Encouraging and developing the skills needed for

children to become readers and writers.

Mathematics Developing mathematical understanding and

language Developing understanding about number,

measurement, shape and space

Understanding of the World Investigating and beginning to understand and

make sense of the world around them. This is the basis for historical, geographical, scientific and technological learning in key stages 1 and 2.

Physical Development

Improving control and co ordination of their bodies, developing their fine and gross motor skills

Learning to use equipment appropriately – this includes balls, hoops, bats, scissors, pencils etc.

Expressive Arts and Design Exploring the world of art and music Developing imagination and communication skills

using colour, shape, texture, sound, movement and stories.

Behaviour in NurseryIn Nursery we expect the children to follow our special

rules, these include having kind hands, kind words, good sharing and listening to our teachers.

We encourage the children to follow our special rules by using a positive approach; we reward and praise children who are modeling the correct behaviour.

We believe that Nursery is an important opportunity to teach children behaviour expectations; positive

attitudes to learning and self-discipline. We always try to avoid being negative when unwanted behavior is

exhibited. However, if a child intentionally and repeatedly chooses not to follow our special rules, they

will receive a verbal warning, if the same behaviour then continues, the child will be asked to take some

thinking time for 3 minutes. If the behaviour continues following time out, a child

will be asked to take time out in a different classroom. Parents will be informed of any concerning behaviour at

the end of the session.

One last word…..We are looking forward to you joining us, if you have any questions please don’t hesitate to ask

any of the staff in Nursery.

See you soon,

Mrs. Clifford& the rest of our fabulous team!