Welcome to Nursery!

Welcome to Nursery! Mrs K. Adenrele- (Mrs A.) Nursery Teacher Ms K. Ruthven- Assistant Headteacher Learning, growing and achieving together.

Ivy Gardens Children’s Centre The Centre, which is located on our school site offers a variety of services for families KR

Information about school • Foundation Stage 3-5 years old. Nursery and Reception • Key Stage 1 5-7 years old. Years 1 and 2. • Key Stage 2 7-11years old. Years 3, 4, 5 and 6. • EAL- English as an additional language • SEN- Special Educational Needs • G and T- Gifted and Talented KK

The Early Years Foundation Stage (new curriculum September 2012) Prime areas Communication and Language Physical Development Personal, social and emotional development Specific areas Literacy Mathematics Understanding the world Expressive arts and design KR

Key Person • Your child will have a Key Worker when they join in he Nursery. • This is your child’s ‘special person’ that will be responsible for your child’s learning and development and care whilst at Nursery. • All staff are responsible for all children at the Nursery and you are welcome to speak to any adult. • If your child’s Key Person works part-time then your child will have two Key People. • We will talk to you if we have any concerns about your child and put strategies in place for school home to support your child’s development.

A Typical Nursery Session • 8:30 Doors open, play with your child • 8:45 Parents and Carers leave • 9:00 Large group time • 9:15 Small group time • 9:45 Outside and inside play, snack time • 11:30 Tidy up • 10:45 Group time • 11:15 Doors open for home time • 11:30 Doors close KK

Attendance and Punctuality • Children who attend Nursery everyday and are punctual tend to do better throughout the Primary Years. • Please drop you child off and pick them up on time. Lateness can be upsetting and unsettling for your child. • Holidays need to be taken in school holiday time. • If you arrive later than 8:45am and 12:45pm you are late. Please telephone the school on your child’s first day of absence.

What your child will need at Nursery • Book Bag • School uniform if you would like, if not, clothes which are manageable and not too expensive! • Change of clothes for their peg. • Sensible shoes, please, no lace-ups. • We provide snacks and drinks. • £2 contribution each half term. • Box of tissues in colder months. KK

Home school partnership • We have an open door policy, please speak to • a member of staff if you have any concerns. • The best time to do this is usually at the end of the session. • -Home School contract • - Parent Review Days, Autumn and Spring terms • Fornightlynewsletter • Please inform us of any changes at home that may affect your child. • Changes in contacts for example, mobile phone numbers. • Reading book, this is changed once a week. • Reading log, please sign and make comments regularly. KK

Toilet training • We recommend that your child is toilet trained before coming to Nursery. • If you need information around toilet training please speak to us or contact your Health Visitor. • There is information available at Ivy Gardens Children’s Centre around toilet training.

Settling in • This is different for every child. • Please make sure someone is available to support your child for at least their first week of Nursery, we ask that you stay for your child’s first session. • We ask that parents/ carers only leave a child for 1 hour in the first instance. • We then build this up to a full session. • Come in with your child and settle them into an activity. • Please do not leave without saying goodbye. • Children will often cry, this is perfectly natural and staff are used to this. • Most children will only cry for a short time and then get involved with an activity. • Staff would never leave a child crying for an long period of time, we will always telephone you. KR

How can you help your child with learning at home? KR

Children who had these things in place at home achieved more at school. KR

Reading with and to children • Pollards Hill Library • Books sent home from Nursery • Reading at home (regular routine, quiet time) • Book worm awards KR

Singing songs and rhymes • Helps with reading skills and maths • Lullabies, number rhymes, action rhymes. • Cbeebies website is good for ideas. KR

Developing language skills High talk families- children know 1200 words by the age of 3 Low talk families- children know only 500 words by the age of 3 KR

Going on visits • Supermarket • Park • Public transport • Farm, museums, trips to London. • Talking, listen and respond, use wide vocabulary. KR

Painting and drawing • Giving children access to paper and pencils. • Painting on a small scale e.g. cotton bud painting. KR

Creating opportunities for play with friends • Children of the same age. • Simple games, sharing, turn taking. • Dressing up KR

Playing with letters and numbers • My name, fridge letters, teaching sounds of the letters, not writing in capital letters. • How old am I? What comes next? KR

Websites www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies www.oxfordowl.co.uk www.bbc.co.uk/schoolradio/subjects/earlylearning/nurserysongs www.letters-and-sounds.com/phase-1-games.html www.milkshake.channel5.com KK

Applying for Reception • You will need to apply for your child’s Reception place. Being in our school Nursery or having older children at our school does not mean your child automatically gets a place for Reception. • You can also apply online. • Please speak to your child’s class teacher if you have any questions. KR

What next? • AM or PM session • -Start dateconfirmation. • - Purchase a book bag for your child and any uniform that you might like. • - Talk positively about Nursery with your child KK

For you… Book Start pack and activities KR

Welcome to Nursery!