Aims & Objectives
Aims:
We believe that children learn through play and our curriculum is play based to follow the guidelines of the Foundation Stage in education as issued by the Early Education and Childcare Unit. Through purposeful play and adult supported activities, the children learn various concepts and are encouraged to share, take turns, and develop independence skills.
The nursery is a member of the Pre-School Learning Alliance which is an organisation whose aim it is to provide the highest quality and standard of education in the under-fives.
- Provide quality childcare in a safe stimulating and caring environment.
- Offer a broad and balanced curriculum, which offers experience beyond that which can be provided at home but in ways that compliment family life.
- Through communication which parent and observations of the child, actively incorporate in our curriculum topics and themes that are current interest to individual children.
- Show consideration to the children as individuals, allowing them to develop independence and decision making at their own pace with care and support from all concerned parents.
- Teach respect for the environment, property, animals, and humans alike.
- Develop the art of good social skills and standards of behaviour through experience and example.
- Stimulate children’s natural desire to learn through all aspects of nursery life.
- Communicate with and involve parents in nursery life.
Objectives:
- Provide the resources and experiences to allow the children to progress towards the seven Early Learning Goals of Personal, Social & Emotional Development, Communication & Language, Physical Development, Literacy, Mathematics, Understanding the World and Expressive Arts and Design.
- Have flexible plans, allowing spontaneity for the children’s changing interests and preoccupations.
- Ensure easy access to the curriculum for all children.
- Ensure adequate adult to child ratios to provide a stimulating safe and secure environment.
- Ensure that each child’s race, culture, religion, language, and family values are given proper consideration.
- Ensure an awareness of health and safety aspects.
- Ensure positive images of people and portrayed regardless of gender, culture, or ability.
- Encourage parental involvement.
Special Needs
The nursery is happy to accept children with special needs and every opportunity will be taken to integrate these children in the usual course of the sessions. We have a Special Education Needs Coordinator SENCO, a Behaviour Management Co-ordinator, and a Child Protection Liaison Coordinator. We work closely with outside agencies to ensure that the children receive the best care and help. The names of these people are posted on the parent’s notice board.
Policies
On starting nursery, you will be asked to read and sign to say that you understand the policies adopted by the nursery. These contain information about procedures that take place in the nursery to safeguard, you, and your child. An operational plan folder is also available for you to read, this contains the everyday running procedures of the nursery, staff, and qualifications, etc.
You will also be asked to read and sign giving permission for the nursery to act on your behalf if there was an accident and your child needed to receive medical attention.
Complaints and Compliments
A policy for the nursery school’s complaints procedure is in the policy folder along with an address and telephone number for OFSTED. There is also a book on the parent’s notice board that you may use to write complaints in. To compliment this, we also have a compliments book which we would like you to write any comments in that you feel we should know.
Staff
At every session, a minimum of 75% of staff hold qualifications in childcare and there is always a qualified First Aider present. Staffing ratios are: 3 months to 2yrs – 1 adult to every 3 children. 2yrs to 3yrs – 1 adult to every 4 children. 3yrs to 5yrs – 1 adult to every 6 children. We do reserve the right to alter this to 1 adult to 8 children (the government requirement) if necessary, to cover staff illness. All staff at Greatham Village Nursery School are DBS checked (formally CRB).
Key Persons
Your child will be allocated to a specific member of staff who will act as a first point of contact for you and your child at nursery school. Key workers can be of great help during the settling in period and in providing continuity for the children while they are at Nursery School. Key Workers also keep records of our child’s achievements, which you are welcome to see at any time.
Curriculum
Our curriculum is structured to give each individual child the experiences and skills needed to help them develop towards the Early Learning Goals laid out in the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage.