Information Pack

Culford School NURSERY

Welcome

As Nursery Manager, I would like to personally welcome you to Culford School Nursery.  I am extremely proud of our nursery, and along with my dedicated team, will endeavour to make your child’s fi rst taste of education an enjoyable one.  In partnership with you, we strive to help your child to achieve their best and have great fun in the process.

I have been teaching for nearly 12 years and can honestly say I am happiest when reading stories, doing a puppet show or building a Lego house!  Children of nursery age are truly inspirational and their sense of wonder is something I will never tire of. 

At Culford we off er an education that is challenging, enriching and fun; at Culford School Nursery we certainly deliver this and our happy, polite and busy children are testament to this.

The following pages are to help you and your child to become familiar with the nursery and its routines. If you have any questions, we operate an open door policy and all staff are happy to help.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Liz GreyNursery Manager

Useful Contacts: Nursery Direct line: 01284 385415

Pre-Prep: 01284 385 412

About Culford Nursery

Culford School Nursery is part of Culford Pre-Prep School, based in 480 acres of Suff olk countryside in Culford near Bury St Edmunds. The nursery’s purpose built facilities will enable your child to take those

fi rst steps away from home in a secure, safe and stimulating environment. Children are welcomed from the start of the term during which they turn three. Each child is off ered a ‘taster’ morning prior to starting nursery—this is also an opportunity for parents to chat with a member of staff and ask any

questions that may not have been covered on a tour or open day.

Our nursery uses a Key Person System. This means each member of staff has a group of children for which they are particularly responsible. Your child’s key person will work with you to make sure that your child is settled and happy and will answer any questions or concerns you may have. The key person will also make detailed observations of your child on a daily basis which will be shared with you at parents’ evenings, as well as in the reports you will receive during the autumn and summer terms. In small classes, your child will quickly develop language and number skills in a rich, varied and practical way. Childrens’ learning is monitored

individually and progress is shared regularly. Daily access to a safe and secure garden for plenty of fresh air daily, as well as the use of the beautiful grounds at Culford, makes the nursery the ideal environment in which children develop and learn. We encourage healthy eating, with freshly prepared fruit for snacks as well as a balanced meal at lunchtimes which is cooked on site.

Our most recent Ofsted report (2008) rated Culford School Nursery as outstanding. In 2011, Culford Nursery and Pre-Prep School was accredited with the ECaT (Every Child a Talker) Standard by Suffolk County Council.

Our Facilities We are very lucky to have purpose built facilities which enable us to off er children the very best start on the path to early education. We have two main rooms; Rainbow and Sunshine, each with its own smaller side room, access to the garden and bathroom facilities.

Children will be based in the Rainbow classroom with the added bonus of a seperate classroom for smaller group work and messy play. Each child will be given a named draw to store book bags and artwork. They will also be given a named peg for coats and bags.

We often undertake activities as a whole nursery, in which case we gather in one of the rooms or the garden, depending on the activity.Our side rooms each have an interactive whiteboard which enables children to participate in games and puzzles, and to explore letters and numbers in a more collaborative way.

Our GardenIn autumn 2011, we opened our new all-weather terrace and landscaped garden, which is for use solely by nursery children. It is accessed via both our Rainbow and Sunshine rooms, and is completely enclosed by hedging.

We make frequent use of our garden, both for play and learning. Our all-weather terrace, equipped with sand and water trays, phonics display and much more, means we are able to go outside even on the wettest of days.

We also have a small herb garden that the children enjoy helping to plant and harvest.

Early Education

We follow the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) guidelines, which are outlined below. The EYFS principles are grouped into 4 themes:

1. A UNIQUE CHILDPrinciple: Every child is a competent learner from birth who can be resilient, capable, confi dent and self-assured.2. POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPSPrinciple: Children learn to be strong and independent from a base of loving and secure relationships with parents and/or a key person. 3. ENABLING ENVIRONMENTSPrinciple: The environment plays a key role in supporting and extending children’s development and learning. 4. LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENTPrinciple: Children develop and learn in diff erent ways and at diff erent rates and all areas of learning and development are equally important and inter-connected. Early Learning JourneyNursery staff constantly observe and evaluate your child’s individual progress and record this using ORBIT. This new technology allows us to gather all the appropriate information about your child and share it with you easily.

EYFS Areas of Learning and Development

Personal, Social and Emotional DevelopmentThis is a crucial part of the EYFS as it is a prerequisite for your child’s success in all other areas of learning. We provide opportunities to develop your child’s independence through self-selection of resources and games as well as changing and managing their own hygiene. We support and off er experiences which enable your child to interact well with others and develop a positive sense of themselves.

Communication and LanguageThis focuses on developing speaking and listening skills, for example eff ective self-expression and anticipating events in stories. Children will learn to answer ‘how’ and ‘why’ questions about their experiences. With activities such as identifying which musical instrument is being played and using ICT equipment, we promote good communication through circle time and philosophy for children.

Physical DevelopmentYour child will gain maximum use and enjoyment of the outdoor environment in our all-weather outdoor play area. A range of toys and apparatus are provided to suit all the children, from balancing, climbing and digging to ride on toys, ball games and even a parachute. Regular sessions of ‘funky fi ngers’ help promote your child’s fi ne motor skills.

Understanding the WorldYour child will develop the skills, knowledge and understanding to help him/her make sense of the world. We encourage your child to explore their environment in our play area and extensive grounds. Children will be encouraged to talk about

past and present events in their lives and those of family members. They will understand that other children don’t always enjoy the same things, and learn to appreciate diff erent communities and traditions. We use programmable toys and computers to enhance their learning.

Expressive Art and DesignThis area covers such aspects as art, music, dance, role play and imaginative play. We will encourage your child to make 2D and 3D constructions using a variety of materials. Your child will have opportunities to paint, collage and use play dough. He/she will also use puppets for story telling and develop his/her imagination whilst role playing.

MathematicsThis includes counting, sorting, matching, seeking patterns and working with numbers, shapes, space and measures. There is an emphasis on developing problem solving and thinking skills. We use practical maths at snack time nominating a helper daily. We encourage your child to be aware of numbers across the curriculum.

LiteracyThis area concentrates on children’s phonic knowledge where they will learn letters of the alphabet and the sounds that they make. They will learn to write their own names and use their phonic knowledge to write familiar words. Children will develop the tools necessary to learn to decode regular words and read them aloud accurately.

Partnership with Parents

We believe that engaging with all parents/carers enables a greater level of understanding about the role that we play in a child’s learning development and enhances positive involvement from all parties.

Sharing all types of information regarding each child is essential to maintain a good level of understanding about your unique child. It opens up avenues that can be explored with the children and helps us to understand any extenuating circumstances. Any information regarding your child can help us keep each child’s Learning Journey updated and celebrate your child’s achievements.

It is known that what parents do at home with young children has the greatest impact on a child’s social, emotional and intellectual development. The Eff ective Provision of Pre-School Education (EPPE) report concludes: “What parents do is more important than who parents are.” A digital display is on the wall in Reception to update you on what the children have been learning in the Nursery.

Early Learning JourneyNursery staff constantly observe and evaluate your child’s individual progress and record this using ORBIT as previously mentioned in this booklet.

Treasure BoxYour child may bring in a special toy or ‘comforter’ when fi rst starting at Nursery. When he/she is settled in they will be encouraged to put these in their drawer (or in the treasure box if too large) until the end of the session.

StickersYour child will be awarded stickers for good behaviour, eff ort and manners.

Star of the WeekEach week a ‘Star of the Week’ is awarded to a child who is deemed to have made extra eff ort. His/her name will appear in the weekly Fieldgate newsletter.

Fieldgate Newsletter and Culford Post Our Newsletter is a means of regularly passing information to parents and keeping you updated on your childrens day to day activities. You will receive the monthly Fieldgate newsletter via email, but if you would prefer a paper copy, please let us know. A copy of the newsletter can also be found on the Culford Pre-Prep website under ‘Newsletters’. In the event of school closure due to bad weather, you will be notifi ed by Culford Post.

Parents’ Evenings/Information EveningsThese are noted in the school calendar and on the website. A sign-up form will be placed on the door of the offi ce during the week prior to the meetings. We run informal information evenings for every new cohort of children detailing how we deliver the curriculum.

ReportsYou will receive a report at the end of the autumn and summer terms. This will be given to you by hand on the last day of term or sent in the post on that day.

Lost PropertyAny unnamed items found will be kept in the lost property box for the term – please ask a member of staff if you have lost anything. At the end of the term this box will be placed in Reception so everyone may check for items they are missing.

Policies/Inspection ReportsIf you wish to browse a copy of our policies or inspection reports, these are located on our webiste: www.culford.co.uk.

Daily Routine Our day is structured in line with a traditional school day which enables our pre-schoolers to become accustomed to the daily routine in good time for their transition into the Pre-Prep.

Arriving The children are encouraged to fi nd their named butterfl y on the lines outside the classrooms and place them on the forest scene opposite. Each child will be signed in as they arrive. They will then settle in by choosing which of the available activities they wish to do until tidy-up time and registration at 9am.

Picking UpPick up times from nursery are at 1.10pm after lunch and outside play, or at 3.40pm. We ask that parents arriving for the 3.40pm pick up do not ring the door bell at this time, as all the children leave the nursery building. The door will be opened at 3.35pm and the children will be individually passed to the parent/carer collecting them.

After School CareAfter School care is held between 4 and 6pm at the Pre-Prep, and is split into two sessions; 4-5pm and 5-6pm to enable maximum fl exibility for parents. It is charged at £7 per hour (£11 per two hours if pre-booked at the beginning of the term for the whole duration) and a sign-up sheet is in the nursery reception, so you can sign-up at the beginning of the week for exactly the extra care you need.

Children may be collected at any time during the session in which they are participating and will need to be signed out by an adult listed on the ‘Individual Collection Arrangements’ form.

A Typical Day at Nursery 8-9.00 am Children may be dropped at nursery between these times. 9.00 am All children to have arrived and we take a register 9.15 am Curriculum activities 10.15 am Snack time and outside play 11.00 am Curriculum activities12.00 noon Lunch and outside play1.10 pm Children participating in morning session only are collected at this time 2.15 pm Snack time and outside play3.00 pm Curriculum activities3.30 pm Story/Song time3.40 pm Children can either be collected at this time or are accompanied to the Pre-Prep for After School Care4-6.00 pm After School Care

Our Activities

Ms Rogers, a qualifi ed dance teacher, teaches the nursery children on Thursday mornings. There is no extra charge for these lessons.

The children follow a specifi c age-related dance program concentrating on moving freely in a variety of ways including skipping and hopping. The children work towards having the necessary control to hold a fi xed shape. They experiment with diff erent ways of moving and are encouraged to match their movements to music, moving with control and co-ordination.

In the autumn term the children put on a dance show with the Pre-Prep children. Parents are invited to come and see what they have been learning in their dance classes.

Dance

Mrs Almond, a qualifi ed swimming instructor, teaches towards Ducklings and Stage 1 awards at the Sports Centre swimming pool on Friday afternoons. There is no extra charge for these lessons.

The children are split into two groups: Unaccompanied/more confi dent swimmers swim from 1pm to 1.30pm. These children are escorted to their lesson by Nursery staff and need to be attending Nursery on Fridays. This is a structured scheme of work for children who can swim with aids but do not require assistance from an adult. (Mrs Almond will assess children prior to them being included in this group).

Accompanied children swim from 3pm to 3.30pm. These children must be accompanied by a parent/carer but do not need to be attending Nursery on a Friday. If they are attending Nursery that day,

please pick them up at 2.30pm when they will be signed out for the day.Pupils will be introduced to the pool environment allowing them to gain knowledge of water safety and water confi dence through play. There are ongoing assessments to encourage pupils to achieve an award or to move from the accompanied to the unaccompanied class.

Note: there is not a uniform requirement for swimming at Nursery. However, children with long hair are encouraged to wear a swimming hat. Girls should wear a one piece swimming costume.

Any parent/carer accompanying their child is asked to wait until the previous class has vacated the changing rooms before using it. From the Sports Hall entrance, continue along the corridor and the changing rooms are located on the right hand side. Showers and hair dryers are available.

Swimming

Tiny Tots Tennis Culford School delivers a fantastic tennis programme across all years, starting at Nursery age.

We offer Tiny Tots Tennis sessions on Tuesdays from 8.30-9.00am. This is an extra-cirricular activity which aims to tie in with the physical development of 3 to 5 year olds.

All equipment is provided which is specially adapted for this age group including the use of mini rackets and nets and foam balls.Each class contains fun racket skills, movement to the ball and catching or throwing skills and is run by Ashton Pepper on the squash courts in the Sports and Tennis Centre. There is a glass wall which allows parents to watch their children as they play in the squash court.

There will be a free ‘come and try’ session at the start of each acadmic year which you are welcome to attend. Nursery children who take tennis lessons will also join in with the tennis display in the summer term.

This is an extra offering and is priced at £72.00 for a ten week programme.

Sessions and Fees

Our sessions are from Monday to Friday, during term time only. We recommend a minimum of 3 sessions per week to ensure each child feels settled in the nursery environment.

Morning session: 8am-1.10pm (to arrive by 9am, includes lunch) £26.50Afternoon session: 1.10pm-3.40pm £13.50

After School Care: Sessions run from 4pm-5pm and 5pm-6pm £7 per hourCulford Nursery Loyalty Scheme 2014-2015

We’re delighted to announce our Nursery loyalty scheme is now in operation. The scheme allows parents of children in Culford Nursery receive discounts of up to £800 against their Reception and PP1 summer term fees. The table below shows how the discounts are calculated and the level of loyalty discount on off er.

Sessions per year Credit to bill in PPR Credit to bill in PP1Equal to 5 days a week £800 £800Between 3 and up to 4 days a week £640 £640Between 2 and up to 3 days a week £480 £480Equal to 2 days a week £320 £320

Less than 2 days Nil Nil

Given many children in Culford Nursery will attend on a part-time basis – often involving half day sessions – the loyalty scheme has been devised on the basis of total weekly sessions rather than full days. So, if your three-year old child attends 6 half day sessions per week (equating to 3 full days) they would be eligible for £480 discount against their fi nal year fees.

For more about the loyalty scheme, please contact Sarah Preston on (01284) 385412 or email the Admissions Department on admissions@culford.co.uk.

Parent, Baby, Toddler

Our Parent, Baby, Toddler group is for children between the ages of 0 and 3. You are warmly invited to our Group sessions, which take place in our purpose-designed Nursery School, situated in 480 acres of beautiful Culford parkland.

There are always plenty of exciting things to keep you and your child entertained:

• Music making and movement • Craft activities • Book corner • Dressing Up • All weather outside terrace, garden and playground • Refreshments for adults and children • Regular extras, such as swimming in our onsite pool

Why not come along for a coffee and a chat? You do not need to book in advance and our £3 session charge includes all activities and refreshments.

For sessions that involve swimming please come to nursery at 10am as usual for crafts, etc. and to collect your swim token for the 11am swimming session.

We look forward to welcoming you and your child!

Moving on to Pre-Prep

Nursery children visit the Pre-Prep on a number of occasions and soon become familiar with the setting and members of staff. Your child may attend after school care and on other occasions will visit for special assemblies and events.

At the Pre-Prep, we are able to have two Reception classes which run in parallel with one another. During the summer term, the two Reception teachers frequently visit the Nursery in order to work with groups of children so that everyone gets to know each other. When grouping children for their Reception class, friendships, age and ability are taken into consideration.

Before your child moves to Pre-Prep he/she will spend a morning in June with his/her new teacher and classmates and have lunch prior to returning to Nursery. At this time there is also a Transition Meeting held for parents when information is discussed regarding the Pre-Prep routines and requirements. This is also a chance for parents to meet the teachers and have an informal chat with them as well as to visit their child’s new classroom. The Nursery staff and Reception teachers hold meetings to discuss the children, their stages of development and next steps.

Tel: 01284 385308 Email: admissions@culford.co.ukwww.culford.co.uk/nursery