Oakengates Nursery School

Welcome to Preschool!

In Preschool we endeavour to create spaces and experiences that are meaningful, well planned and offer appropriate levels of challenge so that children become deeply involved in their learning, play and exploration.

 

Nothing lights up the brain like play.”

Dr Stuart Brown

 

The Environment

We offer a safe, inclusive and stimulating learning environment both indoors and outdoors. All areas are motivating and inviting to the children which allows them to choose from a range of activities. 

Children are provided with many opportunities to explore, experiment, plan and make decisions for themselves, thereby enabling them to progress within their learning and development.

The preschool room is bright, spacious and well-resourced with many different exciting areas for the children to play and learn.

 

The Curriculum

“Tell me and I forget, show me and I remember, involve me and I will learn.”

Ancient Chinese Proverb

 

Our aim is for children to thrive in a setting that has the children’s interests at the heart of all that is offered, resulting in high levels of motivation, where every child acquires and consolidates skills and knowledge at their highest level.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (Department for Education 2012) sets standards for the learning, development and care of children from birth to 5 years old.

Children in the EYFS learn by playing and exploring, being active and through creative and critical thinking which takes place both indoors and outside. Children will learn skills, acquire new knowledge and demonstrate their understanding through 7 areas of development. 

 

Prime areas of Development

  • Communication and Language 
  • Personal, Social and Emotional Development
  • Physical Development

Specific Areas of Development

  • Literacy
  • Mathematics
  • Understanding the World
  • Expressive Arts and Design

Assessment 

Assessment of children’s learning is based on day-to- day observations and interactions with the children in a range of situations. Observations allow practitioners to gain an insight into the children’s needs, experiences, interests, thinking, strengths and areas for development. This information is essential when deciding how to support and enhance the children’s learning, both individually and collectively.

We record the children’s observations and achievements using a programme called ‘2simple’ and track their learning and development on an individual EYFS ‘Learning Journey’.

This Learning journey is always accessible so that you are able to see the progress that your child is making at our nursery.

We will also invite you to attend termly Stay and Play sessions, here you will be able to speak to your child’s Key Person and read through observations and assessments. 

Routines

We have a flexible rhythm of the day to accommodate for children’s individual needs.

This sets out what your child will be accessing throughout the day.

 

Time

Provision

7:30

Breakfast time

8:45 & 12:30

Welcome time

Registration activities

e.g. days of the week song, weather, how many children are here today? Self-registration; writing name/reading name cards

9:10 & 12:55

Adult led activities.

This time is for planned activities which are led by the adult. Learning outcomes are linked to areas from the EYFS.

9:30 & 1:15

Child Initiated Learning

Led by the children, enhanced through planning, unique to every child, starts by what children are interested in, children choose own resources, this time gives opportunity to develop creativity and curiosity, encourages communication, takes place indoors and outside, children apply learning.

11.00 & 2.45

Tidy Up Time

Whole Group singing and rhyme time.

 

11:15 & 3:00

Phonics

11:30  & 3:15

Colour Group Time with Key Person

Review Learning, Story time

 

11:45  & 4:00

Lunch/High Tea

4:30-6:00

Enhanced provision for After School Club

 

Meals & Snacks

Our meals are freshly prepared on site by our cook daily and all menus are developed by Telford and Wrekin ensuring they are healthy and balanced.

Mealtimes at our nursery is fun and educational. We try to replicate the family environment with children sitting around the table to encourage conversation and develop physical skills pouring water from jugs and when using the cutlery.  

Water, cow’s milk and fresh fruit is provided throughout the day at our snack table (or alternative milk for those with dairy allergies). We ask for a small contribution towards snack each week.

Home-School Links

During the induction we ask you to complete an 'All about my child' booklet that helps us to support your young child in their first days settling in.

We actively encourage parents and carers to get involved with their child's nursery education, inviting you in for termly Stay & Play sessions as well as contributing to your child's 'learning journey' by telling us about their achievements at home.

You will have the opportunity to take our mascot 'Bertie Bear' home and tell us about the exciting things she does with your family by filling in his diary for us to share.

Each week during term time a weekly newsletter is published on the website that will inform you of what's happening in nursery, important dates, visitors, celebrations and what learning will be taking place. It will also inform you of any important events such as trips etc. that you may wish to get involved with.

 

Our Staff

We pride ourselves on our qualified and experienced team within preschool who work closely with parents and children to improve their outcomes.

Our staffing structure consists of a Supervisor supported by a team of practitioners that have a wealth of experience and training specifically for supporting young children's development. 

 

Keeping Safe

We ensure we adhere to the Ofsted Statutory requirements by having robust policies and procedures to safeguard your child. We understand that children learn best when they are healthy, safe and secure, when their individual needs are met, and when they have positive relationships with the adults caring for them.

Ofsted reported in our school inspection (Sept 2017)

'Children's safety is of paramount importance to every member of staff. All staff are vigilant and have a thorough understanding of what to do if they have concerns about a child' they felt that 'Leaders go to great lengths to ensure that all early years welfare and safeguarding requirements are met and children are kept safe'

We will inform you if your child is unwell or has an accident whilst in our care though an accident form or a phone call, all parents & carers are required to fill in all permission documents on enrolment. All staff have regular and up to date first aid and child protection training.

We ensure all our policies are available by publishing them on the website for you to access, we encourage all our parents/carers to read them carefully.

Sessions

Breakfast: 7.30-8.45 PAYABLE 

Morning: 8:45am - 11:45am

Lunch:11:45am - 12:30pm PAYABLE

Afternoon: 12:30pm - 3:30pm

Late: 3.30-6.00 PAYABLE includes tea

 

All 3 and 4 year olds are eligible for 5 free educational sessions each week in term-time, totalling 15 hours. We offer you the option of combining 2 free sessions in one day and paying for the lunch session. Parents who are eligible for an additional 15 free hours' education each week can choose to use these hours during term-time only or to spread them during the whole year. See the 30-hours tab for more details. Parents can also choose to pay for additional educational sessions.

CHARGES 

Breakfast £4.99
Extra educational session 3 hrs = £13.50

Extra educational session 3 hrs from September 2023 £14.00

Lunch £5.61
Late session £10.88

 

 

 

 

The extended free childcare entitlement for working parents of three and four year olds will provide eligible parent with a total of 30 hours of free childcare per week.

The additional 15 hours will be available to families where both parents are working or the sole parent is working in a lone parent family. Each parent must earn on average a weekly minimum equivalent of 16 hours at national minimum wage (NMW) or National Living Wage (NLW) and less than £100,000 per annum. Working will include employed and self-employed persons. At the time of the childcare bill NMW or NLW was £107/week.

Parents can check whether they could be eligible via Childcare Choices website at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/30-hours-free-childcare-eligibility

If you are eligible for this funding you will be given a reference number. All you need to do then is bring your reference number into the Nursery Office.

You will need to generate a new reference number before the start of the new term.

For more information please see the above website or speak with the Admin team.

Our Nursery offer

Standard and Limited places for stretched Offer of 3&4 Year Old Extended Provision

At Oakengates Nursery School and Children's Centre, we recognise that the standard extended childcare provision of 15 hours over 38 weeks may not be flexible enough for parents/carers who need to access childcare throughout the year, including the Holidays. We have therefore included a second option for parents/carers to access the extended provision which is a limited allocation of stretched places over 51 weeks over the year to accommodate parents/carers childcare requirements during the Holidays.

What is the Standard Offer?

Standard Offer (additional 15 hours provision over 38 weeks)

The 38 week (term time only,15 hours per week) free early years education delivery will remain as the Standard Offer.

Maximum 15 hours per week over 38weeks (Academic Year)

Only accessed in school terms

Parents must confirm the hours required with the early years education provider through a parent declaration for each funding period (school term). i.e. 3 times a year

Parents must pay for any additional hours or services over and above the free 15 hours per week

What is the Stretched Offer?

Parents who wish to “stretch” their free entitlement over a longer period than the standard term are able to do so by “stretching” their entitlement over a maximum of 51 weeks. This will enable those parents whose children attend for childcare and early years. 

Maximum of 22.35 hours per week over 51 weeks (full year less Bank Holidays)

Access full year

Parents must confirm the hours required with the early years education provider through a parent declaration for each funding period (school term) i.e. 3 times a year

Parents must pay for any additional hours or services over and above the free 7.35hours per week.

The offer is a maximum of 22.35hours per week. If these hours are not used they cannot be carried forward to other sessions or used cumulatively. There are limited spaces for access to the stretched offer.

 

Please click here to apply for the 30 hours code or to find out more.

The early years pupil premium (EYPP) is additional funding from the government for early years settings to improve the education they provide for disadvantaged 3 and 4 year olds.

Eligibility:

Families in recipt of the following may quailfy for the additional funding for the setting:

 

Number of children

% of pre-school

Autumn 2017

 

8 Children

13%

Spring 2018

 

18 children

30%

Summer 2018

 

 

 

 

 

 

£

How the money has been used

£

Research

Autumn 2017

£763.20

  • Towards staff wages for small group intervention, delivered by level 3 TAs and SENCO e.g. Listen with Lucy, Cool Kids
  • Parental stay and play (learn with your child)

£763.20

    • Small group intervention of 1:3 is very effective for Personal, social and emotional development, play, communication  and education in helper children to make progress.
    • Children are grouped according to sessions that they attend and to specific need and ability
    • Effective parental involvement within the nursery school, promotes parent’s understanding and skills to continue the learning at home

     

Spring 2018

£1,717.20

  • Towards staff wages for small group intervention, delivered by level 3 TAs and SENCO e.g. Listen with Lucy, Cool Kids
  • Sensory / cause and effect resources 
  • High interest /  literacy resources
  • Programmes of study for circle time (PSED & SLCN)
  • Parental stay and play (learn with your child)
  • Individual educational provisions such as PEP's.

£1,717.20

  • Small group intervention of 1:3 is very effective for Personal, social and emotional development, play, communication  and education in helper children to make progress.
  • Short periods 10 – 20 minutes, daily over ½ a term of intense sessions improve progress and outcomes
  • Children are grouped according to sessions that they attend and to specific need and ability
  • Children’s needs are accurately assessed and targeted
  • Effective parental involvement within the nursery school, promotes parent’s understanding and skills to continue the learning at home.
  • PEP's (personal educational plans) outline targeted support needed for some children in our vulnerable groups such as children in care (CIC).

 Summer 2018

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2017/2018

As an outcome of monitoring we will continue to target the learning strands of ‘communication, language and literacy'(particularly 'speaking') and 'Literacy'

Pupil Premium registration form 2016