Welcome to Darrick Wood Infant & Nursery School...starting point. We believe that true education is a result of a partnership between parents, children and the school and we will strive

Welcome to Darrick Wood Infant & Nursery School

The Early Years Foundation Stage Nursery

2020/2021

Website: darrickwoodinfant.co.uk

Headteacher’s Welcome

I am proud to be Headteacher of such a wonderful school where learning is fun and our children learn in a happy environment. Our school ethos is inclusive, inspiring, nurturing and respectful.

Darrick Wood Infant and Nursery School is a thriving and happy community! We have high expectations of achievement, attainment and behaviour and we are committed to every child achieving their absolute best regardless of background or starting point.

We believe that true education is a result of a partnership between parents, children and the school and we will strive for that close co-operation which will give your child the very best foundation for his/her educational career.

We believe that happy children learn best in an environment where they feel safe and secure.

‘Darrick Wood Infants provides an excellent education for its pupils, it provides a very well cared for, bright environment in which pupils feel very safe’ (Ofsted)

Our school’s outstanding OFSTED status allowed us the opportunity to convert to academy status in August 2011. This change has enabled us to have greater financial freedoms, independence and autonomy resulting in a wider range of opportunities and choice of services. This freedom allows us to facilitate bespoke provision for the children in our school.

We are committed to providing the very best opportunities for all our children to ensure that they achieve their full potential in all areas of their development.

Mrs Andrea Rampton BEd (Hons) NPQH Headteacher

Darrick Wood Infant and Nursery School is committed to safeguarding

and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all

staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Our Ethos and Values

‘Our learning community respects, nurtures and inspires’

Mission Statement

‘At Darrick Wood Infant and Nursery School we take pride in inspiring all

learners to achieve their very best within a happy community where

respect and tolerance for self and others is embedded. We are children

and adults learning together………..we have fun! ‘

Our Aim

Our aim is to ensure that every child has the opportunity to fulfil their

potential in the very best and safest environment at school and home in

order to maximise each child’s life chances.

Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum Each child is encouraged to become an independent learner by making choices from the wide range of experiences and resources on offer. We follow child-centred play based learning, which is based on the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum. You can find the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework which includes the early learning goals at www.foundationyears.org.uk, and click on resources. The foundation years website also includes a range of resources and contacts.

The seven areas of learning and development are: • Personal, Social and Emotional Development

- Self-confidence and self awareness - Managing feelings and behaviour - Making relationships

• Communication and Language - Listening and attention - Understanding - Speaking

• Physical Development - Moving and handling - Health and self-care

• Literacy - Reading - Writing

• Mathematics - Numbers - Shape, space and measures

• Understanding of the World - People and communities - The world - Technology

• Expressive Arts and Design - Exploring and using media and materials - Being imaginative

Young children learn best through first-hand experience and we encourage purposeful play as a way for learning. Children may choose to play alone or in small groups, with adults supporting and extending their play. In nursery the children have access to an indoor and outdoor learning environment and all seven areas of learning are covered in both these areas. Staff carefully observe and record each child’s interests, development of skills and strengths in order to help them plan for the next step in the child’s learning. There will be set times during the year to discuss your child’s progress with your child’s teacher. We welcome your comments, as we believe that only by working in a partnership with parents can we build a more detailed and complete picture of your child. It is quite normal, in the early days at school, for a child to need the support of a particular adult or activity. Not every child will want to be involved in everything and they will take time to choose and gradually extend choices and develop concentration. Your child will learn to be an independent, happy and confident person while they are with us. Language plays a major part in all learning. Your child will learn to communicate and understand ideas that are important, learning to think, reason and make sense of new experiences. We make the time to listen to each child and provide opportunities for them to solve their own problems and develop their own ideas. Children who speak more than one language are particularly advantaged as much of their thinking is done through their dominant language and can then be transferred to the second language. It is quite common for EAL children to be quiet at first as they absorb language around them and eventually they will build up the confidence to speak the new language.

Personal, Social and Emotional Development

At Nursery I learn to:

• Be away from you—my parents—and this may take me some time

• Celebrate other people’s differences

• Work with teachers and other adults

• Work with a large group of children

• Work alone

• Share, take turns and co-operate

• Follow simple rules and routines

• Complete a task or activity

• Question and answer

• Select and choose.

• Share my family and experiences with others

• Say what I need and play within set limits

• Act out my feelings in play

• Express my feelings in my words

• Start to talk about how I feel

• Be independent but not afraid to ask for help

“I need to learn all these skills to grow

into a happy healthy person and be able to take responsibility for myself.”

Communication and Language

I will begin to:

• Listen and be attentive to my conversations with teachers and my friends

• Understand instructions and be able to answer questions about instructions and stories which I have heard

• Speak and use my words to show that I am listening to others and developing my own ideas

• Be able to use past, present and future forms when talking about my events which have happened or will happen in the future

“Take every opportunity to develop my language and I will develop confidence and skills to express myself; to

speak and listen in a range of situations.”

Physical Development

I will:

• Develop my skills of co-ordination, control, manipulation and movement: -

- Fine motor skills are developed through playing with playdough, puzzles, cutting out and threading beads.

- Gross motor skills are developed through climbing, balancing, jumping, hopping and running, which is why we set out activities and circuits in the playground.

• Develop my confidence in managing my own personal hygiene and personal needs successfully, including dressing and going to the toilet independently

Literacy Reading

I will learn:

• How to love and care for books

• Books are fun

• My language and listening skills grow with lots of stories, poems, singing, puppets, games and music

• Books contain words and pictures

• A book has a beginning and end, a back and front

• Reading and writing are done from left to right, top to bottom

• To read simple words like my name and familiar advertising logos such as my favourite breakfast cereal

• To talk about the main events and characters in stories I know well

“Please remember—I learn at my own rate and this may be faster or slower than the other children. I may not

learn all these things before I am five.”

Literacy Writing

I will:

• Be able to hold a pencil or brush comfortably

• Draw circles and make shapes before I am able to draw things or write letters and this may take me a long time

• Enjoy drawing and painting

• Talk about my drawings and paintings, sometimes giving meaning to the marks I make

• Learn about letters and words (e.g. my name) – how they are formed and what order they go in

• Be praised and encouraged

• Have lots of practice, plenty of paper, paint and pens

“Activities develop my curiosity, my imagination and through my enjoyment, my concentration. Talk to me

about them and my language will grow too.”

Mathematics

I will begin to:

• Recognise the names of numbers

• Say numbers in the right order

• Match each number with the correct amount of things

• Compare two groups of objects and know when they are the same number

• Know the names of shapes and colours and be able to match them; put things that are alike into groups

• Learn that things can be put in order e.g. from smallest to biggest

• Learn about size—more, less, big, small, long, short, heavy, light

• Learn about position—in, on, behind, under, next to

• Learn about shapes—flat and solid

• Develop my problem solving, decision making, exploration skills e.g. How can we get the jewels out of the sand? What should we use?

• Spot numbers and shapes I see in my local environment, indoors and outdoors

“I learn maths in all areas within the classroom, especially through games, sand, water and block play.”

Understanding of the World

I will:

• Develop my interest and curiosity e.g. gardening, experimenting with water, sand, looking at things through magnifying glasses, investigating magnets, exploring in the mud kitchen/digging area

• Develop my understanding of similarities and differences between myself and others e.g. families, communities and traditions

• Know about simple technology and operate simple ICT equipment e.g. digital cameras, program a Beebot robot, using computer programs on the interactive whiteboard, recording messages on the talking pegs

• Finding out about festivals, and special days in different cultures

“An understanding of the natural world and what is in it is a source of not only a great curiosity but great fulfillment.”

Expressive Arts and Design

I will:

• Be able to express my ideas by using a wide range of materials and listening to music e.g. drawing, painting, sticking, collage making, construction, playdough and making junk models

• Be able to learn though all my senses by planning activities which develop each of the senses in a fun way!

• Be able to represent my own ideas, thoughts and feelings through design and technology, art, music, dance, role-play and stories.

“I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.”

(Confucius)

How can I help my child? We are often asked about ways that parents can help their child to ‘get ready for school’. These are some questions to ask yourself: Is s/he beginning to dress and undress? Can s/he put on a cardigan or jumper and own coat? If not, please give them plenty of practice over the next few months. Confidence in their ability to do these things makes them much more independent when dressing up in the role play area and for being independent getting ready to go outside.

Can s/he wash their hands thoroughly? Can s/he go to the toilet alone? It is important that children have an awareness of hygiene procedures and can wash their hands afterwards. If your child is prone to accidents, please let us know and we will give them timely reminders.

Can s/he recall and join in Nursery Rhymes and very familiar folk songs, rhymes and stories? Please help them to develop a repertoire of these traditional rhymes and tales – consider joining your local library.

Can s/he use a fork and spoon easily and cleanly? Teaching your child basic table manners is very important as well as the social aspect of eating at a table with others. Early Drawing and Writing When children first put pen to paper it is often random scribbles. These develop over time into picture symbols and the first random letters may appear. These initial stages are very important as the child discovers that marks on paper can be given meaning and they are developing the motor skills required to make a range of marks on paper. If you are encouraging your child to write their name, please help him/her to hold the pencil properly. Use a capital letter at the beginning of the name and the rest in lower case letters.

“Play is the highest form of research” (Einstein)

NURSERY INFORMATION Welcome to the Darrick Wood Nursery Class. The information set out below is intended to help you and your child adjust quickly to the routine of the Nursery Class. However, the staff are always available should you have any questions. The Nursery operates two sessions: The morning session begins at 8.45 am and finishes at 11.45 am. The afternoon session begins at 12.45pm and finishes at 3.45 pm. When collecting your child, please wait outside the nursery, having entered through the green gates until the nursery doors are opened for you. You are then requested to come in with your child and help him/her settle at an activity. At the end of each session a member of staff will hand over your child to you. It is very important to inform us if anyone other than yourself is ever going to collect him/her – we will not allow any child to leave with someone else unless we have been told specifically by you of the arrangements. The green gates by our Nursery are locked during the day to ensure the safety and security of all pupils and adults on site. They will be open, however, at the beginning and end of Nursery morning and afternoon sessions as follows: 8.40 – 9.10 am 11.40 – 12.00 pm 12.40 – 1.00 pm 3.15 – 4.00 pm Entrance to the Nursery outside of these times is via the main school office.

A voluntary contribution of £2.00 per child per term would be most welcome. This covers the cost of ingredients for cookery, playdough, and other incidentals which we may need to purchase over the term.

Clothing All children are expected to wear a uniform that they can manage themselves in Nursery. Our children wear grey trousers/skirt/pinafores or green jogging bottoms with white polo shirts and a green Darrick Wood sweatshirt. In the summer grey shorts can be worn and the girls can wear green or yellow gingham dresses.

Your child needs to be dressed in clothing that they can manage themselves. They should wear black shoes or trainers with Velcro that can easily be taken off/put on, please no laces. It is also important that they wear short sleeved polo shirts as long sleeves often get wet. Aprons are worn for wet and ‘messy’ activities but clothes sometimes get wet and dirty. Also many children wet themselves at this age. This is quite normal.

The Early Years Foundation Stage staff deal sympathetically with such accidents and change children’s clothes. Please provide a spare set of clothes (non-uniform), underwear and soft shoes (e.g. plimsolls) for your child in a named cloth bag – no rucksacks please as the pegs are shared. We would welcome donations of spare articles of clothing, suitable for three to five year olds. If your child is changed please wash and return any clothes borrowed from school.

It is essential that all your child’s clothes are labelled with their names. Safeguarding Darrick Wood Infant and Nursery School is a safe and secure site. All adults have a clear enhanced DBS check. The school has strict policies and procedures for safeguarding all children. All policies can be seen on our website www.darrickwoodinfant.co.uk

Behaviour We believe it is important for us to encourage each child to begin to learn to manage their own behaviour. Nursery children frequently make mistakes in their social interactions with others due to their stage of development. Staff will support children who are experiencing difficulty and will speak to you if there are significant problems so that we can work out strategies together to help them. The Early Years Foundation Stage staff are here to help. We want your child to be happy and relaxed in the school environment. It is important that children and parents take starting school in their stride! By the first day at Nursery your child will have met the nursery staff and had a visit to their class, so everyone should be looking forward to that first morning. Any worries concerning any aspect of school should be discussed privately with us. It is important that your child feels you are looking forward to this new adventure too! Give your child a little time to settle in on the first nursery session, and then say goodbye and leave, most children, even if initially distressed, settle quite quickly. If you are worried or upset, do phone the office later in the morning and we will check to make sure your child is happy. If your child is finding it difficult to settle we have different strategies we can discuss with you.

Attendance (See Attendance Policy) Regular punctual attendance is essential if children are to establish good relationships with their peers. It also helps them to become confident in the Nursery routine.

Children are encouraged to be in school every day unless they are too ill to attend. In the event of your child becoming ill in school we will contact you immediately so that you can take them home.

If your child is ill and needs to miss school please telephone the school office as soon as possible on 01689 - 857278. You can also email the school on [email protected]. If you do not contact the school then you will receive a phone call from the school office querying your child’s absence. Please note that it is important that we are informed on the first day of your child’s absence and that you notify the office of any change of contact details/medical information immediately in case of emergencies. If your child has suffered from sickness or diarrhoea then they must not return to school until 48 hours after the last bout. Young children can be easily distressed by being the last to be collected, so please make it a priority to collect your child promptly at the end of the session.

If you need to send a person to collect your child who is unknown to the staff, please let us know. We will NOT allow a child to leave with a stranger. Similarly, if you are unavoidably late for any reason please get a message to us so that we can explain to your child and reassure them.

Any Problems If there are any problems occurring at home or school, which are unsettling your child, do let us know. It may account for any possible changes in behaviour. The Nursery team are usually available for a quick chat after school.

Please do not hesitate to talk to us if you have any queries or problems. Let’s work together to make your child’s time in the Early Years Foundation Stage a happy and worthwhile experience. Library We provide a library and children are encouraged to take 2 books home on a Monday. Research has shown that a child’s love of books and desire to learn are greatly enhanced when parents read and talk about books with their children.

Additional information:

• Children who arrive late (once the green gates have been closed) or who are taken out of school for appointments must be signed in/out in the relevant book in the school office.

• Requests for absence must be put in writing and addressed to the Headteacher.

• Children need a drawstring cloth bag with a change of clothes, pants, socks and spare shoes (does not need to be school uniform).

• Children will need a book bag for their class library book.

• Children need to be well equipped for the outside area, which we use all year round. They will need a warm coat and appropriate footwear – no open toes or heels and no long boots.

• Sun hats are compulsory in the summer and sun cream should be applied by you, before sessions begin. Staff are not allowed to apply sun cream.

• School uniform is worn by the Nursery children. This needs to be in a style which the children can manage themselves (e.g. pull up trousers) and MUST be clearly labelled.

• All children need to bring a drinks container with water to school. All containers should be clearly labelled with your child’s name. These can be refilled during the day from our water station.

• All children should bring a washed fruit or vegetable snack to school, in a container clearly labelled with their name. Grapes must be cut in half to avoid choking.

• No toys, no jewellery, no rucksacks please.

• Long hair must be tied back.

• Keep informed of what is going on at school – read the letters and notices – come to our parent open sessions – come to our curriculum meetings.

• Forest School sessions/kit on a Wednesday

• Don’t forget to notify the school office of any changes in address, contact telephone numbers, email addresses and any changes in health details.

Communication between home and school –

ParentMail®

We try very hard to keep parents regularly informed about what is going

on at school, however, sending paper letters home can be rather ‘hit and

miss’ with letters often going astray on the way!

We are also increasingly aware of the substantial cost and environmental

impact associated with the amount of paper and photocopying involved.

To help improve these areas we use a service called ParentMail®, which is

used to communicate with parents by email.

• E-mails will be used to forward letters from school on a regular basis.

• Newsletters will be sent each week to parents

ParentMail® email messages will be sent from ‘Parentmail’. Please add

this address to your email address books (or approved sender list) to

prevent messages from being blocked by your SPAM/JUNK filters.

ParentMail® complies with the obligations under General Data Protection

Regulations ‘GDPR’ and all related legislation and guidelines with regard

to the use of Personal Data (as defined in the GDPR).

Website Image Permission

There are sections of the website where individual classes can show themselves at work and present some of the recent work completed by the children. This may involve a picture of your child being taken while at work in the classroom. In order to protect the rights of children over the use of their images the following security procedures have been insisted upon:

• All photographs are subject to approval by staff before possible publication

• All photographs must conform with DfE guidelines on website security.

• Any child’s photo on the website must be with permission of the parent/carer

We believe that, by following the above measures, we will have a website that reflects our school at its very best and be of real interest to the children, staff, governors and friends of our school.

Darrick Wood Website and Key Policy documents

General information about our school is on our school website

www.darrickwoodinfant.co.uk as well key Policy documents