School Day

Our school day starts at 8.30 am. We encourage children to arrive between 8.30 am and 8.50 am, so they are ready to start planned activities from 9.00 am. The gate will be open until at least 8.50 am with a member of staff present. If the gate is closed when you arrive, please press the buzzer on the date and a member of staff will come and collect your child.

Parents and carers should wait at the school gate until it is unlocked by a member of staff (usually the Headteacher). We have found that most children are happy to say goodbye to their adult at the gate and they will be accompanied inside the school building by a member of staff. We do realise this may not work for every child, and we will be ready to help and support you and your child during these hand-over periods. If you feel that you would prefer to bring your child inside yourself that will be fine. We understand that all children are different and react to change in different ways.

Once inside the children are encouraged to find their astronaut and stick it on the board next to the main door to register their attendance. Each child will have a red, blue, green or yellow astronaut which has their full name and a number between 1 to 14. The colour, the number and the name are all ways to help your child learn. For example, children should place their astronaut on the matching number and coloured line.

Every child has a peg with their picture on it along where they can hang their coat and bag. All children will be asked to wash their hands when they have hung up their coat.

As soon as the children have settled in, they choose from a range of play activities designed to develop early learning. The nursery day consists of a mixture of planned play activities chosen by the children and small group times led by a teacher. The door to the outside area is often open so that children can choose whether to be inside or outside. The environment, both inside and outside is carefully planned so that we can maximize learning opportunities.

A drink of milk or water is provided mid-morning which children pour themselves. A snack is also provided such as fruit, vegetables, cheese, crumpets, yogurt or toast.

Children who attend the morning only session must be collected at 11.30 am. Please wait at the school gate until it is opened at 11.30 am. You will be able to come into the school building to collect your child.

If your child is attending a full-day, they will eat their packed lunches between 11.30 am and 12.30 pm. When most children have finished eating their lunch, they will be allowed to play outside until the start of the afternoon session at 12.30 pm.

The afternoon session starts at 12.30 pm. Please wait with your child outside the school gate until a member of start lets your child in at 12.30 pm.

The children will follow a similar timetable to the morning session with a mid-afternoon snack and drink provided.

The afternoon session finishes at 3.30 pm. However, we will open the gate at 3.15 pm so that families have the flexibility to collect their other children from local schools.

If you are going to be late collecting your child, please do your best to let us know. If we do not hear from you, we will try and contact you or one of your emergency contacts. It is also very important that you inform us of any changes to your childcare arrangements, as we never allow any child to leave the nursery school with someone we do not know.  Please inform us as you arrive with your child, or phone us with last minute arrangements. If you prefer, we can keep photos of Grandparents, childminders etc., on your child’s file. It can be distressing and time-consuming for everyone concerned when we have to contact parents to confirm individual unexpected arrangements. This practice also applies to other parents who may be picking-up your child, without your consent we will not allow your child to leave.

We regularly invite families to share in events such as the Easter Family Fun Day, Strawberry Tea, Christmas Fair. We always welcome parents or grandparents into nursery school to talk about their jobs or share their talents such as music or art.