Chandos

Primary School

Nursery Handbook 2013/2014

Dear Parent/Guardian,

Thank You for choosing Chandos Nursery. We realise what an important decision your child’s Nursery

placement is and appreciate how you must be feeling. It is our intention to make this a happy fulfilling

time for your child and, just as importantly, for you as a parent.

Chandos Nursery is seen very much as a key part of the whole school. We aim to provide a safe, secure

environment in which your child can enjoy a wide range of purposeful and active learning experiences.

They will develop their social and emotional skills, as well as their communication skills and their ability

to learn and explore.

You will have many questions and no doubt wish to seek as much support as possible to ensure that your

child has a successful learning journey with us at Chandos. Please fell free at any time to approach

myself or Gillian Devlin, the Phase 1 Manager for advice.

Yours sincerely,

Mr James Allan

Head Teacher

Welcome to

Chandos Primary School

Hello and welcome! It’s nice to know you have chosen Chan-

dos Nursery for your child.

We hope that both you and your child will enjoy the time spent

with us.

We always try to be available in order that queries and worries

can be answered and overcome. We see our

parents as partners and value working closely together. This

process also means that if we have concerns about your child we

will always contact you.

Our Aims Chandos Nursery is a safe, secure and rewarding place for your children

to develop. It is important to us to provide a safe,

caring and stimulating environment in which your child can flourish and

feel secure and loved.

We encourage children to follow their own interests,

developing a love of learning through play.

Our Nursery is a place where everyone, children, parents carers and staff,

are respected and valued.

We have experienced staff who work as a team. We aim to offer quality

learning experiences for your child.

Meet the Team

We work closely with Harjit Kaur our Parent & Pupil Link Worker and a Pre-School

Worker. A Stay and Play Group for pre-school children runs two mornings a week

also supported by parent volunteers.

We are also supported by Kitchen Staff, Dinner Time Supervisors, Pat our Cleaner

and Mr Sean Rochford our Building and Site Supervisor.

Miss Devlin Nursery Teacher/ Phase 1

Manager

Miss Brown Part Time

Teaching Assistant

Mr Newman Teaching Assistant and

Key Worker

Miss Dehal Teaching Assistant and

Key Worker

Mrs Marley Teaching Assistant and

Key Worker

The Site Our purpose built Nursery is sited in the grounds of the main school and shares the

full benefits of being part of a primary school. We have full use of P.E. and Dining

Halls, together with the school’s wide range of

resources.

This year we will be working hard to develop our outdoor environment with our col-

leagues in Reception. They will be moving to the classrooms

directly beside Nursery with the aim to develop an Early Years Unit, using a shared

outdoor space.

Please be patient during the start of the school year as there may be some changes to

the way we access the Nursery as building work will be taking place. But don’t

worry the Nursery staff will keep you well

informed and this minor disruption will be worth it when all work is

completed.

We are currently a 39 place Nursery with both full and part-time places available.

Our Nursery is approached by a separate entrance at the rear of the school.

Please close all outside doors when entering or leaving the Nursery.

Security is at the top of our list of priorities.

Mr Allan, the Head Teacher of Chandos Primary School is responsible for our nurs-

ery age children and their activities in the same way as he is for the remainder of the

school. Please feel free to approach him at any time if you wish to discuss any mat-

ters with him.

Times of Opening

Full time: 8. 55 a.m. to 2.50 p.m. – Monday to Friday

Part time:

All day Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday mornings 8.55 am—12.00pm

OR

Wednesday afternoons 12.00—2.50pm, all day Thursdays and Fridays

The Nursery doors open at 8.55 am. Please do not try and drop your child off

early at Nursery as all staff are busy setting up activities for the day. All Children

are members of a ‘family group’. After supporting your child to take his/her coat

off please take your child to his/her member of staff.

At the end of the day, we open the Nursery doors at 2.50. The Nursery day ends

before the main school so that parent’s with older children can pick their Nursery

child up first. Children should be collected by a parent or familiar adult. Children

will not be released to anyone under the age of sixteen, to taxi companies or to

adults who have not been introduced to your Nursery Key Worker.

Please telephone if you know you are going to be late and also let the staff know

if someone different is collecting your child. It is important that staff know if

there is someone who should not collect your child. Children will only be re-

leased to the adults named on the collection consent form, unless we receive a

message from you.

To really benefit from Nursery education regular attendance is vital. If your child

is ill and unable to attend Nursery please let us know on the morning of their ab-

sence by giving the office a call.

0121 464 3881

Settling In Before your child starts Nursery it will help your child if you talk about

coming to Nursery so that your child is prepared. Practice with them how

to put on their own coats/jumpers etc.

Settling your child into Nursery is an important process. All

children start on a part time basis which will gradually build up over the

first few weeks.

It is not unusual for some young children to find the move from home to

school upsetting. Parents are asked stay with their child for the first ses-

sion and maybe for longer if they are

finding it difficult to settle. If you are unable to do this make sure another,

familiar adult to the child is available to stay with them.

Please be patient, as children take varying amounts of time to feel happy

about being left. When the staff feel that your child can be left you may

be asked to sit in our staff room for a short time. The Nursery staff are

trained and experienced in settling children and will offer advice if neces-

sary. Each child is an

individual and will be treated as such.

Please collect your child at the agreed time, as re-assuring your child that

you will return helps us to establish a trusting

relationship.

Children who are ready will be able to stay full time at Nursery from the

3rd of October 2013.

Illnesses and Medicines

If your child uses an asthma inhaler frequently, please ensure that one is

available for use in Nursery.

Other medicines can only be administered at the discretion of the Head

Teacher. A consent form must be completed by parents to allow staff to

give any medicines.

Please let us know if your child has an infectious condition e.g. diarrhoea

and keep your child at home until he/she has been free of symptoms for at

least 2 days.

School Dinners Most children have school dinners at Nursery which cost £1.55 a day.

Dinner money is to be paid to Mrs Parry, in the school

office in main school. Envelopes are available for this purpose and we

would ask you to label them with your child’s name and the amount paid

in. If you think you are entitled to free school meals please talk to a mem-

ber of staff for advice.

Alternatively children can bring a healthy packed Lunch to school.

Chandos Primary School is a Healthy School so please do not send your

child to school with sweets, biscuits, nuts, crisps etc. We usually have

children in school with a number of allergies, some very severe, and it

could be dangerous if children share food from home.

Don’t worry that your child will be hungry at Nursery, healthy snacks

such as toast in the morning and fresh fruit are available throughout the

Emergency Contacts

It is important that you provide at least one emergency

contact phone number. If your child is unwell or distressed we need to

contact you, a family member or friend.

-Please let us know if emergency contact numbers

change.

-If your personal details have changed since

completing an admission form, please inform this main

school office staff who will pass this on to Nursery.

Toys We ask you to avoid bringing too many toys from home.

However, we do realise that a favourite toy can be a comfort to a child

settling in to Nursery.

If you find that your child has brought a Nursery toy home, please do

not be too embarrassed to return it. We are quite used to ‘collectors’ and

are grateful for returns!

Clothes Please dress for mess!

Your child will be painting, gardening, using glue, chalk, sand and wa-

ter.

Clothes do get dirty at Nursery.

-Please supply a set of ‘change’ clothes in a named

plastic bag.

-We do have a small supply of Nursery spare clothes and would ask that

these are washed and returned after use. Thank you!

-We encourage the children to manage their own clothes and ask you

please to avoid dungarees as they often cause toilet accidents

-Please send in hats if the weather is hot and sunny. We have very little

shade in the outdoor area. Please apply sunscreen before school and sign

Sun Protection Agreement if you would like staff to apply sunscreen.

-Also please ensure that they bring a coat when the weather is wet and

cold as we go out to play everyday, whatever the weather!

A Chandos school sweatshirt, warm and practical, is available

through school along with other items of uniform, though these are

not compulsory. Plain red sweatshirts can be

Learning in Nursery

The Curriculum we follow in Nursery and Reception is the Revised Early Years

Foundation Stage which was introduced in September 2012. It covers children’s

learning and development from birth to five years of age. Within this Curriculum

there are 7 areas of

learning, grouped into two categories – prime areas and specific

areas. The prime areas are important because they lay the

foundations for children’s success in all other areas of learning and of life:

- Personal, Social and Emotional Development

- Physical Development

- Communication and Language

The specific areas provide the range of experiences and opportunities for chil-

dren to broaden their knowledge and skills:

- Literacy

- Mathematics

- Understanding the World

- Expressive Arts and Design

The curriculum for the Early Years Foundation Stage should

underpin all future learning by fostering and developing children’s positive atti-

tudes towards their learning.

Children participate in a range of play activities inside and outside which take

account of their interests and achievements and their

developing physical, intellectual, emotional and social abilities.

Each day the children are involved in activities with clearly defined objectives

designed to suit the needs of the individual child.

Our medium and short term plans are always displayed in the

Nursery.

Your Child With be encouraged to:

-Talk and communicate in a widening range of situations;

-Take part in story sessions and experience a rich variety of books;

- Learn how to co-operate and work harmoniously alongside and with

each other;

- Join in with songs and rhymes;

- Share and enjoy doing so;

- Move confidently from one area of the nursery to another;

- Meet new people within the confines of the nursery and greet them with-

out undue shyness;

-Ask questions, predict, experiment and explore.

Your Child will acquire skills that may be new:

-Holding scissors and cutting;

-Holding paint brushes, pens or crayons;

- Using a computer;

- Physical skills such as riding a bike, running and jumping, stopping

when asked to.

- At all times he/she will be encouraged to care for the toys he/she is play-

ing with and tidy up after himself/herself and others.

The Nursery Day

A day in Nursery is busy and full of fun and learning. Here is a simple

breakdown of what happens during the Nursery day.

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

9-9.25 Family Group Time- Reg-

istration, Talking about the

weekend

Family Group Time- Self Register, Toast, Talking/Planning about the day, Song

Time, Sound Activity

9.25-

10.30

9.25- 9.40

EYFS Assembly- Introduc-

ing the story of the week

Language Land- Small Groups 9.25-9.40 (In Language Room)

9.40-10.15

Inside Free Choice

Inside Free Choice- Children can choose between different activities. There will be

a mixture of activities planned by staff from children’s

specific interests and needs. Some of the activities will be lead by member of staff

and some will be independent play activities.

10.30-

11.30

Free flow play between Inside and Outside. Children can choose between a variety of planned and independent activities both inside and

outside.

11.30-

12.00

Story Time in Groups- Wash Hands, Put Coats on ready for Dinner Time

12.10-

1.10

Dinner Time

1.10- 1.30 Story Time in Groups

1.30-

2.30

Free flow play between Inside and Outside. Children can choose between a variety of planned and independent activities both inside and

outside.

2.30-2.55 EYFS ‘Stars of

the Week’

Assembly

Story- Time, Get coats etc, Home Time

If your child has an accident it will be recorded and you will be in-

formed. If there is serious injury you will be notified

immediately.

Chandos follows the City Of Birmingham Child Protection

Procedures. We have an obligation to record bruising or other injuries

affecting a child and other agencies may be contacted.

Child Protection

Children with Additional Needs

We aim to include all children in Nursery whatever their

additional or special needs. We try to ensure that we treat each child as

an individual, providing a curriculum and

environment to meet all needs as far as is possible. We work in close

conjunction with the school Inclusion Manager Miss Anne Healy.

We work with many other professionals and agencies and are happy to

refer your child to them with your consent, if this is appropriate. We are

supported by speech therapists, visiting teachers, health visitors, social

workers and the educational psychologist for the school.

You will always be invited to meetings concerning your child and will

be fully informed. We believe in working in

partnership with you for the benefit of your child. No decision will be

made regarding your child without your full consent.

English as an Additional

Language

Many of our pupils have English as an Additional Language. Some

speak no English at all when they first arrive. Staff are available to sup-

port pupils and a range of translators can be contacted to support both

parents and children who do not speak English.

We are experienced at dealing with non English speakers both adults and

children and try at all time to ensure the lines of communication are as

open as they can be.

Parents

Parents are encouraged to play an active role in nursery life. By

working together we can deliver the best possible education for your

child.

Please read the Parents’ Notice Board for recent updated

information and upcoming events.

Weekly talk sheets suggesting ideas for activities at home will be

available.

Please come and join us for nursery assemblies and

productions.

During the year we hold several Parent meetings. At the end of the

year you will receive a written report and your child’s Learning Journal.

Equal Opportunities

We follow the school’s Equal Opportunities Policy which follow L.A.

guidelines and is relevant to the curriculum, staff

appointments and all school policies and practices.

We value all children equally and have high expectations of them. We

aim to provide a learning environment in which

children and families can share and celebrate our rich cultural diversity,

free from prejudice and discrimination.

We often take photographs in Nursery, perhaps to record a child’s inter-

ests or achievements. Similarly your child may be videoed during an as-

sembly or production. Again, please give your permission for this by

completing the form when asked.

Videos and Photographs

We value the importance of Early Years education. Your child’s edu-

cation, begun by you at home and continuing in the Nursery forms

the early stages of a life long process.

We hope you and your child will be very happy at Chandos Nursery.