About St Paul's Nursery School
St Paul's Nursery School was established in 1993 since which time we have provided a loving and secure environment in which children can develop and become confident learners.
We are an inclusive nursery and welcome all children, celebrating the variety of cultures from which our children and staff are drawn.
We deliver the early years Curriculum (as followed in School Nurseries) through a variety of activities centred on the child. Through individual attention we seek to nurture each child's natural curiosity and imagination giving them opportunities to discover and learn independently.
Staff training and development is important to us, and we have a very low turnover of staff.
Babies and Children Under 3 Years
Choosing the right nursery for your child is one of the most important decisions you will make as a parent. We offer loving attention and want you to feel secure that your child is cared for in safe and enjoyable surroundings. The Baby, Tweenie and Toddler Rooms offer stimulating environments which encourage exploration and investigation through play.
We follow the Birth to Three Matters Framework as a guide to give each child the best possible start to becoming a competent learner and skilful communicator. We foster the child's natural curiosity and through interaction with adults and other children, children quickly develop skills, confidence and learning which will be the foundation for their future lives.
Babies in our care will be fed with the milk provided by parents at the times which fit with the routine established at home. Cuddling is an important feature of mealtimes but is not limited to those occasions. At weaning they will be given freshly pureed food, and as they become more able meals will be taken together at a table quickly establishing social interaction.
As soon as they are able meals are served together at a table with an adult at child level encouraging social interaction. The food our children eat affects every aspect of their lives: their health, mood, growth, behaviour and even their ability to concentrate. Good nutrition is as important as good taste and presentation, and we often find that children will eat food at Nursery that they will not try at home. Our qualified cook provides a balanced and healthy menu and uses fresh produce wherever possible. Need gold award logo . The menu plan is available for parents to view and we welcome comments.
At the end of each day parents are given a comprehensive report about their child's day and an opportunity to discuss their child's progress.
Children Over 3 Years
Children aged three to five years follow a broad-based curriculum following the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS as used in schools) which covers the six areas of learning:
- Personal, social & emotional development
- Communication, language & literacy
- Mathematical development
- Knowledge & understanding of the world
- Physical development
- Creative development
Play supports all aspects of the child's development. Children learn best by doing, and are encouraged to choose activities and make decisions as they engage with the different opportunities on offer. We respect and enable children to become autonomous and competent learners. They decide what area of the Pre-School rooms they want to play in, what materials or equipment they wish to use and then, through observation, staff can complement the self-determined learning that takes place. Staff will participate, demonstrate, offer choices, and encourage children to try out new skills. Through informal conversation and asking questions the children are introduced to new vocabulary and ideas.
Staff ensure that the rooms are kept safe and tidy, and they encourage children to return things to their rightful place after they have finished using them. We try to ensure that children are able to play outside as often as possible when the weather permits.
Early Years Foundation Stage
From September 2008 all childcare providers including Nursery Schools and Day Nurseries will work to the statutory framework set by the Department for Education and Skills known as the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). This strategy outlines that 'Every child deserves the best possible start in life and support to fulfil their potential' and the EYFS has been put in place to provide that assurance for all parents and carers of children from birth to five years.
Effective practice in the EYFS is built on four themes:
• A Unique Child
Every child is a competent learner who can be resilient, capable, confident and self-assured. The commitments are focused around development: inclusion; safety; and health and well-being.
• Positive Relationships
Children learn to be strong and independent from a base of loving and secure relationships with parents and/or a key person. The commitments are focused around respect; partnership with parents; supporting learning; and the role of the key person.
• Enabling Environment
The environment plays a key role in supporting and extending children's development and learning. The commitments are focused around observation, assessment and planning; support for every child; the learning environment; and the wider context - transitions, continuity, and multi-agency working.
• Learning and Development
Children develop and learn in different ways and at different rates. All areas of learning and development are equally important and inter-connected.
