WELCOME TO OUR NURSERY
Wishing Well Nursery is based at Stogursey C of E Primary School and serves Stogursey and the surrounding villages.
We have been fortunate in being able to equip the nursery with quality resources, carefully matched to a young child's needs and developmental stages.
There is a different range of resources in each area of the nursery to encompass the areas of learning: literacy and language, mathematics, knowledge and understanding of the world, physical development, personal and social education and creative and aesthetic.
Children participate in a range of activities and experiences which take into account their interests and value their achievements and which develop their physical, intellectual, emotional and social abilities.
Outside we share with the school a safe, secure grassed area and a tarmacadamed area We regard outdoor play as an integral part of our curriculum.
We aim to provide a welcoming and caring place, a beautiful stimulating environment with interested and interesting adults, who are sensitive to the needs of young children.
ADMISSION POLICY;
New children are admitted the term after they reach the age of 2 yrs 9 months.
If you would like a place at our Nursery, please contact us or Stogursey C of E primary school for an application form.
THE ROLE OF PARENTS/CARERS;
We regard parents/carers as valued partners. They are encouraged to visit the nursery prior to their child's admission. We believe it is vital that parents should have the opportunity to tell us about their child and to learn something about our nursery and what we are trying to achieve.
To help ease the transition from home to Nursery, we arrange to meet before the child begins nursery. During the term before your child is due to start, you and your child will be invited to spend 3 sessions with us at Wishing Well, to participate in and observe routines, the learning environment and the nursery in action.
CHILDREN'S LEARNING:
As a team, we try to provide a stimulating and happy environment where the children can play together in harmony. We hope that you will feel part of the team.
Children develop and learn faster in the first five years than at any other time, so it is vital that they have the opportunity to explore, make discoveries, share experiences and learn and practice basic skills.
A child's play is their work. As a child gets older their play becomes involved and complicated.
Many children gain confidence by watching and children's play patterns are all different. We hope the activities we offer are exciting, stimulating, fun and of course, educational.
LANGUAGE AND LITERACY:
We provide plenty of opportunities for imaginative play, e.g. home corner, shoe shop, hairdresser, to help children come to terms with the world around them, interact and explore emotions in a safe and secure setting.
Children have opportunities to share books and to listen to stories, to write together and with adults to explore how our language works, learning about the world and themselves.
MATHS:
We have a range of equipment, such as puzzles, games, construction sets, building blocks, dominoes, sorting equipment, threading. We spend time with the children explaining, questioning, singing number songs and sharing their play to extend their mathematical concepts of size, shape, colour, space, measure, pattern and early number.
KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD:
Raw material play - sand, water, clay, soil etc., is an important area in the nursery, where children can explore the properties of materials using their senses and a range of tools.
We hope to develop a nature garden outside and have nursery pets and plants, which the children can watch, develop and care for.
CREATIVE:
Children are encouraged to paint, draw, use scissors, make models, imagine and pretend. We hope to foster a love of beauty and give the children the skills to help express what they see, imagine and feel, as well as enjoy the
kinaesthetic aspect of making art. Creativity is vital in all areas of the curriculum and central to the needs of the child.
All activities are carefully planned, assessed and evaluated. We hold regular planning meetings to discuss how best to meet the children's needs and draw up schemes of work based on our nursery themes. We consider how best to ensure equality of opportunity for all children, to encompass ethnically diverse communities.
PHYSICAL:
Children have access to wheeled toys, climbing frames, large construction and found materials, so they may learn to cooperate and build, lift and carry, so developing gross motor skills. We are developing our outdoor area to provide the best possible opportunities.
Children sew, thread, write, cut, use dough and plasticine and paint as part of many activities. These refine their motor skills.
PERSONAL AND SOCIAL EDUCATION:
Snack is provided for the children mid-session. Children sit in small groups at a table. They are encouraged to be as independent as possible, spreading, cutting, sharing, washing up etc., and an adult sits with them to encourage the children to say 'please' and 'thank you'.. Snack also provides a way to get to know other cultures when the children try simple foods from a variety of places.
We sing songs and rhymes, listen to music, talk about feelings and our experiences, dance, go on visits, have visitors, share birthdays etc. Being part of a group is important, making friends and negotiating disputes and feeling positive about yourself are all important skills.
ATTENDANCE:
Wishing Well is open Monday to Friday.
Session times:
Mornings: 9.00am - 11.30am
Please let us know if your child is ill - a verbal message or telephone call is needed to explain an absence.
It is important that we have an up to date contact number and any relevant medical information i.e. food allergies, asthma, eczema, epilepsy etc., which may require special consideration.
Please send a written note for planned absences such as holidays.
We would prefer fees to be paid per half term in advance. Cash or cheques should be made payable to 'Wishing Well Nursery'.
DISCIPLINE:
Good discipline is based on relationships and easily understood rules. We encourage the children to have self-control and show them the skills to negotiate disputes and talk about the reasons for our rules.
In the nursery we try to:
- be kind and share
- walk indoors and be sensible, to keep us safe
- talk in quiet voices so everyone can be heard and listen
- keep our hands and feet to ourselves
PARENT HELPERS IN NURSERY:
What is a parent helper?
A Parent Helper is any Parent or guardian that can spare some time to help us with different activities as a volunteer.
What would I be expected to do?
Nothing you didn't feel comfortable with. You could help with anything that is part of a normal session - cooking, art/craft, playing games, reading stories. If you have any particular talents you would like to bring to the Nursery, please see the nursery supervisor.
Are there any jobs that need doing that don't involve working with children?
Yes, lots! - Photocopying, preparing paint or art and craft activities, sorting resources.
PARENTS AS PARTNERS:
We value parents as their child's first educator and all parents are encouraged to be Parent Helpers.Parents are welcome in Nursery at any time, but to avoid overcrowding and supervision problems, please make an appointment before coming in. Any offer of help either on a regular or occasional basis is greatly appreciated.
We believe an effective partnership between home and school is of great value.
We endeavour to keep you fully informed about Nursery Life. Please take the opportunity to be part of Nursery themes by keeping your eye on the notice board, participating in family 'Home Link' work and in fundraising events.
Many friendships start between parents and children who have started in nursery. It is a great way of getting to know people, especially if you are new to the area.
Any worries........
If you have any concerns or queries, do not hesitate to contact nursery staff. Also, please inform us of any changes in your child's life, so we can be sensitive to their needs.
The aim of the nursery class is to provide a safe, structured, happy environment where children will develop a sense of achievement and confidence through their learning.
Our planning for each half term, plus an overview of the 2-yearly cycle of themes, is displayed on the parent's notice board, so you may be involved with our work.
We look forward to working with you and your child at Wishing Well Nursery
Manager: Sari Pearse Assistants: Lesley Mowlem & Sharon Fewings Committee: Jan Bonus, Sally March, Brenda Wall and Sheila Cods