Pre-School Department

Here we provide a happy, relaxed atmosphere in which we aim to develop the knowledge, skills and understanding laid down in the Early Learning Goals published by the QCA. The goals emphasise: children's personal, social and emotional development; the children's knowledge and understanding of the world and their physical and creative development.

Because we are active members of the local EYDCP, parents are entitled to a nursery education grant termly, and the setting is regularly inspected and reported upon by OFSTED.

We operate two separate groups, the afternoon Nursery and the morning Kindergarten. The afternoon session serves the younger children, those who have their third birthday after the beginning of the academic year. The emphasis is on gaining independence away from home, learning to communicate with adults and other children, and gaining the confidence to be able to benefit fully from a complete year on moving into the Kindergarten.

In the Kindergarten, the Nursery group together with a few children from outside gain from a full year's Pre-School experience. The sessions are more structured and pre-reading, pre-writing and number work take precedence. The Kindergarten children enjoy the same break time as the Infants, and join in other activities such as Sports Day, as appropriate.

In the early stages of Nursery education, parents are welcome to spend time helping their children to settle, thereby strengthening the bond between family, child and school.