Sessions
 
Attendance   Daily Activities

Children are normally admitted to the School at the beginning of the term in which their third birthday falls, either the Autumn term (September – December), Spring term (January – March) or Summer term (April – August).

Children may attend for 4/5 morning sessions, 3/4/5 afternoon sessions or 3/4/5 full days.

Morning Sessions - 9.00am - 12.00pm (3 hours).  

Maximum number of children 30, with two fully qualified teachers and three teaching assistants.

Afternoon sessions - 1.15pm - 3.45pm (2½ hours).

Maximum number of children 30, with two fully qualified teachers and three teaching assistants.  These sessions are shorter in duration, so they are suitable for the younger children, but the activities offered are similar to those in the mornings.  The afternoon sessions provide an ideal atmosphere for a child who may need his/her parent/carer to stay for longer during the settling in process.

Full Days - 9.00am - 3.45pm or 5.00pm.

The Nursery is registered as a daycare provider, and children may stay for the full day, bringing their own packed lunch.

  

All times are approximate

9.00am or 1.15pm

Staff welcome children, who are encouraged by a teacher to choose from a variety of activities, both indoors and outside, including those which are teacher guided.

10.15am or 2.15pm

Gather in Quiet Room for songs; tidying up jobs; Book time; Show and Tell time.

10.45am or 2.40pm

Drink and fruit time.

11.05am or 3.00pm

Outside play/garden activities.

11.30am or 3.20pm

Group time (group activity guided by teacher, including music, French and circle time).

11.50pm or 3.35pm

Story time.

12.00pm or 3.45pm

Going home time.

Wrap Around Care

12.00pm – 3.45pm or 5.00pm.

The Nursery has a partnership with the Vineyard Primary School, providing afternoon care for Reception children in the Autumn term. Children bring a packed lunch and then join the Afternoon session at the Nursery.

This facility is available for 2/3/4/5 sessions per week.

There is a limited number of places available, with preference given to ex- Maria Grey Nursery School children, working parents, parents who are students and children with special educational need.

Transition

1.30pm - 3.15pm (1¾ hours)

Subject to available places, children of at least 2½ years may attend for two shorter introductory afternoon sessions per week in the term before they are due to start at the Nursery, to familiarise themselves with the staff, environment and routine. 

The session is incorporated within the normal afternoon session.  Local Authority regulations state that children between 2½ and 3 years of age must be settled before separation occurs.  Therefore a parent or carer is expected to stay with the child until staff are satisfied that this has been successfully accomplished.

Lunch Cover

The morning session may be extended from 12.15pm to 1.15pm to cover lunchtime

 

 

Holidays

The School uses dates supplied by the local education authority to draw up its term times, and provides 36 weeks of schooling per year.   The term dates are broadly in line with those of state schools.

Staffing Ratios

Staffing ratios at the Nursery conform to the OFSTED requirements of 1:4 for under 3s and 1:8 for over 3s.

After Hours Care 

The afternoon and full day sessions may be extended from 3.45pm to 5pm.

Settling in 

Nursery School is usually your child’s first opportunity to socialise outside the family, and our aim is to make this transition a positive and easy step for you both.
Prior to entry, all new children and their parents/carers are invited to attend an open session or settling in visit.  Some children may need a parent/carer to stay initially for the first few sessions to settle them in to School.
It is desirable, although not a requirement, that children are toilet trained on entry to the Nursery School.