dounby community school nursery · the early years of children’s lives are ones of rapid growth...
TRANSCRIPT
DOUNBY COMMUNITY
SCHOOL NURSERY
PARENTS’
HANDBOOK
TIMES
MORNING SESSIONS
Monday - Friday 9.20 am - 11.50 am
Arrival time 9.10 am for a prompt 9.20 am start
Collection time 11.40 am (for 10 minute sharing time) Please be here for 11.40 am.
AFTERNOON SESSIONS
Monday - Friday 12.55 pm - 3.25 pm
Arrival time 12.50 pm (children should not arrive earlier)
Collection time 3.15 pm (for 10 minute sharing time) Please be here for 3.15 pm
Parents can wait in the Parents’ Room until classes begin or end. Please come in to the
class and have a look around to see what your child has been doing on collection.
STAFF
Mrs Nicola Moar Class Teacher
Mrs Helen Johnstone Class Teacher
Mrs Phyllis Ballantyne Early Years Worker
INTRODUCTION The early years of children’s lives are ones of rapid growth and development. They
enter pre-school with a significant background of learning experiences within their
family and with friends, neighbours and relatives. Many of a child’s most valuable
experiences will continue to take place in the home and the community. Staff in the
pre-school classes are therefore working in partnership with parents in developing
children’s learning.
The vital contribution of pre-school education lies in developing and broadening the
range of children’s learning experiences, to leave them confident, eager and
enthusiastic learners who are looking forward to starting school.
CLOTHING
In order to encourage independence in toileting and changing for Gym please dress
your child in clothes which do not have too many fastenings.
All clothes and footwear must be named.
Each child will need
1. A suitable bag for carrying library books and gym kit.
2. Access to soft supportive shoes on a daily basis, preferably with easy
fastenings. These can be stored in trays if you wish.
3. Shorts and T-shirts for Gym. Children should carry shorts in their bag every
day.
4. Please provide spare pants, socks and trousers in case of an accident.
5. It would be helpful if all children bring rubber boots for outdoor play when
conditions are wet. They can be left in school.
6. We have waterproofs in school for the children to wear when needed.
SNACKS
Snacks are provided during each session.
Snack money will be collected weekly on Monday morning/afternoon. At present the
charge is 40p daily - £2 for a 5 session week.
The children help in the preparation of the snacks which are varied and nutritious eg
baking, fruit, raw vegetables, plain biscuits etc.
Milk is provided free to all Nursery children by the government. If your child cannot
drink milk then he/she can have water.
NAME BOARD
Each child is asked to ‘sign in’ by touching their own photo on the screen of our electronic
whiteboard on arrival. This is a valuable means of discussing the names of the children
within the class.
LIBRARY BOOKS
To foster children’s interest in books they are encouraged to take a library book
home. The importance of looking at picture books, learning Nursery Rhymes and
reading daily to your child cannot be stressed enough.
Please ensure that all books are looked after and returned. The Kirkwall Library’s
policy is that lost books must be replaced. Book Fairs are held in the school on a
regular basis.
STORYSACKS
Storysacks will be offered to the children/parents of the Pre-school Class from
October-March. These are a valuable resource, which give parents and children the
opportunity to enjoy books and games together.
The children in the Nursery Class will be given a smaller sack with jigsaws, games or
books.
Story sacks will be given on a Thursday to be returned on a Tuesday. Each child can
borrow only one sack at a time. Can we kindly request that lost or badly damaged
items be replaced.
AIMS
In the curriculum we aim to:
provide a broad and balanced curriculum through a variety of appropriate and
stimulating experiences
In development and learning through play we aim to:
provide a stimulating learning environment which offers opportunities for
learning through play
In support for children and families we aim to:
be responsive to the support needs of children and families and be sensitive to
individual circumstances
In our nursery community we aim to:
Create a climate where mutual trust, respect, confidence and a caring ethos
are evident to children, parents and staff
VISION
Thinking, Learning
Community: We value happiness, health,
justice, effort, questioning, creativity,
equality and respect.
We are aware that the development and
learning needs of the children in the Nursery
Class vary from those children nearing school
age. Activities in both classes are
differentiated to suit each child’s ability.
Where children are in mixed classes the same
applies. Activities for pre-school children
are more structured.
A CURRICULUM FOR EXCELLENCE
The new Scottish curriculum implemented within the classroom sets out for the first
time values, purposes and principles for the curriculum 3-18.
It sets out to enable children and young people to develop their capacities as
successful learners, confident individuals, responsible citizens and effective
contributors. It provides us with an important opportunity to improve early education
for all children. We have an opportunity to ensure that all children in pre-school
experience stimulating effective learning in ways that are appropriate to their needs.
The starting point for all learning is the child. When your child starts the pre-school
classes we hope to build on the learning experiences you have given your child at home
and in the community and the wider world. Just as children will vary in the
achievements that they bring to pre-school education, they will also develop and
progress at different rates.
Play is the principle means of bringing together the variety of ways in which children
learn, eg exploring, observing, listening and talking.
The children’s development and learning is planned in the following subject areas:
Health and wellbeing Sciences Literacy and English
Religious and moral education Social studies Technologies
Numeracy and maths Expressive arts
Health and Wellbeing & Religious and Moral education
This is the most important area of the curriculum. We aim to provide a secure and
caring environment, where children can explore new ideas. We hope that the children
will develop confidence and fully enjoy the activities planned for them. Through their
involvement with staff and other children, they will be aware of the needs and
feelings of others in the classroom, and learn to play co-operatively and to share.
They will build friendships with children and form positive relationships with staff
and other school staff members. As time goes on they will become more independent
in looking after their belongings, dressing/undressing for gym, personal hygiene etc.
They will learn the importance of rules and the need for them. They will also soon
become aware of expected behaviour.
Literacy and English
We will ensure that through their play and day to day group activities that the
children are encouraged to listen and talk to other children and adults. They will
listen to stories, songs and rhymes. There will always be books available for children
to look at in class and at home.
Computer Programs will provide opportunities for developing both literacy and
numeracy. The use of computer packages will allow children to be introduced to basic
computing skills.
They will learn to listen and pay attention to information and instructions from adults.
Drawing is encouraged and there will always be a good supply of paper, pencils and
pens in the drawing and writing area. We are pleased to have children bring up
drawings which they have done at home to show the children in the class and display
in the Writing Corner.
Numeracy and Maths, Sciences, Social Studies & Technologies
We shall be encouraging the children to be
aware of the world around them and show an
interest in animals, plants, flowers etc. Their
powers of observation will be developed
through using their senses. Asking questions,
experimenting and solving problems will
broaden their knowledge of simple
mathematical language, counting and how things
work. We develop mathematical skills through
play. Children take part in counting games,
computer games, sorting shapes, weighing and measuring activities.
Expressive Arts
The children will be given the opportunity to paint and draw, make models with clay
and junk, make collage pictures and work co-operatively on large wall pictures.
They will be encouraged to take pride in their
efforts which will either be taken home or
displayed in the class.
We shall be making music by singing, clapping rhythms and playing percussion
instruments! Singing games and movement to music will also be enjoyed.
We aim to provide a stimulating environment for role play, imaginative games and
drama.
Health and Wellbeing (gross and fine motor development)
Children’s hand control will be developed
through handling scissors, pencils, brushes
and crayons. (Activities such as baking,
woodwork, playdough and clay will also
develop this skill.) Construction materials,
jigsaws and threading help improve hand-
eye co-ordination.
Energetic play in the outdoor area is an
important part of physical development.
We shall regularly be using the gym for
running and ball games, and the large
equipment to gain confidence in balancing,
climbing and jumping.
HEALTH AND SAFETY
It is important to let us know if your child has an allergy to any food or material or
suffers from a condition such as glue ear, asthma or epilepsy. You will be asked to
complete a form when your child enters Nursery and any medical details need to be
included.
A speech therapist visits school regularly and will see children who could benefit
from activities with her.
We ask for emergency contact numbers for parents and a relative or friend who lives
locally whom we can contact if the parent is not available.
If your child is not well or absent for another reason please inform the Nursery by
telephone, or by sending a message with another parent or child in the school.
We have been advised by the Department of Environmental Health that children who
have been absent with sickness and diarrhoea should remain off school for 48 hours
after recovery.
Unfortunately we are no longer allowed to accept baking/birthday cake from home to
share with the children in the classes. However we can still have some!!
Please let us know
o changes of address or telephone number
o changes in emergency contact
o changes in home circumstances that could affect your child eg death of a
grandparent, hospital admission etc
o worries you may have about your child
It is important that parents remember always to close the gate when they come into
the outside area of the Nursery.
PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT
Parents are welcome to visit the class and parental help will be enlisted when
required. We invite parents to accompany children on outings, assist with craft work
and woodwork, bake with small group, supervise computer games etc. Regulations
dictate that all parent helpers must be checked by the SCRO (Scottish Criminal
Records Office). If you are willing to have this done please contact the school
office.
Throughout the year parents and staff have opportunities to share and exchange
information about their child’s progress:
There are Parents’ Evenings for parents of children in the pre-school class. There is
an opportunity for parents of children in the pre-school class to meet with the class
teacher once per term. There is an Open Afternoon each term for Nursery children
and parents. This is in addition to the chats we have with parents as they come in
with or pick up their child. These informal moments are very highly valued by all
staff.
In the Parents’ Room there are books and leaflets to inform parents and give ideas to
help them in the very important part they play in their child’s education.
Parents are encouraged to offer ideas for theme related activities. We welcome
books and related materials from home. This type of involvement from parents also
stimulates the children’s interest.
WORKING WITH OTHER PROFESSIONALS
We work closely with the Health Visitor based at Dounby Surgery and meet up on a
monthly basis. We also work closely with Occupational therapists and
Physiotherapists to support children who may have physical difficulties or movement
and co-ordination problems that may cause them barriers to certain activities. The
therapists are here to advise us on children’s needs and any specific referral to these
therapists would only take part with parental consent.
We also feel it is important to work closely with our Support for Learning staff to
develop children’s skills in a range of areas. We regularly seek advice from
Educational Psychologists to help us to support and meet a range of children’s
different learning styles.
Our school Speech and Language Therapist is Laura Cunningham. She is in school on a
Monday each week and works with a range of pupils. Speech and Language Therapy
can benefit children who have difficulties with any aspect of communication, such as
listening, understanding what others are saying, using language to make sentences and
have conversations, pronouncing words clearly, and stammering. Laura works
individually with pupils who have already been referred to the Speech and Language
Therapy service and as part of her routine work in school she advises school staff on
communication within the classroom. She can also help teaching staff identify any
children who may have difficulties with their communication. Laura may chat or play
informally with pupils as part of this routine work. If you wish to discuss the role of
the Speech and Language Therapist further, Laura would be happy to do this with
you.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
As the Parents’ Room is beside the learning support area of the school it is important
that the pre-school and nursery children as well as their younger siblings are not too
noisy when arriving or departing. We want the children to be aware of other people
in the school.
Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland (SCSWIS) Complaints Procedure
The Dounby Community School Nursery is registered as a care service with Social
Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland.
The Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care, known as the Social Care and
Social Work Improvement Scotland (SCSWIS) has been set up to improve the quality
of care services in Scotland.
How to make a complaint
In the first instance any complaints or concerns should be discussed with the
Nursery Class Teacher, who will report any issues to the Head Teacher. If you are
not satisfied with the outcome of discussions with school staff you can contact Social
Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland (SCSWIS) at the address below:
Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland (SCSWIS)
Compass House
11 Riverside Drive
Dundee
DD1 4NY
Tel: 01382 207100
Fax: 01382 207289