St Sidwell's C.E. Primary School & Nursery

At St. Sidwell’s we are lucky to have a 26 place nursery, catering for three and four year olds. The nursery is part of an exciting Early Years Foundation Stage Unit, which is purpose built for nursery and Reception aged children where provision is of the highest quality. During the school's Ofsted inspection in March 2012, all aspects of the Early Years Foundation Stage were judged to be 'outstanding' - a real achievement. This followed a Local Authority quality mark award in July 2010 and a very high rating in a LA audit in 2011.

There is a spacious, secure outdoor learning environment where children can use large equipment and wheeled toys as well as benefit from structured play and learning activities. Indoors, the area is attractively laid out to stimulate young minds. The unit has the advantage that nursery and Reception children can work and play alongside one another and access learning opportunities that are appropriate to their needs and interests, led by any of the Foundation Stage staff.

We firmly believe that the nursery is part of the whole school and therefore nursery children have opportunities to take part in school activities and special assemblies or celebrations, if these seem appropriate. They use the main school hall for some of their “Leap into Life” P.E. lessons, usually attend one Infant assembly each week and interact with older children. In this way, nursery children become familiar with the building, with other adults in the school and with some of our expectations, all of which greatly assist transition transition if they continue at the school into Reception class.

Nursery Sessions

Parents/carers are entitled to 15 hours’ government funded nursery education each week. We try to be flexible and to accommodate parents’ wishes and offer a range of sessions for parents to choose from, including a full school day, as follows:

Mornings – 8.45 a.m. to 11.45 p.m. (3 hours)
Afternoons – 12.30 p.m. to 3.30 p.m. (3 hours)
All day – 8.45 a.m. to 3.30 p.m. (6 hours with 45 mins. free lunch time)

You are able to choose any combination that suits you, subject to availability, up to a total of 15 hours. Children who stay all day will need to bring a packed lunch but all those attending for only half a day will not eat lunch at school.

It is important to note that government funding entitles parents to only 15 hours in a nursery but we are able to sell surplus sessions so that your child could be in the nursery for as long as you wish. Governors have determined that the charge will be £12.00 per session (£4.00 per hour). If you wish to buy extra sessions, you need to commit to a term at a time, and pay weekly in advance (or in full if you prefer). Details of payment will be provided to those wishing to take up this option.

Please remember that we also have before and after school child care (Fun Club) available, at an extra charge. This means that our school is able to provide quality child care linked to nursery hours to enable your child to be in school from 8.00 a.m. to 5.45 p.m. if this is what you require.

Applying for a place in the Nursery

Parents/carers wishing to apply for a place for their child in the nursery need to read the governors policy on nursery admissions and complete an application form and return it to the school. Parents may take up their 15 hours free entitlement from the term after their child's 3rd birthday or purchase nursery hours from the term before their child's 3rd birthday.

A few weeks before your child is due to start in the nursery we will contact you to arrange a start date. We expect you to stay with your child for the first few sessions, until they feel secure and happy to be left. During your first visit, the nursery staff will make time to talk to you about your child and to answer any questions you may have. You will also be given a booklet to help you and your child settle in school.

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