Nursery newstarter handbook

NurseryParent and Carer Handbook Aston Street, London E14 7NG Tel: 020 7790 1490 Email: [email protected]

Welcome!Welcome to Cayley Nursery. We look forward to working withyou and your child and hope that your time with us isrewarding and enjoyable.This booklet provides you with information which will enableyour child to settle happily into Nursery and to make the mostof his/her time with us. If you have any questions orconcerns, or would like more information about the FoundationStage (Nursery and Reception) or our school policies, pleaseask a member of our team and we will be happy to help! Contents  Our Mission  The Curriculum  Working Together and Settling Your Child  Health, Safety and Wellbeing  The Cayley Code of Conduct  School Uniform and Book Bags

The Cayley Mission:Cayley Primary School believes that everyone should be valued for his or her individuality, cultureand heritage and that they are encouraged to achieve their full potential in a stimulating,challenging and caring environment. In the Foundation Stage, we take a ‘Guidance Approach’ and aim to provide: Time for all children to engage in playful Opportunities for all children to develop their curiosity,exploration of real life and learning, based on thinking skills, creativity and communication. their interests and needs, both inside and We believe this will build their independence and decision outdoors; making, establishing an enthusiasm for learning based on offering experiences that are relevant, strong self-esteem and the confidence to ‘have a go’ and meaningful and connected. learn through mistakes.A setting in which we encourage all children to build respectful andpositive relationships with other people and their environment, guidingthem in resolving conflicts and establishing a sense of community andbelonging.

The CurriculumStaff plan a variety of learning experiences for children. They take place indoorsand outdoors. Adults support children’s learning and development during ‘free flow’child-led activities, and through adult-led group activities.These experiences are based on assessments of children, and the Early YearsFoundation Stage (EYFS) Framework; and SFA, the school’s Literacy programme –with the help of our character Curiosity Cat!Our weekly plans are on display in the Nursery. Please feel free to read these, tellus your ideas, and let us know your child’s significant experiences, interests anddevelopment outside school.The Nursery curriculum provides the basis for all future learning throughsupporting, developing and promoting children’s Personal, Social and Emotional Development Physical Development Communication and Language Literacy Mathematics Understanding the World Expressive Arts and Design.Young children learn best through their play, hands-on activities and talk. Ourcurriculum is based on this principle and we devote a great deal of time to ensurethat the experiences provided are purposeful and relevant. We offer the childrena range of interesting and fun experiences which allow them to ask questions, solveproblems, investigate, experiment, create, use their imagination, work together,discuss and explore. During their time in the Foundation Stage, the children haveopportunities to go on visits to a range of places both near to school and beyond,e.g. local play spaces, local shops and markets, places of worship, and transportcentres.

Working Together and Settling Your ChildAs a parent, you play an important role in the education of your child. We would like to work withyou to best meet his/her needs, during the very important settling in time, and onwards.We will:  Allocate your child a ‘Key Person’, who has special responsibility for developing a positive relationship with you and your child, and for your child’s learning and development.  Talk with you about settling your child into Nursery.  Be happy to speak with you about your child throughout his/her time in the Nursery.  Send out newsletters each term, and display information to let you know what is happening in the Nursery.  Arrange events and activities that you can enjoy with your child.  Provide ideas about supporting your child at home, and where to find help and advice.  Arrange special meetings with you once a term to discuss your child’s progress.  Work with you and the Inclusion Manager to support you and your child, if he or she has additional needs or a disability.You can:  Give your child some experience of being separated from you, before he/she joins Nursery. You could go along to the Whitehorse Play Centre, or leave your child with a friend or relative.  Talk with your child about starting school, and about the fun she/he will have, and what she/he will do.  Be ready to stay with your child and help him/her to feel secure enough to say ‘goodbye’. At first, you will be in the room, ready to help your child, and helping staff to get to know your child; it is best to be ‘there’ for your child, but not ‘too interesting’ as a play companion! You will then be invited to leave your child for a few minutes, and tell him/her when you will be leaving the room. For some children, settling in can take more than one session. Please be available to support your child.  Talk regularly with your child’s Key Person, especially during your child’s settling in time, so that we can make the best provision for your child, and support you both.  Let us know about any ideas or concerns you have during your child’s time in Nursery.  Talk with your child each day about what they have been doing, and stay positive. Remember that even if your child has been worried or upset, each day starts afresh.  Try the activities suggested in our holiday Family Homework, and in the termly and weekly newsletters. Encourage all your child’s efforts.  Share the books they bring home by talking about the pictures or telling a story.  Help your child to be independent, e.g. using the toilet, managing clothing, eating.  Talk with the staff about any skills you have (such as cooking, gardening etc), which you could share with the children in Nursery.  Come along to workshops and special events, to share activities with your child and find out more about supporting your child’s learning and development.  Join us on trips.

Health, Safety and WellbeingIt is important that your child is safe at school. Parents must use the entrance from theplayground to come to the classrooms and cannot access the rest of the building. Youmust inform a member of staff in advance if someone different will be collecting yourchild from school. Additionally if there are any changes in your home circumstances,please inform the Nursery Team. All information will remain confidential.If your child has an accident at school, they will be seen by a qualified First Aider. If theincident is serious or a cause for concern, you will be called immediately. It is thereforeessential that the School Office has the correct contact telephone number for you oranother family member.You will be informed of any less serious incidents at the end of the day. If your child hasany medical conditions such as asthma or an allergy, please inform the staff.Cayley is a ‘healthy school’, and our Nursery and Reception have ‘Healthy Early Years’status. We provide access to drinking water all day, and milk and fruit snacks are available.We have a healthy range of options for school dinner, including halal meat and vegetarianfood. We help your child to enjoy exploring different foods and eating alongside friends.If you wish to provide a packed lunch for your child, it will be stored, but not refrigerated,in the classroom until lunchtime. Please offer your child a healthy packed lunch, e.g.sandwiches, samosas, noodles, or pasta; fruit; and a biscuit or slice of cake; NO chocolateor sweets, please! A bottle of water is perfect; NO fruit juice or fizzy drinks, please!We celebrate special events from time to time, e.g. birthdays and festivals; and we offercooking activities. We keep party foods to a minimum and take into account children’sallergies to particular foods or ingredients. We will let you know beforehand when acelebration will take place, and about the foods we wish to share.Please see our healthy eating leaflets for more information.

The Cayley Code of ConductIn the Foundation Stage at Cayley, we take a ‘Guidance Approach’ to managingchildren’s behaviour.We remember that: Children are learners. When we’re learning, we make mistakes. Making mistakes leads to learning!Children behave as they do for many different reasons, such as their stage ofdevelopment, the strong feelings they have, or needing adults’ attention. At Cayley,we deal with children’s behaviour in two main ways:  Acknowledgement, when children are following the ‘Cayley Code of Conduct’, behaving well, and remembering to do the right thing.  Problem-solving, when children are having difficulties, and need support to resolve problems using the ‘stop, think, try it’ ‘problem-solving steps’.As parents, you are the experts on your children, and the valued contribution youmake is reflected in the ‘Parents and Carers’ section of our Code of Conduct Policy.We look forward to working with you to support your children as they begin theircareers at Cayley.  PARENTS AND CARERS • Talk to children about expectations for behaviour. • Ensure children get a good night’s sleep. • Share concerns they may have with their child’s teacher or a Learning Mentor. • Meet and discuss any behaviour incidents with the class teacher. • Ensure children have a healthy diet. • Support the school’s Code of Conduct policy.

School UniformStores such as Tesco or ASDA offer clothing in the Cayley uniform colours. Pleaseremember that your child will be involved in ‘messy’ hands-on activities in Nursery;but we do encourage the children to wear aprons at appropriate times.The Nursery children require Navy tracksuit bottoms Light blue polo neck t-shirt Navy jumper or fleece A Cayley School book bag (from Cool Kids, 40 Ben Jonson Road, and Khalsa Schoolwear, Bethnal Green Road) Underwear.We recommend that your child has a coat with a hood for outdoor play.Please ensure that your children can independently manage their clothing, e.g. undotheir trousers, to use the toilet; no belts please.It is important that your child wears closed shoes; NO flip flops. This is for theirsafety when climbing, running and playing outdoors. Jewellery should not beworn, for safety reasons.Please remember that your child’s name should be written in all items of uniformclothing.We will change your child if his/her clothes get wet. Please return the clothes thenext day for washing. If your child has a significant toileting accident, we willcontact you.Book BagsPlease ensure your child brings their book bag to school on Mondays and Thursdays.Your child will be given a book to share with you at home. Please make sure theseare treated with care. We will make a charge for any damage or loss.If you would like to know more about the information in this booklet, or any other school policies,please speak to your child’s Key Person or a member of the team.