Please find below some of our Frequently Asked Questions. If you have any queries please contact the school.
What shall my child wear?
They are going to be meeting paints, glues, clays, water and other materials that may possibly stain or mark clothing. Although we have protective clothing, your child is bound to get dirty, so don’t put them in their best clothing! Loose fitting trousers for boys is ideal, and sweat-shirts are excellent for most conditions.
We go out in almost every sort of weather, so your child will need a warm coat for autumn, winter and spring. Please make sure their name is clearly marked! Boots are not normally needed; training shoes are ideal year round. DO NOT let your daughter convince you that any sort of heel is a good idea; children lose their balance easily and can damage their ankles and hips permanently at an early age. Flat shoes, please.
Please remember, we try to encourage the children to learn through play inside and out, and getting a huger variety of experiences including frost, rain, hail, snow and mud! Please do not put your children in clothing or shoes that you will mind getting dirty!
What about toileting?
Most children are able and are encouraged to be independent to take themselves to our child-sized toilet when they need to. For this reason avoid belts and dungarees which can be difficult to get in and out of. If your child is still not completely reliable please let staff know. Most children without special needs find that they can manage by themselves well.
Is there any charge?
No; however, children who are entitled to 30 hours of ‘funded’ education actually receive 35 hours of education including lunch time supervision and therefore pay a £4 daily charge.
We do have a School Fund into which parents voluntary contribute £1 per week. This money is used exclusively in school, and supports the costs of daily healthy snacks, the replacement of equipment, and other small items as well as subsidising school trips and visits.
We report on our monthly newsletter how school funds have been spent and accounts are audited annually.
What about snack time?
We provide children with a drink of milk or water together with a small healthy snack, generally fruit or vegetables. Across the year we also offer food tasting activities and the children are also involved with baking activities.
Religious Education
We provide an ethos of a broadly Christian nature. We are extremely aware of other faiths and beliefs, and do not explicitly promote any faith, but an awareness of the richness of our multicultural society. If your beliefs prevent your child from joining in with birthday, Easter or Christmas celebrations, for example, please let us know.
Can I take my child on holiday in term time?
The short answer is Yes, at present early years education is optional, not compulsory. Please let us know when your child is going to be absent for holiday or the occasional day out. However, in the interest of keeping your child settled in school we do not recommend taking the child out on a regular basis, nor away for a long holiday soon after they have started Nursery, as it can be unsettling.
However, if a child is regularly absent without good reason (i.e. medical or family holiday), the school reserves the right to remove the child from the school roll and to offer the place to another child.
What if my child is ill?
When children first start to mix with other children they are liable to pick up illnesses of various sorts. Doing so is often beneficial as it helps build immunity in later life -tummy upsets, ear infections, sore throats are all very common.
Please keep your child off school when they are not well, and let us know on 01388 603006.
Starting at Nursery School can be quite stressful for a happy, healthy child. Feeling under the weather can make a child unhappy to come to school and can make it difficult for them to return even when they are well, as they tend to associate being unwell and feeling unhappy with being in nursery.
If your doctor diagnoses that your child has mumps, measles, chicken pox or other similar illness, please speak to the school to find out how long they have to be kept off school.
- If your child ever has sickness and/or diarrhoea they MUST be kept off school at least 48 hours after the last episode.
We are able to administer medication to children –we follow Local Authority guidance and you will be required to complete paperwork/a care plan at the office.
