Welcome to
St. Ninian’s
Nursery Class
Saint Ninian’s Nursery School
Douglas Rise, Dedridge
LIVINGSTON, EH54 6JH
Tel: 01506 414612
E-mail:
Web:
Head Teacher:Mrs Lisamaria Purdie
Nursery Teachers:Mrs Karyn Craig & Mrs Julie Caskie
Early Years Practitioners: Mrs Carol Beattie & Mrs Debbie MacDonald
Mrs Lisa Mushet, Mrs Susan Hogg and Miss Carrie Burns
School Secretary:Mrs Jackie Black and Mrs Lisa Baxter
OUR STAFF
Lots of Mums and Dads help us too!
We welcome parents in the Nursery Class. PVG approval is needed for parents who wish to work with the children in the nursery setting.
For your child to get the most out of his or her time in St.Ninian’s Nursery Class we need your help in many different ways.
Soon we will be asking you if you are willing to support us in our work.
Please come to class functions when you can and look out for the notices which let you know what is going on.
PARENTS
If your child is ill he or she is usually much better to be at home rather than in the busy workplace of the Nursery. In the event of a lengthy absence the nursery should be informed as soon as possible. Repeated irregular attendance may result in the withdrawal of the child’s nursery place. Parents must inform the Nursery as soon as possible if child will not be attending.
Simple First Aid is applied in school. If an accident needs a doctor’s attention we try to contact you first. Therefore we need an up to date address and telephone number where we can contact you.
Please let us know if your child has an infectious illness.
Chickenpox
Measles
Mumps
Rebella (German Measles)
Whooping Cough
Infective Hepatitis (Jaundice)
Diarrhoea
Please also let us know if you discover head lice in your child’s hair.
HEALTH
Car Parking and Nursery Entrance
WLC forbids the use of the school car park for setting down and collecting children. Parents bringing children by car should park in the car park adjacent to the Nursery and not in the road outside the school. The nursery entrance is situated at the side of the Nursery. Please do not enter or leave the Nursery via the main school building.
Bicycles
Children coming to nursery on bikes, scooters etc., must leave these outside padlocked to the fence. Unfortunately, we cannot store these inside the building. Please do not allow children to bring doll’s prams or personal toys.
Prams and pushchairs should be left outside!
Noticeboards
Information may be updated via the noticeboard or Nursery Newsletters. Please read the noticeboard regularly – it’s there to keep you up-to-date!
Parents are welcome to read our policies at any time. Please ask the nursery teacher if you have an interest in reading any policy statement and she will be only too happy to assist you.
CAR PARKING/ENTRANCE/BICYCLES/NOTICEBOARD
Snack
Milk or water and a tasty bite are provided for each child every day.
We are keen to encourage healthy eating and so fruit or vegetables or cheese is offered. When a small group of children cooks or bakes we select recipes which contain very little sugar and are low in fat.
Snack fees(£2.00 per week) should be paid each Monday. Most parents supplement the fees by giving extra money towards our funds, for which we are very grateful.
Please see that children have no sweets or chewing gum when you leave them at Nursery. They can cause choking or perhaps disputes between children.
Clothing
Make it easy for your child to go to the toilet. Dungarees and tight jeans are really difficult. Elasticated waists are perfect. The children should wear working clothes as they are likely to get stained. If they are afraid of getting dirty, they will hold back and miss valuable experiences. Please mark all clothing with your child’s name.
A change of footwear for indoors is essential. Black pull-on gym shoes are very good. These are easy for the children to manage themselves and give good grip. Please mark them clearly with your child’s name.
SNACK/CLOTHING
School Doctor
Dr McLellan is our doctor.
Health Visitor
We see Health Visitors from Dedridge Health Centre from time to time.
Child Guidance
We can get advice or help from the school psychologists.
School Dentist
During Dental Health Week the dentist and her helpers speak to the children to encourage them to look after their teeth.
Speech Therapist
We encourage the speech therapist to visit the school weekly.
PEOPLE WHO HELP US
Statement of Aims and Objectives
St. Ninian’s Primary School Nursery Class aims to create an environment where both children and parents feel welcome, cared for, secure, valued and respected: in which children are helped to develop positive attitudes towards learning experiences and each other by:-
- providing a safe, and stimulating environment in which the children will feel happy and secure
- encouraging the emotion, social, physical, creative and intellectual development of the children
- promoting the welfare of all children
- providing activities which encourage positive attitudes to health and well-being
- encouraging positive attitudes to themselves and others, regardless of colour or creed, and developing confidence and self-esteem
- creating opportunities for play
- providing opportunities for children to learn through the use of Information and Communication Technology
- encouraging children to explore, appreciate and respect their environment
- providing opportunities to stimulate interest and imagination
- extending the children’s abilities to communicate ideas and feelings in a variety of ways
- welcoming and encouraging parents to become actively involved in their child’s nursery experiences
OUR AIMS
It is believed that there is a close connection between play and learning. Play is seen as part of the learning process. It is through play that children acquire the knowledge, skills and attitudes they need to equip themselves for life in our society. Play is the way in which children demonstrate the mastery and control of what they have been learning. They come to terms with what they have come to know through play. This in turn helps children to grow in confidence. As a result children attempt new goals and further learning takes place.
In nursery, children are given the opportunity to explore and play in their own way and in their own time. Emotional balance is maintained through play because of the outlet it gives for the expression of feelings and release from strain. Play is an integration of learning. It arises spontaneously, is flexible and varied, enjoyable and done for its own sake.
Nursery staff value play as it provides opportunities for development in a child. The child chooses when and where to work in the different areas in the Nursery class, whilst the adult uses skills of observation and professional knowledge to find each child’s stage of development and how he may be helped to learn.
A copy of the Nursery activities isdisplayed weekly on the notice board for your information.
PLAY AND LEARNING
Observations, photographs and work produced by your child will be used to build up their Learners Journey. This working document profiles the children’s achievements within the early level of Curriculum for Excellence. There will be an opportunity for you to discuss this working profile with staff at Parents’ Evenings. You are free to discuss your child’s Learners Journey with staff at any time and we would encourage you to contribute towards it.The Learners Journey will help the child’s teacher in Primary One to build on the child’s earlier experiences and achievements.
RECORDING AND REPORTING YOUR CHILD’S PROGRESS
We work in one large playroom with thirty children and three staff: one teacher and two nursery nurses. Outdoor play is available every day, weather permitting, after the first half hour of each session. Children should come to Nursery dressed appropriately for the weather, i.e. rain jackets, hats, gloves etc
Our discipline policy is planned to help children to achieve a balance between being assertive and considering the needs and feelings of others. That is, encouraging children to do what they wish to do without hurting or taking advantage of others. THIS IS A VERY DIFFICULT GOAL TO ACHIEVE.
- All our children are young and we aim to help them to be confident, therefore, as we encourage them to think of others, we must do so in a very positive way. For example:
“Please wait until Paul has finished sewing and then it will be your turn”.
rather than:
“No you cannot sew. There is no room at the table”.
- The adults respect each other and respect each child. This caring attitude shown by adults strongly influences the way children behave.
- Children who are in their second year of nursery education have opportunities to give help and support to younger or less able children.
- Hitting, kicking, grabbing, pushing or biting are all responses made when little children feel angry, frightened, frustrated or insecure. We are about the social and personal development of each child. We are trained and experienced to help children to express their feelings in a more sociable way: by talking about how they feel, by thinking about how the other person is feeling, by suggesting that they play elsewhere for a time.
- Swearing. Your children are learning to communicate by listening and talking. They will hear swear words in the street, at the shops, in school or at home. We completely ignore the odd bad word we hear as experience has taught us that if we make a fuss it is much more likely to be repeated.
Children very soon learn what is accepted and what is not. If there is a problem with behaviour or language we will let you, the parents, know. We can then work closely with you to help your child to progress.
DISCIPLINE
Your child will be feeling really excited about starting nursery but when he or she comes there may be a few difficulties. To begin with he or she may find it difficult to mix with other children. Leaving you might really worry him or her. At first your child may leave you quite willingly and happily but later want you to be with him or her. The different lavatories or hanging up his or her coat alongside other children’s could upset him or her.
What can you do to help?
Explain to your child that you will be taking him or her to nursery every day (in case he or she thinks it will finish after a day or two!). It’s very natural for you to have worries about how your child will get on. Please don’t let your child know about it. Encourage your child by letting him or her know you’re sure he or she will have fun.
Let your child know that you will be going to nursery together. We can delay any talk about leaving him or her until your child knows the adults who will care for him or her and also the building itself. When you are in the playroom with your child let him or her see from the start that the staff and other children will look after him or her. You are there to comfort – reassure – encourage.
Some children are really distressed if they think they are being left. Assureyour child you are staying by taking off your coat/cardigan. When you and your settling member of staff agree that you can leave, tell your child, tell the member of staff and leave straight away. The first separations will be short and your child will be reassured to know exactly what you will be doing while you are away, e.g. buying something for his tea; washing the dishes, etc.
What can we do to help?
You and your child will have one member of staff who is especially interested in helping your child to settle happily into the nursery routine. During the first few weeks she will watch your child to see what interests him or her, who he or she plays with and what (if any) worries they may have.
Your member of staff will work closely with you to try to help your child to make a happy start. Your child and yourself will most probably develop a special relationship with this member of staff as she will work closely with your child at Group Time throughout the year.
Can we help more?
The closer we work together, the better it will be for your child. Help us to help your child by telling us about anything at nursery that may be worrying you. Please do not hesitate to ask if there is anything you wish to know. You are most welcome to drop in at any time.
HELP YOUR CHILD TO SETTLE
PRE-SCHOOL PROVISION – EARLY LEARNING & CHILDCARE
All three and four year olds in Scotland are entitled to 600 hours in a year of Local Authority funded nursery provision. Parents will therefore have the option to use new extended sessions in addition to the current core time which is available in nursery. During these extended sessions, a healthy breakfast will be provided in the morning and a healthy snack in the afternoon. These snacks are in addition to the usual nursery snack and are being funded by the council.
To provide flexibility for children and families, parents can start the children earlier or collect them later to suit their own family circumstances. However,there will be a core time when all children should be present.
Core Hours
Please note that Friday afternoons are utilised for in-service training. Nursery core sessions are therefore as follows:-
AM PM
Monday8.40 - 11.1012.00 – 3.08
Tuesday8.40 - 11.1012.00 – 3.08
Wednesday8.40 - 11.1012.00 – 3.08
Thursday8.40 - 11.1012.00 – 3.08
Friday8.40 – 11.10No Nursery Session
It is important that you arrive promptly at the start of each session so that each child can look around, make choices or find friends before all the children are settled and busy but please do not arrive too early.
NURSERY TIMES
Extended Sessions
AM Session (Mon-Thurs) 8.05-8.40am
Friday 8.05-8.40am and 11.10-11.33am
PM Session (Mon – Thurs) 3.07 – 3.57pm
A healthy breakfast will be provided to the children using this flexible service in the initial part of the morning. Breakfast will be served between 8.05am and 8.35am. This will allow sufficient time for the children to eat breakfast and for staff to clear the area in advance of core time starting.
Should you wish to use these extended flexible sessions, then we would be grateful if you could let us know by signing up on our wall chart on the parents’ notice board. This will allow us to ensure that we are buying the appropriate amount of resources to cater for the needs of the service.
PROMPT COLLECTION OF CHILDREN
The prompt collection of children is always something which we would encourage to avoid distress to the children. When parents start to arrive at nursery, some children can become anxious and upset until their parent arrives. To prevent this, we would ask you to collect your child in the last 15 minutes of the session. This will also ensure that you have sufficient time to change your child’s footwear, put on outdoor clothing and be clear of the building by the appointed time. With the provision of extended hours, this will also be increasingly important from a practical perspective as the change over period between morning and afternoon sessions will be limited. During this time, staff must liaise about the progress made by the children during the session and also ensure that the areas are clean and tidy for the next children coming in. It is essential therefore that the session times are strictly adhered to and we appreciate you support in helping us to ensure that we are delivering the best service for the children in both session.
Nursery children should be brought and collected by a responsible adult (over 16 years of age). Please let us know if someone different will be collecting your child.
Please make sure that the door into the Nursery itself is tightly closed.
School term dates and holidays can be accessed online at:
PROMPT COLLECTION OF CHILDREN
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