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Overstone Park School
Crèche, Nursery and Pre-Preparatory Department
Crèche 3 months – 2 Years
Nursery 2 - 3 Years
Pre-Preparatory Department 3 years - School Age
Our Emblem
Knowledge and wisdom is something you’ll find.
A precious being of our Children’s mind.
A dove with a twig, flying away;
Is a bird that learns new things each day.
Building their home with love and care,
Is something we really all could share.
Children to you, ‘little birds’ we found
Will grow to be wise, happy and sound.
A warm welcome to Overstone Park Creche, Nursery and Pre-Preparatory school. Within this department children are aged between 3 months to School age (rising 5 years).
With our dedicated team, our aim is to build confidence and self-esteem, and to ensure that your child’s pre-school experience is stimulating and enjoyable.
We cater for children of all abilities, they are all talented, all equal and all special. We would be most pleased to show you each group in action. Learning Through Fun and Adventure Outdoors In over 12 acres of beautiful Parkland surrounded by acres and acres of farmland. As farm animals graze in the fields, our babies and toddlers and our adventurous pre-school pupils climb, run and jump and play in a safe environment. They are stimulated and challenged in many different ways. A safe enclosed adventure play area ensures that they are always well supervised and well cared for indoors and outdoors. Natures trails and teddy bear picnics are merely two of the many activities which are enjoyed by all pupils. Qualified and caring staff members encourage each pupil to develop to their full potential. Learning is constructive and creative in a warm and caring environment. Modern and traditional teaching methods are used, with some emphasis given to Montessori techniques. Crèche (3 months to 2 years)
Babies and toddlers are cared for in small groups to ensure that their every need is attended to. Each child is seen as an individual, with special unique qualities to develop and enhance learning through experience and educational play. We have a 1:3 ratio. Babies and Nursery Nurse bond on a personal level. They are much loved and are kept busy and active throughout the day both indoors and outside, to ensure a happy and fun packed environment in the crèche. In a warm and caring environment, babies and toddlers become very sociable. Fun and adventure, socialising and exploring are the main aims in our crèche; supported by the ‘Birth to Three Years Matters’ and ‘Early Years Guidance’.
Linen, food and beverages
Parents are expected to provide baby food and beverages until babies are weaned Food and beverages are provided inclusive of the fees.
All meals are cooked on the premises, they are healthy, nutritious and creative. We cater for all dietary needs. Good table manners are encouraged at meal times. Fluids– Milk and Fruit Juice (without additives or colourings), are provided 3 to 4 times daily, with water available at all times.
A high standard of hygiene will be ensured at all times. Cot linen and bibs are washed regularly. All baby equipment is kept clean and well maintained, with all utensils being sterilized. Each baby will be provided with his/her cot, which will be used only at ‘sleep time’. Babies and toddlers are cared for in a stimulating learning environment.
Creche Daily Routine
Morning
7.30-8.50am Activities: Television, Floor and Table
Toys, Games and Cuddly Toys
9.50-9.00am Self Management- Nappies, Toilet
Training, Hand Washing and Aprons
9.00-9.15am Breakfast Time
9.15-9.30am Assembly- Stories and Songs based on a
weekly theme (Christian Ethos)
9.30-10.30am Learning Session: Number Activity
Sheets, Imaginative Play, Sand and
Water or Colouring
10.30-11.00am Outdoor Play- Bikes, Slides Climbing
Frames (If Dry). Construction Toys,
Imaginative Play and inside climbing (If Wet)
11.00-11.30am Puzzles and Table Games
Creative Activities- Painting, Free or
directed Drawing, Colouring in etc.
11.30-11.45am Self Management-Nappies, Toilet
Training, Hand Washing and Aprons
11.45-12.30pm LUNCH/DINNER TIME
Self Management-Nappies, Toilet
Training, Hand Washing and Aprons
Afternoon
12.30-2.00pm Sleepy time- Television/DVD, Quiet
Table Games, Cuddly toys, Home
Corner
Self Management- Nappies, Toilet
Training, Hand Washing
2.00-2.50pm Outdoor Play- Ball games, Sea-Saw etc
if dry OR Story and Song Time if wet.
2.50-3.00pm Self Management-Nappies, Toilet
Training, Hand Washing and Aprons
3.00-3.30pm TEA TIME
Self Management-Nappies, Toilet
Training, Hand Washing and Aprons
3.30-4.00pm Outdoor Free Play / Indoor Music and
Movement /Home Corner /DirectedPlay
4.00pm-5.00pm General Educational Play- Large Floor
Puzzles, Instruments, Push and Pull
Along Toys, Baby Gym, Large Duplo,
Touch Telephones, Educational
TV/DVD- Childrens Favourites
5.00-6.00pm Activities- Activity Quilt, Soft Toys and
Balls, Texture Blocks, Shape Sorter
and Cloth Books. Story Time.
Nursery (Aged 2 to 3 years)
The transition from Crèche to Nursery is gentle and gradual, for a sound foundation is laid in the crèche for the building and development of Nursery life. Qualified and caring staff members encourage each pupil to develop to their full potential. Learning is constructive and creative in a warm and caring environment. Modern and traditional teaching methods are used, with some emphasis given to Montessori techniques. All activities reflect the ‘Birth to 3 Years: Early Years Curriculum’.
Pupils experience a wide variety of activities throughout each day, as shown on the Nursery daily routine, which is not regimented, but flexible and adaptable to each pupils needs. Small groups ensure that each pupil is given individual care and attention. We place a high emphasis on firm discipline, good manners and etiquette.
A large range of modern educational toys and equipment are used; each designed to make learning constructive, effective and Fun.
Items Include:
¨ Musical Instruments
¨ Computers
¨ Books
¨ Table Games– jigsaws and puzzles etc.
¨ Construction toys– Duplo, Stickly-bricks etc.
¨ Large toys– bikes, cars, climbing frames etc.
All designed and used to stimulate interest in every child.
From Nursery to Pre-Preparatory (3 years to rising 5's)
Pupils are eligible for the Pre-Preparatory department at the age of 3 years. Pupils within this department are given the opportunity to not only intergrate with pupils within year one, but to use the facilities within both the Pre-preparatory and Preparatory Departments. In well resourced bright and inviting rooms our pre-school pupils are encouraged to develop with a well planned curriculum and with regular assessments and reports they are gently guided successfully onto school life between the ages of 4 and 5 years. Emphasis is placed on the Six Early Learning Areas: Language and Literacy Mathematics Knowledge and Understanding of the World Personal and Social Development (etiquette and good manners) Physical Development Creative Deveopment Pupils experience a wide variety of activities throughout each day, as shown on the Pre-Preparatory-Reception department daily routine, which is not regimented, but flexible and adaptable to meet the needs of each pupil. Small groups ensure that each pupil is given individual care and attention. We place a high emphasis on firm discipline, good manners and etiquette. A large range of modern educational toys and equipment is used; each designed to make learning constructive, effective and fun. Items include: Musical Instruments Computers Books Table Games - jigsaws, puzzles etc. Construction toys - Duplo, Stickly-bricks etc. Large toys - bikes, cars, climbing frame etc. All are designed and used to stimulate interest in every child. Nursery Classes Swans "they are lively and enthusiastic about their world" Larks "they have inquisitive minds" Cuckoos "they are explorative and adventurous" Facilities and Activities
A wide range of toys and games are provided to cater for all stages of our pupil’s development. Individual cots are provided for our babies. Play Dough Water Play Books and Story Time Nature Walks Alphabet Numbers Speech Drama Singing Music & Movement Use of General Educational Equipment ...and much, much more Pre-Preparatory DepartmentThe Curriculum
Personal and Social Development
We focus on children learning how to work, play co-operate with others and function in a group beyond the family. They cover important aspects of personal, social, moral and spiritual development, including the development of personal values and an understanding of self and of others. They should be interpreted in the context of the values by the adults including the parents, involved with each setting.
Our children are confident, show appropriate self-respect and are able to establish effective relationships with other children and with adults. They work as part of a group and independently, are able to concentrate and seek help where needed. The are eager to explore new learning, and show the ability to initiate ideas and to solve simple practical problems. They demonstrate independence in selecting an activity or resources and in dressing and personal hygiene. Our children are sensitive to the needs and feelings of others and show respect for people of other cultures and beliefs. They take turns and share fairly. They express their feelings and behave in appropriate ways, developing and understanding of what is right, what is wrong and why. They treat living things, property and their environment with care and concern. They respond to relevant cultural and religious events and show a range of feelings, such as wonder, joy or sorrow, in response to their experiences of the world. Language and Literacy We cover important aspects of language and development and provide the foundation for literacy. Children must be helped to acquire competence in English as soon as possible, making use where appropriate of their developing understanding and skills in other languages. The outcomes focus on children’s developing competence in talking and listening and in becoming readers and writers. Other areas of learning also make a vital contribution to the successful development of literacy. In small and large groups, children listen attentively and talk about their experiences. They use a growing vocabulary with increasing fluency to express thoughts and convey meaning to the listener. They listen and respond to stories, songs, nursery rhymes and poems. They make up their own stories and take part in role play with confidence. Children enjoy books and handle them carefully, understanding how they are organised. They know that words and pictures carry meaning and that English print is read from left to right and from top to bottom. They begin to associate sounds with patterns in rhymes, with syllables, and with words and letters of the alphabet by shape and sound. In their writing they use pictures, symbols, familiar words and letters to communicate meaning, showing awareness of some of the different purposes of writing. They write their names with appropriate use of upper and lower case letters. Mathematics We cover important aspects of mathematical understanding and provide the foundation for numeracy. They focus on achievement through practical activities and on using and understanding language in the development of simple mathematical ideas. Our children use mathematical language, such as circle, in front of, bigger than and more, to describe shape, position, size and quantity. They recognise and recreate patterns. They are familiar with number rhymes, songs, stories, counting games and activities. They compare, sort, match, order, sequence and count, using everyday objects. They recognise and use numbers to 10 and are familiar with larger numbers from their everyday lives. The begin to use their developing mathematical understanding to solve practical problems. Through practical activities children understand and record numbers, begin to show awareness of number operations, such as addition and subtraction, and begin to use the language involved. Knowledge and Understanding of the World We focus on children’s developing knowledge and understanding of their environment, other people and features of the natural and made world. They provide a foundation for historical, geographical, scientific and technological learning. Our children talk about where they live, their environment, their families and past and present events in their own lives. They explore and recognise features of living things, objects and events in the natural world and look closely at similarities, differences, patterns and change. They show awareness of the purposes of some features of the area in which they live. They talk about their observations and ask questions to gain information about why things happen and how things work. They explore and select materials and equipment and use skills such as cutting, joining, folding and building for a variety of purposes. They use technology, where appropriate, to support their learning. Physical Development We focus on children developing physical control, mobility, awareness of space and manipulative skills in indoor and outdoor environments. They include establishing positive attitudes towards a healthy and active way of life. Our children move confidently and imaginatively with increasing control and co-ordination and an awareness of space and others. They use a range of small and large equipment and balancing and climbing apparatus, with increasing skill. They handle appropriate tools, objects, construction and malleable materials safely and with increasing control. Creative Development We focus on the development of children’s imagination and their ability to communicate and to express ideas and feelings in creative ways. Our children explore sound and colour, texture, shape, form and space in two and three dimensions. They respond in a variety of ways to what they see, hear, smell, touch and feel. Through art, music, dance, stories and imaginative play, they show an increasing ability to use their imagination, to listen and to observe. They use a widening range of materials, suitable tools, instruments and other resources to express ideas to communicate their feelings. Good Practice In Action Our aims are many varied. They are all achieved successfully because we have a Christian base ethos, and in our environment pupils and Nursery Nurses bond together in a family based infra-structure. Aims For Our Pupils*That they feel valued, confident and secure.
*That they develop a sense of achievement. *That they find learning pleasurable and rewarding. *That they can express themselves politely and freely. *That they respect the needs of others. *That they can develop self control and independence. *That they have an excellent start to school life. *That they will develop a spirit of adventure in our spacious and well resourced school. *That they are provided with a wide range of facilities and equipment. Home - School PartnershipWe acknowledge that crucial to successful learning is the continued involvement of parents in a child’s education, this is essential to the child’s success.
Parents, nursery nurses and teachers therefore are partners. Within the partnership there must be mutual respect, understanding and communication between home and school. Pupils are divided into small groups. We have a staff pupil ration of 1:8. A strong emphasis is placed on the needs of pupils both academically and socially. Pupils are treated as unique individuals with their own personal needs and aspirations. Our qualified and experienced Nursery Nurses ensure that the needs of all pupils are individually met. Entrance to the Preparatory School At school age, pupils are eligible for the Preparatory School. Places are limited, therefore prospective pupils are required to be enrolled at least two terms before their fourth birthday. There is a prospectus and further details are available on the Prep School and High School departments. Entrance Requirements Pupils may join our Creche, Nursery or Pre-Preparatory department by assessment. This is an informal visit to the School for a morning or a day, during which basic abilities, socially and emotionally, are assessed. The assessment is a gentle introduction into Creche and Nursery life. We are open throughout the year for 48 weeks. Monday to Friday between 7.30am and 6.00pm. There is a minibus service available for pupils over 3 years. Full supervision is given on the minibus. A warm and inviting welcome awaits you at Overstone Park School Pre-Preparatory departments. ‘Come and see us in action' |
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