Information for Parents

TIMINGS

The times of each session are:

Mornings: 8.45 am – 11.45 am
Afternoons: 12.15 pm – 3.15 pm

If your child stays all day and eats lunch with us, then their hours will be 8.45am – 3.15pm

Please remember:

It is important that you are on time, especially when collecting your child. Being late at the start of school and being left behind when all the other children have gone can be very distressing for a young child.

KEYWORKERS

At Little Atwood, we operate a keyworker system. Once your child has settled, we assign them a keyworker – usually the member of staff with whom they have formed an initial bond. The keyworker helps the child to feel known, understood, cared about and safe. They are also the first port of call for parental queries and we hope that a mutually beneficial relationship and dialogue will evolve between the keyworker and parents/carers. Each week, children undertake focus activities with their keyworker and any key observations or targets are recorded in the child’s Reading Diary.

SNACK TIME

Fruit and water are available for the children during their time in Nursery. A piece of fruit is provided daily by the National Fruit Scheme. This is a learning experience where staff sit with the children whilst eating their healthy snacks, modelling healthy eating practices and good manners.

All children under the age of 5 receive a daily 189ml portion of semi-skimmed milk completely free of charge as part of the government’s Nursery Milk Scheme. Should you wish to register your child for this, please click on the Cool Milk website.

PREPARING FOR NURSERY

You can help your child by talking to them about starting Nursery. Make sure their first days are as calm and positive as possible by getting everything ready ahead of time. Leave plenty of time so you are not in a rush getting to their first sessions. It is a good idea to tell your child who is taking them to Nursery and who is collecting them.

It can be helpful to decide in advance how to say goodbye to your child. In most instances it is best to keep it brief but please do not disappear without saying goodbye. Try not to show your child if you are upset. If you are concerned about how your child has settled, it can be reassuring to telephone school later. It can happen that a child who has seemed fine for the first week or two becomes unsettled but this usually only lasts a short time.

HELPING YOUR CHILD

Parents often ask how they can help their child at home to support their learning. There are many ways and most can be started at this early age.
Recent research has shown that only a small number of children have a wide knowledge of nursery rhymes. All children enjoy the repetition and rhythm of these rhymes and can quickly learn the words. Time spent in reading or singing the rhymes is never wasted, as it is part of an important stage of your child’s development. The website www.bbc.co.uk/schoolradio/subjects/earlylearning/nurserysongs has a range of nursery rhymes and songs with engaging videos.

We would strongly encourage parents to read to their child every day. Bedtime stories have a very positive effect on children and help to create a beneficial and calming atmosphere as a prelude to sleep. Talking about stories and pictures can be very helpful, as can telling stories yourself. Ask your child to retell stories they have heard or seen. Let your child see you reading newspapers, magazines or books; this shows them it is an activity you also enjoy. You can also demonstrate that reading is useful by reading the instructions on packages. Let your child see you making and using lists for shopping or other activities. Point out to them what is written on signs or advertising posters.

UNIFORM AND CLOTHING

The only compulsory item of clothing for Nursery children is the Atwood Primary School sweatshirt. This is available in two sizes (3-4 years and 5-6 years) from our uniform supplier, Mapac. Please see the link on the front page of the website or visit: http://www.mapac.com/education/parents/uniform/atwoodprimaryacademycr29ee

Children should wear a plain white polo shirt (either the logo version from Mapac or a high-street/supermarket plain one). All other clothes should be sensible wear for play and activity as described above.

We want to encourage your child to develop independence, therefore please help THEM and US by:

Making Clothing Manageable

Belts, buttons and zips on tight jeans are not easy to undo when in a hurry! We want children to try to be able to manage for themselves so please support us with this.

Dressing Appropriately

We want ALL children to benefit from and enjoy the outside area SAFELY.

Children need:

Flat sensible shoes or trainers which are easily fastened (e.g. Velcro).
Warm clothes even for indoors as children move indoors and outdoors frequently and the outside door is often open – layers are sensible!
A change of clothing to keep at Nursery in a named drawstring bag.
Clothing which will NOT get caught in bicycle wheels or the climbing frame.
Warm coats in the winter.
Waterproof coats for rainy weather.
Protection from the sun in summer.

Please note:

Although aprons are worn, paint, glue, clay etc. may still stain clothing and the wearing of new or best clothing is not advisable.
We prefer pupils not to wear earrings. If they are worn, there must be a maximum of one small plain gold or silver ear stud per ear, in the lobe (not glass/diamond-effect/emblems, etc.) Hooped earrings are not allowed and no other piercings are permitted. The only other jewellery permitted is that worn for religious or medical reasons. The school accepts no responsibility for loss or damage to jewellery.
All removable clothing must be clearly marked with your child’s name.

COLLECTION OF CHILDREN

Please inform the office in good time if someone else will be collecting your child as we WILL NOT let a child go with someone other than you unless you have notified the office beforehand.

Children in the Nursery cannot be collected by older brothers and sisters in the main school. If you would like an older sibling to collect your child, they must be over the age of 14, and you must complete the appropriate form which you will find included in your packs. If you wish a sibling under the age of 14 to collect your child, then we require your written confirmation that you accept full responsibility for the safety of both children on their way home.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you require any further information or have any concerns.

SICKNESS AND ABSENCES

Any absence should be notified using the Study bugs app.

If your child has suffered diarrhoea or sickness, please keep them home for at least 48 hours after the symptoms have gone. If your child has a temperature, please keep them at home.