Index
Section
Page
1 Welcome to Fairfields Nursery............................... 1
2 A typical nursery day ............................................ 1
3 Learning at nursery and at home .......................... 4
Personal, social & emotional development ........ 4
Language and literacy........................................ 5
Mathematics..................................................... 10
Knowledge and understanding of the world.... 13
Physical development ....................................... 14
Creative development....................................... 15
4 What else do I need to know?............................. 16
Fairfields Nursery Prospectus
Welcome to Fairfields Nursery
In September 1993 a privately funded pre-school group was
created, offering part-time provision for rising 4s to rising 5s.
After establishing close links with the school, the pre-school was
adopted by Hertfordshire Education Authority and became an
LEA funded Nursery class, offering sixty places a year.
In March 1999, due to an expansion of the school, we moved
into our new, purpose-built Nursery. We are now a wellestablished component of Fairfields Primary School.
A typical nursery day
Session
times
Fairfields Nursery operates two, parallel sessions each day.
Parents are given the opportunity to specify which session they
would prefer, though places are allocated strictly on a first
come, first served basis. Once one of the sessions is full, any
subsequent applicants are offered a place in the remaining
session. The session times are as follows:
Session 1: 9:00am to 11:30am
Session 2: 12:45pm to 3:15pm
We would like to emphasise that the opportunities and
experiences on offer to the children are alike in both sessions.
A typical
session
z The Doors Open. The children enter the Nursery via the
cloakroom, where they pause to change their shoes and
hang up their coats on their named pegs, before sitting in a
circle on the carpet area.
z A member of Nursery staff sits with the children and calls
the register. The Happy Helper is chosen and carries out his
/ her jobs (See Section 4 for an explanation of the Happy
Helper).
z The children are given an opportunity to share any news
that they have with the group.
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Activity
time
At the start of each session, the Nursery staff set out the
selection of activities, which will be available for the children to
use during their first
activity time. If it is sunny, some activities will be made
available in the outdoor play area, which will be supervised at
all times.
z As the children choose the activity they would like to start
with, they attach their name to an activity board and leave
the circle. Members of staff also choose groups of children
to work with them on specific activities.
z The children are free to move around the Nursery, trying the
different activities on offer.
z At the end of the activity time, all the children help to tidy up
the equipment.
Further information about the types of activities
experienced in the Nursery can be found in Section 3.
Snack
Time
The children return to the circle and enjoy a snack of milk or
water and a biscuit. A member of staff sits with the children
and leads a chat about an area of interest, recaps on the
activities they have experienced or reads a story.
Activity
time
New activities are made available, and the children choose
what they would like to do next. The children who worked
with an adult in the first activity time will not be expected to
work with an adult during this second session.
Outdoor
play
• The Nursery is equipped with resources suitable for active
•
outdoor play (eg bikes, prams, balls, hoops, beanbags and
quoits).
This equipment is made available to the children towards
the end of the session in the secure outdoor play area.
• Before the children go outside they change back into their
outdoor shoes, and put on coats if necessary.
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Final circle
time
• The children return to the circle for a time of singing or a
final chat.
• Letters, paintings and book folders are distributed at this
time.
• Each child remains in the circle until a member of staff has
called his / her name on seeing that his / her parent or carer
has arrived to collect him / her.
For safety reasons, we can only allow children to leave
the Nursery with a known adult. Therefore:
Please inform a member of staff personally or by
phone if your child’s usual carer is unable to collect
him / her;
Please do not send older children to collect your
child.
Other
Activities
Assembly
Once a week the children go to assembly during one of the
activity sessions. Assemblies are held in the school hall, and
the whole school attends. This is a good opportunity for the
children to become familiar with other pupils and staff, and it
introduces them to being part of a larger school.
PE
Another Activity Time involves the children participating in a
PE lesson. These take place in the school hall, in our outdoor
play area or on the school field. (Details about PE kits can be
found in Section 4.)
The
Christmas
Play
At the end of the Autumn Term, the children take part in a
Nursery Christmas Play. This mini-production is performed to
family and friends in the school hall. Spectators are invited
into the Nursery for refreshments afterwards.
The
Christmas
Party
The children are also invited to a Christmas party, which takes
place during normal Nursery hours - separate parties are held
for the morning and afternoon sessions.
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Sports day
In the Summer Term the children take part in Nursery Sports.
Again, family and friends are invited to be spectators – but be
warned, some participation may be required!
Teddy Bears’ In the Summer Term the children are also invited to bring their
Picnic
Teddies along to a picnic in the school grounds. Again, this
occurs during normal Nursery hours, with separate picnics
organised for the morning and afternoon sessions.
Learning at nursery and at home
At Fairfields Nursery, all teaching is based on six areas of
learning. In this section, we will outline these areas of learning,
alongside ideas for how you can support your child’s learning at
home.
Personal, social and emotional development
Learning
at nursery
This area of learning is concerned with attitudes to learning,
skills and understanding. It is important for your child to
develop in this area, as it underpins success in all other areas of
learning. We encourage the children to progress in this area by
providing opportunities to:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
form good relationships with adults and peers
work as part of a group or class, taking turns and sharing
understand what is right, what is wrong and why
dress and undress independently and be able to go to the
toilet without help
choose and use activities independently from an offered
selection
be aware of their own needs, views and feelings
be sensitive to the needs, views and feelings of others,
including respecting people of other cultures and beliefs
express their feelings and behave in appropriate ways
treat living things, property and their environment with care
and concern.
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These areas are addressed as an ongoing part of the Nursery
environment. The children are given opportunities to discuss
their feelings and emotions on a one-to-one basis, as well as
during whole class Circle Time. Issues of importance to the
children are also discussed individually or as a class.
Learning
at home
All the points outlined above can be successfully addressed at
home. In particular, it is helpful to encourage your child to
become independent in areas such as dressing and going to the
toilet.
It is fun to talk!
Talking with your child is important, too. Here are some
suggestions for talking points: Dentist, hairdresser, doctor
Music and sound
Places you visit
Things I like
My family
Things I dislike
Ways I climb, walk, run, jump
Things which frighten me
Being happy and sad
People who visit us
My feelings
What is important to me
Television programmes
The weather
Why things happen
Going to school
Friends and pets
Going to the shops
Colours
Up and down
Food
Books, pictures
Ways of travelling
Going in and out
Language and literacy
Learning
at nursery
Language and literacy encompasses speaking and listening,
reading and writing. Throughout the Nursery year the children
are encouraged to: -
Speaking and listening
• talk to others on a one-to-one basis, in a small group and as
part of the whole class
• listen attentively to others, and respond appropriately with
comments, questions or actions
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• hear a range of stories, poems, rhymes and songs, joining in
with repetitive refrains, and responding with questions and
comments
• interact with others, through play and activities, taking turns
in conversations
• make up own stories and take part in role play with
confidence
Reading
• enjoy books
• handle books with care
• look at a range of fiction and non-fiction books, recognising
that pictures and words carry meaning
• recognise own name and some familiar words
• recognise some letters by shape and sound
Writing
• hold a pencil correctly
• attempt mark-making for a variety of purposes, such as
telling a story
• improve hand control and co-ordination by using stencils
and tracing
• use correct letter formation for own name when tracing,
copying and writing without a model
• form some other letters correctly.
Learning
at home
It is fun getting ready to read!
Show your child how to use a book properly:
• Which is the right way up?
• Which side of the page do you start from?
• Follow the words and pictures with your finger as you read
or talk to your child about the book.
• Encourage your child to tell you about the things s/he has
done in his / her own words.
• Encourage him / her to relay simple messages to other
members of the family.
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• Help your child to arrange pictures so that they follow a
logical sequence.
• Nursery rhymes, poems and songs are important for memory
development, and the enjoyment of rhythm within words.
• Also encourage your child to act out and sing favourite
rhymes or songs.
• Make up simple stories or rhymes with your child about
everyday things as well as imaginary or humorous ones.
If not already a member, consider joining the local
library. Remember picture books without words are
proper books! We give them to children in school.
It is fun to learn to read!
• Read to and with your child as often as possible. Make
books available. Keep a diary together, label your child’s
pictures with their own words and read it together.
• Label objects in the home: bed, door, chair, etc. Put names
of family members on their bedroom doors. Encourage your
child to recognise his / her own name.
• Learn to match the names of colours with the colour: red,
blue, yellow, green and brown would be particularly helpful.
• Try to encourage your child to listen and concentrate for
short periods. Listening to the radio or story tapes is better
than the television for fostering this skill.
• Children like repetition and will often go back to their
favourite stories or rhymes again and again. Talk to your
child about which stories and poems they like best.
• As with numbers, read everything and anything: labels on
packets, road signs and names, house names and shop
names. Stimulate a curiosity for what words say, and the
child will want to read them.
Sounds like fun!
During your child’s third term in Nursery, s/he will learn the
alphabet by the sounds the letters make. Later, s/he will be
taught to tell the difference between the letter sound and the
alphabet name.
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Fairfields Nursery Prospectus
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
i
j
k
l
m
as
as
as
as
as
as
as
as
as
as
as
as
as
in
in
in
in
in
in
in
in
in
in
in
in
in
apple
bat
cat
dog
egg
fun
goat
hat
is
jam
kite
leg
man
n
o
p
q
r
s
t
u
v
w
x
y
z
as
as
as
as
as
as
as
as
as
as
as
as
as
in
in
in
in
in
in
in
in
in
in
in
in
in
net
orange
pig
queen
run
sun
top
up
van
wet
box
yes
zoo
It is fun to learn to write!
Let your child choose for him/herself which hand s/he
wants to write with.
• Set up your own writing table at home with a wide
selection of writing materials, e.g. chalks, wax crayons,
pencils, felt tip pens, coloured pencils, biros, paints and
brushes or even finger paints.
• Leave out lots of large and small pieces of scrap paper,
greaseproof, newspaper, wrapping paper, old cards,
used envelopes, old bills and receipts, etc.
• Make letter shapes from Plasticine or dough (made from
flour, salt and water). Paint the letters in bright colours
and trace over them. You can also cut out letter shapes
from sandpaper for your child to trace over.
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Fairfields Nursery Prospectus
Holding a pencil properly is important. It should
be gripped between the thumb and middle finger
with the index finger supporting on top. The pencil
should point along the top.
• We teach children to write lower case letters first. Here
are the letter shapes we use.
• You will notice that it is a cursive style, with flick on
many letters to aid joined up writing in future years.
The dot shows you where to put your pencil down to
the start the letter following the direction of the arrow.
• Say the sound of the letter as you write it.
• Trace the shapes in the air, in sand or in paint.
• Capital letters follow later, but we need to use them at
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Fairfields Nursery Prospectus
Mathematics
Learning
at nursery
Themes covered in Maths include number, shape, space and
measures. In Nursery we visit the following areas in the course
of one year: •
•
•
•
counting by rote
counting objects using one-to-one correspondence
recognising and writing numerals (0 to 10 initially)
using mathematical language to describe numbers and
objects, including ‘big’ or ‘small’, ‘long’ or ‘short’, ‘tall’ or
‘short’, ‘fat’ or ‘thin’, ‘heavy’ or ‘light’
• using mathematical language to compare two numbers
or quantities, including ‘more’ or ‘less’, ‘bigger’ or
‘smaller’, ‘longer’ or ‘shorter’, ‘taller’ or ‘shorter’, ‘fatter’
or ‘thinner’, ‘heavier’ or ‘lighter’
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Fairfields Nursery Prospectus
• naming simple 2-D shapes: circle, square, rectangle and
triangle
• copying, continuing and devising repeating patterns
with one or more variables, using beads, cotton reels,
pegs, shapes, etc. eg yellow, blue, yellow, blue; red
circle, green square, red circle, green square
• comparing, sorting and matching everyday objects
• using and responding to everyday words to describe
position, eg in front, behind, next to, under, on, off, in,
out, sit in front of the box, the pencil is under the table
• recognising specific times during the day
• knowing the days of the week
• being aware of months and seasons
• being aware of money and its uses.
We heighten the children’s awareness of number through
number rhymes, songs and games, alongside
demonstrating how number can be used in everyday life
(e.g. counting the number of children in the session).
Further concepts are explored through play and practical
activities.
In your child’s final term in Nursery, s/he will also use a
Ginn Abacus workbook to reinforce practical aspects of
this subject area (Ginn Abacus is a published scheme used
throughout the school to support maths teaching).
Learning
at home
As before, many of the aspects taught in Nursery can be used
at home in everyday situations. Here are just a few ideas…
It is fun to learn to count!
• Sing some counting rhymes together.
• Count: fingers, toes, steps, shoes, stairs, people, cars,
houses, dogs, cats, trees, anything!
• Numbers are everywhere: on houses, buses, adverts, car
registrations, road signs, timetables, in recipes. Show
your child how numbers are used in everyday life.
• Count out 1p coins.
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Fairfields Nursery Prospectus
• Look at odd and even numbers on houses, pages of
books, newspapers and the numbers on a clock.
• Talk about first, second and third.
• Estimate who has the most sweets, potatoes, chips,
sausages, etc.
• Use Plasticine, dough or sandpaper to make and trace
the numerals. Always make sure the numeral is being
formed correctly.
It is fun to learn mathematics!
• Let your child explore the coins in your purse. Sort
them into groups and talk about who has the most.
Compare their shape and size.
• Sort toys or everyday objects by size, shape, colour,
weight, etc. Talk about why they are sorted that way.
Why are they different? Thread beads or sort bricks
into patterns.
• Teach your child to recognise simple shapes: squares,
circles, rectangles, triangles. Cut them out and let them
look for them in the home, on sweet packets, etc.
Always use their proper names.
• Talk about time during the day. Time to get up, time
for Nursery, time to eat, time to go to bed, etc. The
days of the week and what I do on those days. Talk
about tomorrow and yesterday. Talk about the months
in the year, the four seasons and special times eg
birthdays, Christmas.
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Fairfields Nursery Prospectus
Knowledge and understanding of the world
Learning
at nursery
This learning area focuses on children’s developing knowledge
and understanding of their environment, other people and
features of the natural and made world. It provides a
foundation for further learning in areas of Science, Technology,
History and Geography.
In Nursery we encourage the children to: • use their senses to explore and recognise features of living
things, objects and events, in and around their local
environment
• look closely at similarities, differences, patterns and changes
• talk about their observations, sometimes recording them
through pictures and charts
• ask questions and be curious about why things happen
and how things work
• talk about where they live, their families, and past and
present events in their own lives
• begin to know about their own cultures and beliefs and
those of other people
• build and construct with a wide range of materials, including
construction equipment (eg Duplo, Sticklebricks), ‘junk’
materials, malleable materials (eg playdough) and food
• show increasing confidence in the use of Nursery
Technology.
Learning
at home
It is fun to make things!
• Sort out old materials, wool and wrapping paper into
different colours and textures. Talk about soft, woolly,
spiky, rough, smooth, thick, thin and hard.
• As well as providing commercial construction materials, save
old boxes, tubes and packaging for your child to build with.
• Helping with cooking can involve a child in many ways.
Weighing, estimating, shape, taste and texture can all
be discussed.
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Fairfields Nursery Prospectus
• Sand, water and mud play are very messy, but they
provide the basis for later creative and mathematical
work.
• If you have a computer at home, consider buying some
educational software for your child. Software can be
bought which supports the teaching carried out in
Nursery (e.g. number games, letter and alphabet
games), and your child will soon get to grips with
controlling a mouse! Drawing and painting packages
are also useful tools.
Physical development
Learning
at nursery
This learning area focuses on both gross and fine motor skills.
It is concerned with children’s developing physical control,
mobility, awareness of space and fine manipulative skills in
indoor and outdoor environments. At Nursery we aim to
encourage the children to: • move with confidence, imagination and safety, showing
increasing control and co-ordination, and an awareness of
space, themselves and others
• use a range of small and large equipment, and balancing
and climbing apparatus
• handle appropriate tools, objects, construction and malleable
materials (including scissors) safely and with increasing
control.
Learning
at home
• Children love running around. Channel your child’s energy
and encourage him / her to use his / her body imaginatively
by thinking about different ways of moving (e.g. using feet
only, using hands and feet, changing direction, etc.). S/he
can even try to imitate animal movements.
• Co-ordination will be improved by giving your child the
opportunity to balance, climb and ride a bike.
• Constructional play helps hand and eye co-ordination.
Jigsaws, Duplo and even bead threading are easy to
organise and make good birthday presents.
•
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Fairfields Nursery Prospectus
• Under careful supervision, provide old cards and
wrapping paper for your child to cut out and stick on
paper to make a collage. If your child is left-handed,
make sure that you provide him / her with a pair of lefthanded scissors.
Creative development
Learning
at nursery
This final learning area focuses on the development of
children’s imagination and creativity and their ability to
explore, express and share ideas and feelings through art,
music, dance, stories and imaginative play. We aim to enable
the children to:• explore sound, colour, texture, shape, form and space in
two and three dimensions
• respond in a variety of ways to what they see, hear,
touch, taste and smell
• develop and respond to their imagination
• express and communicate their ideas, thoughts and
feelings by using a range of materials, suitable tools,
musical instruments, songs, rhymes and role-play.
The Nursery classroom contains a wealth of resources and
experiences all aimed at developing the children’s
imaginations and ability to express themselves. This
includes: • a role play area: - an area where the children play
together, develop their imaginations and take on
different roles and characters according to the current
theme. Past themes have included a garden centre,
doctor’s surgery and an art studio.
• musical instruments: the children are encouraged to
learn the names of simple instruments, and they are
taught how to play them correctly.
• singing: opportunities are given for the children to sing
as part of a larger group, or to ‘perform’ solo for the
other children!
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Fairfields Nursery Prospectus
• An art area: the art area is available at all times and
provides adult led activities, as well as opportunities to
explore creativity independently. Activities include
cutting and sticking, playdough, painting, drawing,
printing, collage and 3-D modelling.
Learning
at home
It is fun to get messy!
• Imaginative play is important to a child’s mental and social
development. A dressing up box is a good idea, let your
child pretend. Puppets are easy to make, use scraps of
material, a paper bag or an old sock!
• Let your child have the opportunity to explore as many art
materials as possible, e.g. finger paints, material and paper
collage, playdough, paint, chalk, wax and pastel crayons,
vegetable printing, cutting and sticking – the list is endless!
Felt tip pens are messy but very bright. Experiment together
– working on the back of an old roll of wallpaper is ideal.
What else do I need to know?
Uniform
Children are required to wear uniform in the Nursery as
outlined below:
Boys
White shirt, v-neck navy jumper, long or short grey trousers.
Girls
White blouse or shirt, navy v-neck jumper or cardigan,
grey pinafore, skirt or trousers. Blue/white stripe or
checked summer dress. White socks or navy/grey tights.
PE kit
All children participate in a weekly PE session for which they
need a T-shirt and a pair of shorts. If you prefer to conform
to the optional uniform colours, a white T-shirt and a navy
pair of shorts are required.
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Plimsolls
Please provide a pair of slip-on plimsolls for your child to wear
indoors and for PE.
Each item of clothing and all shoes worn or brought to
Nursery need to be clearly labelled with your child’s
name.
Drawstring Please provide a drawstring bag for your child to store their
plimsolls and PE kit in. This can be left on their peg during the
Bag
school term, and will be sent home at the end of each halfterm. Please avoid sending in rucksacks and similar large
bags, as they are very bulky and do not fit easily on the pegs.
Drawstring bags and many of the articles of clothing
described above are available for purchase from the
School Office. Please refer to the price list inserted at
the back of this brochure, or enquire at the Office.
Seasonal
changes
During the winter, please provide your child with warm
outdoor clothing, including hats, scarves and gloves.
When the weather becomes changeable, particularly in the
Summer Term, we advise that you continue to send a coat or
jacket into Nursery, in case it is cool when we go outside.
During hot weather, the children may choose to do activities
outdoors; if you wish, please provide a sun-hat for your child
to wear.
Jewellery
Children are not allowed to wear jewellery in the Nursery for
safety reasons.
Library
books
Children are able to borrow books from the Nursery on a
weekly basis. During their first full week of Nursery, we will
provide each child with a clear, plastic, zip wallet clearly
labelled with their name and a day of the week. A member of
staff will help your child to choose a book to take home.
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Please return the book in his / her folder on the designated
day so that it may be exchanged.
Medicines
We are only permitted to administer medicines for long-term
illnesses such as asthma, diabetes and epilepsy. If your child
suffers from such an illness please fill in a medical form
available from the Office, and ensure that you provide the
Nursery with the required medicine.
Money
At times it will be necessary to send money into Nursery for
event tickets, school photographs, etc. Please put such money
in a sealed and clearly labelled envelope, and hand it to a
member of staff who will ensure that it reaches the correct
place. Loose money will not be accepted.
Rewards
and
encouragement
Happy helper
Each session one child is chosen to be our Happy Helper.
Selection is based on positive behaviour and attitudes, such as
being kind to others, trying hard with an activity or achieving
something special. On this basis, every child is able to become
the Happy Helper. The Happy Helper helps us to decide what
day it is and what the weather is doing. S/he is also given the
opportunity to take the register to the Office – and s/he
proudly wears a Happy Helper badge, which can be taken
home after the session. Please return Happy Helper badges to
the Nursery on the following day.
Superstar awards
Superstar Certificates are a reward system used
throughout the school. Each teacher chooses a child from
their class who has particularly impressed them during the
week. During a whole school assembly these children
receive a certificate stating their achievement and a
reward from Mr Tuck’s “Well Done” box. One Nursery
child from each session is nominated for a Superstar
award each week.
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Snack time
During each session we sit down as a class and enjoy a snack
together. Nursery children are provided with a drink of milk
and a piece of fruit free of charge and we offer water to those
children who do not like milk.
Students
From time to time we have students on placement in the
Nursery. It is occasionally necessary for them to take
photographs of the activities taking place. If you have any
objections to your child being included in the photos please see
a member of staff.
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