Buttons Nursery
Parents’ Handbook
2016 – 2017
The Blue Coat School Birmingham Limited – Buttons Nursery Parents’ Handbook
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CONTENTS
Vision Statement and the Blue Coat School Values
A Welcome from the Deputy Head
Buttons Nursery Staff
Daily Routines
Snack and Lunch
Outdoor Play
Sleep
Morning and After School Care
Daily Life in Buttons Nursery
Key Person
Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)
Two-year Old Progress Checks
Behaviour
Buttons Nursery: Areas of Learning and Development
Prime Area: Personal, Social and Emotional Development
Prime Area: Communication and Language
Prime Area: Physical Development
Specific Area: Literacy
Specific Area: Mathematics
Specific Area: Understanding the World
Computing
Specific Area: Expressive Arts and Design
Additional Needs
Progression to the Pre-Prep Department
Chaplain
Other Events
Uniform
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THE BLUE COAT SCHOOL VISION STATEMENT
“Providing outstanding educational opportunities
for every child to thrive,
developing confidence, ability and intellect
within a caring Christian environment.”
Outstanding Educational Opportunities:
furnished by well-resourced facilities for enjoyable, imaginative learning;
fostered by enthusiastic, dedicated and well-qualified staff;
offered through a broad, balanced and forward-looking curriculum with effective use of ICT;
provided by a wide range of musical, sporting and creative activities.
For Every Child To Thrive:
understanding the child’s perspective and responding to individual needs;
offering opportunities to flourish;
providing care, encouragement and support on an individual basis;
celebrating effort, progress and achievement.
Within a Caring Christian Environment:
building a secure, positive community in which everyone is valued and appreciated;
exploring and understanding faith in God;
developing an awareness of the needs of the wider world;
learning to ‘Grow in Grace’.
THE BLUE COAT VALUES
Be Truthful, Patient and Kind
Cheerfully Try Hard
Show Respect
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A WELCOME FROM THE DEPUTY HEAD
Dear Parents,
This Buttons Nursery Handbook is designed to give you further information about some of the
activities that will take place during your child’s time in Buttons Nursery.
Buttons Nursery has places for a maximum of 48 children. There are three rooms: Ladybird,
Caterpillar and Butterfly. The children also have access to the outdoor learning environment
during the course of the day.
Children can start in Buttons Nursery the term following their second birthday, provided that they
have been allocated a place in Pre-Prep. All children must attend for a pre-admission visit with
their parents, after which the offer of a place may be made. All children must complete at least
two terms in Buttons Nursery before moving into Pre-Prep. Children do not have to be toilet
trained before starting in Buttons Nursery, but they must be toilet trained before they transfer to
Pre-Prep.
The dates for the specific events such as Parents’ Evenings are published in the School Calendar
which is issued at the beginning of each term. You will also be informed about events in Buttons
Nursery in letters.
I hope that you will find this information helpful. It should be read in conjunction with the Buttons
Nursery and Pre-Prep Parents’ Handbook which gives details about the general procedures,
practices and policies in Buttons Nursery and Pre-Prep. If you have any queries about any of this
information please do not hesitate to ask Ms Harris, the Buttons Nursery Manager, or me and we
will try to help you.
Yours sincerely
Mrs E H Andrews
Deputy Head
The Blue Coat School Birmingham Limited
Somerset Road
Edgbaston, Birmingham
B17 0HR
www.thebluecoatschool.com
Tel: 0121 410 6895 (Buttons Nursery)
Fax: 0121 454 7757
[email protected]
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BUTTONS NURSERY STAFF
Deputy Head, Designated Safeguarding Lead for
Child Protection (Buttons Nursery and Pre-Prep)
and Early Years Foundation Stage Co-ordinator:
Mrs E H Andrews (BA, PGCE)
Buttons Nursery Staff
Buttons Nursery Manager
Buttons Nursery Deputy Manager
Buttons Nursery Room Leader
Buttons Nursery Key Person
Buttons Nursery Key Person
Buttons Nursery Key Person
Buttons Nursery Key Person
Buttons Nursery Key Person
Buttons Nursery Key Person
Buttons Nursery Key Person
Ms G F Harris (BA, NVQ3)
Miss S A Lingley (NNEB)
Miss K West (BTec)
Mrs S J Boulton (NVQ3)
Mrs L F Grego (NNEB) (p/t)
Mrs F S Hartwell (FdA)
Mrs C A Hemmings (NVQ3)
Miss K L Hough (Level 3 Diploma)
Miss R-L Mainwood (Level 3 Diploma)
Miss D M Prior (NVQ3)
Morning Care and Aftercare are staffed by Buttons Nursery staff.
Buttons Nursery Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCO):
Ms G F Harris (BA, NVQ3)
EYFS SENCO: Mrs T S Robinson (BEd)
Pre-Prep Secretary: Mrs P A Arch
School Chaplain: Mrs R M Elphinston (BA, PGCE)
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DAILY ROUTINES
The daily routine for Buttons Nursery children is as follows:
08:30 – 11:30
11:30 – 12:20
12:20 – 13:10
13:10
13:10 – 15:10
15:15
Indoor and outdoor activities including snack
Lunch
Outdoor play in Buttons Nursery Play Area, Story or Sleep Time
End of morning session. Part-time children leave
Indoor and outdoor activities
Buttons Nursery children are dismissed from Buttons Nursery entrance
doors
Children can attend 3, 4 or 5 mornings or 3, 4 or 5 days a week subject to the availability of
places. The sessions required are booked in advance and parents are invoiced for those sessions at
the beginning of term.
Children must arrive in Buttons Nursery by no later than 8:40 am.
SNACK AND LUNCH
Fruit and drinks are provided for the children between 9:15 and 9:30 am. All of the children have
their own individual water bottles. These are available for them throughout the day.
Lunch is served at 11:30 am in the Butterfly Room by the Buttons Nursery staff and a member of
the catering staff. Dietary requirements can be catered for, as long as the Buttons Nursery staff
are informed. Menus are on the school website and they are also displayed in Buttons Nursery.
The children wear an overall for lunch and they have their own individual place mats.
OUTDOOR PLAY
The children use the outdoor environment regularly during the course of the day, as this is
integral to the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). They are supervised by Buttons Nursery staff
in a variety of activities. The children all need named wellington boots and a warm coat with a
hood for the colder weather and a sun hat and clothes that cover the shoulders for the warmer
weather. All clothing must be suitable for a range of outdoor activities, including messy play.
SLEEP
Children who still require a daytime sleep are settled on low beds in the Ladybird or Caterpillar
Rooms after lunch.
MORNING AND AFTER SCHOOL CARE
The children take part in activities with the Buttons Nursery staff during Morning Care and
Aftercare, both of which are held in Buttons Nursery.
Morning Care is available on a sessional basis for Buttons Nursery children from 8:00 – 8:30 am
in Buttons Nursery. Breakfast is not provided.
Aftercare is also available on a sessional basis. Parents do not have to book the same sessions
every day. The three sessions are: 3:15 pm – 4:15 pm, 4:15 pm – 5:00 pm and 5:00 pm – 5:45 pm.
Children are given tea during the first session.
Morning Care and Aftercare must be booked termly in advance. Invoices are sent at the beginning
of term. Morning Care and Aftercare are staffed by Buttons Nursery staff.
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DAILY LIFE IN BUTTONS NURSERY
KEY PERSON
Each child is allocated to a Key Person who is responsible for observing and assessing the child,
and planning for the next steps in his or her learning, development and care. Observations and
assessments are recorded in each child’s individual Buttons Nursery Profile by the Key Person.
The Key Person is in frequent contact with the parents/carers and information is transferred on a
regular basis. Parents’ Evenings are held at the end of each term for parents to discuss the Buttons
Nursery Profiles in greater detail with their child’s Key Person.
Buttons Nursery staff aim to work in partnership with parents to enable each child's learning and
development to be supported at home. The Key Person also provides a valuable link between
parents and specialist support and outside agencies as and when this is required. In addition to the
termly Parents’ Evenings, particular concerns may be discussed with parents together with Ms
Harris, the Buttons Nursery Manager, other relevant members of the Buttons Nursery staff and,
on occasions, with the Deputy Head.
EARLY YEARS FOUNDATION STAGE (EYFS)
Activities for the Buttons Nursery children are planned in accordance with the Early Years
Foundation Stage. This sets standards for learning, development and care for children from birth
to five.
There are three Prime Areas: Communication and Language; Physical Development; and Personal,
Social and Emotional Development. There are also four Specific Areas: Literacy; Mathematics;
Understanding the World; and Expressive Arts and Design. The children use the indoor and
outdoor environments every day to play, explore and investigate with a balance of child-initiated
and adult-led activities linked to each of these seven areas. An overview of the activities planned is
provided at the start of each half term. Daily activities are displayed in the Buttons Nursery
corridor.
TWO-YEAR OLD PROGRESS CHECKS
It is a requirement of the EYFS that parents and carers must be provided with a short written
summary of their child’s development in the three Prime Areas as outlined above when the child is
aged between 24 and 36 months. Your child’s Key Person will use the observations and
assessments from the Buttons Nursery Profile to inform this summary. The summary will be
discussed with you as part of one of the termly Parents’ Evenings to ensure that you are aware of
your child’s development at this stage. It will also enable your child’s Key Person to work with you
on the next stages in your child’s development across these Prime Areas. There will be an
opportunity for you to contribute comments to this summary.
BEHAVIOUR
As part of the positive reinforcement of expected behaviours, Buttons Nursery children who
display good behaviour during the course of the day receive a sticker and they are selected by staff
to choose the next activities. Each week a child from each room is chosen for a Buttons Nursery
Award and a certificate is awarded to recognise achievements. A child is also given a certificate
when staff judge that the child has tried hard to follow the Buttons Nursery guidelines for
behaviour as set out on page 9. Further details about behaviour are set out in the Behaviour
Management and Exclusions Policy.
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BUTTONS: AREAS OF LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT
PRIME AREA: PERSONAL, SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT
The personal, social and emotional development of each child is a key focus for the Buttons
Nursery staff. Buttons Nursery is a secure environment for the children where they are
encouraged to develop friendships and to relate to their peers in appropriate ways including
sharing and turn taking. They are encouraged to develop an awareness of right and wrong. They
are taught to take care of the Buttons Nursery environment and to take responsibility for tidying
the toys away at the end of each session. The staff encourage the children to follow the guidelines
set out below when they are in Morning Care or Aftercare, during the school day and on any offsite visits, trips or outings:
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Be kind to each other
Say ‘Please’ and ‘Thank you’
Share toys and equipment and look after them
Talk nicely to others and listen to them carefully
Develop the ability to listen to instructions and respond to requests
Walk inside Buttons Nursery and around the grounds
Keep their hands and feet to themselves
Practise good table manners such as keeping elbows off the table, keeping food off the floor and
using cutlery appropriately
The behaviour strategies in the Early Years Framework for Intervention are also used to guide
practice.
PRIME AREA: COMMUNICATION AND LANGUAGE
The children have many opportunities throughout the day to develop their communication skills.
These include role play, one-to-one work with the Buttons Nursery staff and interacting with their
peers during the activities set up in Buttons Nursery and in the outdoor play area. They have
regular opportunities to listen to stories, songs and rhymes and respond to them. They learn to
follow simple instructions in various situations. Any concerns about the way in which a child’s
communication skills are developing will be discussed with parents.
PRIME AREA: PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT
The children’s physical development is promoted through activities to develop fine motor skills
such as cutting, small world play and puzzles whilst gross motor skills are developed through
outdoor play on the bikes, scooters and trucks. The children are also taken to the Pre-Prep Gym
by the Buttons Nursery staff each week. They use a range of apparatus and equipment to support
the development of their fine and gross motor skills. The children gain in confidence and skill and
develop an awareness of safety and how to manage risk.
Nappy changing facilities are available in the toilet areas adjacent to the Ladybird and Caterpillar
Rooms. Parents are asked to supply nappies, wipes and creams. The children’s nappies are changed
at regular intervals and as and when necessary. Toilet facilities lead off from all of the rooms.
Toilet training needs to be started by parents at home during a holiday period. The staff will then
work in partnership with parents to complete the process. The children are taken to the toilet at
regular intervals during the school day and they are able to use the toilet whenever they need to.
Toilet training should not be started just before children are due to start in Buttons Nursery; they
need to have been attending Buttons Nursery for at least half a term to enable them to settle
before toilet training is started. All of the children need a spare set of clothing in school at all
times in case of accidents. They wash their hands after using the toilet and before they have
anything to eat or drink.
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SPECIFIC AREA: LITERACY
Buttons Nursery staff use books throughout the day to stimulate the children’s interests and to
promote the development of the children’s communication and language skills. The children can
access a wide range of books independently. They are encouraged to use a range of writing
implements for ‘mark making’ as this is the preliminary stage to developing writing skills.
SPECIFIC AREA: MATHEMATICS
Problem solving is an integral part of the Buttons Nursery day with the practical activities that are
available both indoors and outdoors. The children learn to recognise colours, shapes and patterns
through puzzles, small world play and creative work. Songs and rhymes are also used to promote
awareness of number and counting.
SPECIFIC AREA: UNDERSTANDING THE WORLD
Seasonal walks around the school grounds form part of the work on Understanding the World.
The children learn to observe the changes during the seasons and they make collections of the
things they find during these walks.
The children take part in cooking activities on a regular basis. This provides opportunities for
discussions with the children about ingredients and healthy eating and supports other areas of
learning and development such as communication, problem solving, physical development and
creative development.
COMPUTING
Interactive Whiteboards are used in the Ladybird and Caterpillar Rooms by the children. They
regularly use computer programs designed specifically for young children. They watch educational
DVDs and videos connected to the themes and they also use CD players for various activities.
SPECIFIC AREA: EXPRESSIVE ARTS AND DESIGN
The children take part in a wide range of creative activities during the year. The children are given
opportunities to explore different media and the effect that these have when creating a picture or
model. They are guided to learn new skills but they are encouraged to express themselves
independently. The children are encouraged to contribute to displays in Buttons Nursery and they
are able to touch and handle the items displayed when appropriate. Musical instruments are always
available and the children are encouraged to express themselves through music and dance.
ADDITIONAL NEEDS
Each child’s Key Person carries out regular observations and assessments for each child. If there
are concerns about a child’s progress, she will liaise with the Buttons Nursery Manager and the
EYFS Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCO) to discuss appropriate support strategies
for the child. Parents will be asked to complete an ‘All About Me’ document. This will be used to
provide background information for a Support Plan. The Support Plan sets out individual targets
and the strategies for meeting them. This is regularly monitored and updated termly. Support from
outside agencies will be sought if required. Further details of the graduated approach are set out in
the SEND Policy on the website.
PROGRESSION TO THE PRE-PREP DEPARTMENT
Children transfer from Buttons Nursery to Pre-Prep in the September following their third
birthday. If it is felt that any child might not be suitably placed in Pre-Prep, parents are warned well
in advance. The children will spend at least one session in a Transition classroom prior to
transferring to Pre-Prep. Parents and children are also invited to attend a Transition Tea Party in
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the Summer Term. Further details are given in the Policy for Moving On: Preparation for the Next
Stage of Education, copies of which are on the school website, in Buttons Nursery and in the PrePrep Office.
CHAPLAIN
The School Chaplain visits Buttons Nursery once a week to sing songs and relate simple stories.
The Buttons Nursery children are taken to the School Chapel at Christmas, Easter and at the end
of the Summer Term for special activities led by the School Chaplain.
OTHER EVENTS
Buttons Nursery children take part in various events during the school year. These include a
Christmas Party and the annual Barnardo’s Big Toddle. Children in Transition join the Buttons
Nursery children for the Big Toddle. In the Summer Term the children take part in a Sports Day.
Links with Pre-Prep are promoted wherever possible. The Buttons Nursery children watch the
Transition and Reception Dress Rehearsal at Christmas and the Transition Year Group Assembly
Dress Rehearsal in the Summer Term. They also watch the Pre-Prep Sports Day.
UNIFORM
All children in Buttons Nursery are required to have:
Pump Bag
Overall – for use at lunchtimes
Slip on/Velcro pumps for PE in the Pre-Prep Gym
These items are available from Early Years, Stratford Road, Shirley.
Tel: 0121 733 1456.
Shoes must have Velcro or buckle fastenings and be suitable for indoor and outdoor
play. Shoes must not have open toes. Boots must not be worn.
The following items should be provided in the pump bag:
Complete set of spare clothes (extra sets if toilet training, trousers with elasticated waistbands)
Nappies/wipes/cream (children should not be sent in pull-ups)
Wellington Boots for outdoor play (clearly named)
Water bottle /container (as displayed in Buttons Nursery)
Comforter (blanket, small toy).
All clothing and footwear must be clearly labelled.
In order for the children to develop their self-help skills and facilitate their transition to Pre-Prep
the following requirements apply:
No baby bottles of milk or juice
No dungarees, belts or braces.
No denim, no jeans and no long skirts.
Hair of shoulder length or longer must be tied back for school. Hair styles should be appropriate
for school.
For Health and Safety reasons children in Buttons Nursery and Pre-Prep are NOT
allowed to wear bangles, earrings, ear studs, ear bars or any other form of jewellery.
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Disclaimer
This Handbook and the supplementary Buttons Nursery and Pre-Prep Parents’ Handbook, has sought to
describe, in general terms, the aims and ethos of Buttons Nursery at The Blue Coat School.
The School will take all reasonable steps to provide the education and pastoral services described in these
Handbooks; however, it does not guarantee the provision of such services and these Handbooks do not
form part of any contract, or offer of a contract, between parents and the School.
The School will not be liable for loss occasioned to any person as a result of relying on the contents of
these Handbooks.
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