VALLEY SCHOOL WHITEHAVEN ROAD BRAMHALL STOCKPORT SK7 1EN
TEL: 0161 439 7343
Our aim is to provide an environment that is both stimulating and
challenging and that will make children feel happy and secure.
We believe that the best way to achieve this is through highly
motivated play-based activities.
We encourage children to be independent and confident learners,
providing opportunities to investigate, explore and make mistakes
without experiencing a sense of failure.
We give children time to talk and share their feeling, experiences
and activities with both children and adults who are sensitive and
in tune with their individual needs.
All early years experiences reflect the society in which we live
and provide equality of opportunity regardless of differences in
abilities, culture or gender.
Children need activities that are exciting, purposeful and
relevant. They need experiences at first hand and encouragement
to be both physically and mentally active. They need the opportunity to explore their environment both indoors and out.
At Valley we strive to provide this.
We encourage parents (and grandparents) to become involved in
activities and welcome them into school. Staff are always readily
available to meet and talk with parents. We recognise the need to
work in harmony with the home. We also recognise that you know
your child better than anyone and we value any contributions you
may make towards their education.
BEFORE I START NURSERY
Let me play with other friends of a similar age and
then I will get used to being with other children,
sharing things and being kind and helpful.
It will help me to settle into Nursery quickly if I
could practice putting on and taking off my coat and
shoes.
Perhaps easy-to-wear clothes will help with some
simple fastenings.
I would like to use the toilet properly and wash my
hands afterwards as I will be doing at Nursery.
Can you try and help me to learn?
At school the staff will read to me and I will learn
lots of new songs and nursery rhymes.
If I know some rhymes before I start I will be able
to join in straight away.
If I come to nursery in the mornings I will start
at 9.00am and go home at 12.00
If I come in the afternoon I will start at 12.00pm
and go home at 3.00pm.
If I come in Mon, Tue ,Wed am I will start at 9am
and go home at 3.00pm (Mon, Tue) and Wed start
at 9.00am and go home at 12.00
If I come in Wed pm, Thurs, Fri I will start at
12.00 and go home at 3.00pm (Wed) and Thurs,
Fri start at 9.00am and go home at 3.00pm
If I stay all day, (I will start at 9.00am and go
home at 3.00pm) I will need a packed lunch each
day or dinner money to be paid each week or
term.
Dinners are £1.95 a day and I can choose a dinner
and pudding.
At home time the staff will only let me leave with
you or another adult.
Please tell them if a friend or relative will be
collecting me.
Please try not to be late as I might get worried.
SETTLING IN
To help me get used to the school you could bring me for some visits
before I start.
I am looking forward to starting but don’t be upset if I am a little sad
at first.
The staff are very kind and understanding, they would like you to stay
for a while to begin with and they will do all they can to help me settle
in happily.
They have had lots of practice with children and once I have settled
down they would enjoy having you to help them in the classroom
sometimes.
MUMS AND DADS CHECKLIST
When I start school I will need:1.
2.
3.
4.
Water Bottle (named).
Snack money £1 per week
A pump bag with a change of clothing and my name on the outside.
My name in all my clothes
Please contact the school on: 061 439 7343 if you need any further
information.
We will be only too pleased to help.
ILLNESS
If I am unwell please let the staff know by telephoning the
school, particularly if I have an infectious illness.
Please make sure that I am properly better before I go
back to school.
If I am sick overnight it would be a good idea for me to
have the next day at home, just in case.
MEDICINES
I must not take any medicine to school.
If I have to take special medicine please talk with staff.
SNACKS
Each day we will have a healthy snack and a drink. The staff
will put up a menu each week so that you can see what I will
be having.
We request a voluntary contribution to go towards snacks
and cooking activities, £1 per week is suggested. We have a
snack pot that comes home each week. We would like to
reassure parents that no child will be treated differently on
the grounds that a contribution has / has not been made on
his / her behalf
CLOTHES
If I wear comfortable clothes, which are hard wearing, I will
not be worried if they get dirty when I play or paint, and I
can manage them better in the toilet. In case I get wet or
dirty please could I take a pump bag (with my name on) with
some spare clothes so that I can get changed.
I can leave the bag on my peg.
The staff will need a photograph of me to put next to my peg
so that I will know where to hang my things. I will always
need my coat, even if I come in the car, because I will play
outside every day, even in winter if the weather is fine.
WHAT WILL I BE DOING AT SCHOOL?
I will learn to play and share with other children
whilst I am playing.
I will be enjoying myself, learning, sharing and making
friends
WRITING AREA
There is a special writing area in my class where I can
use pencils, crayons, chalks and felt tips. There is
paper, writing paper, envelopes and mini books for me
to draw and write on. Sometimes I will do pencil
control activities and practice writing my name.
MATHEMATICS
Whilst I am school I will count, sort, match and grade
objects. I can play with games and puzzles which will
all help with my mathematics when I go to Infants.
There will be sand and water activities and these will
help me understand number, shape, size, volume and
weight more easily. There is also a computer in my
class with lots of exciting games for me to try.
CREATIVE ACTIVITIES
I will be doing lots of painting at school, not just with
brushes but with fingers and feet and with combs,
balls and string. Some of my pictures will go on the
wall and some I will bring home to you. I can also cut
out and stick when I am at school as well as making
models with junk, clay and dough.
KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD
We will be learning all about the world around us and
exploring the school grounds. We will do lots of exciting
activities such as planting seeds and bulbs, cooking, making
weather charts, mixing colours and lots more.
We will also learn about other cultures and belief’s
through festivals and celebrations from around
the world.
IMAGINATIVE PLAY
There is a home corner I can play in with my friends. We
can dress up, write shopping lists, make telephone calls,
make food and have tea.
Sometimes the staff will change the home corner into a
shop or a hospital or a baby clinic or something
relating to our theme.
MUSIC
Whilst I am at school a will learn lots of new songs and
rhymes. I will be able to listen to music on tapes/CD’s and
to practice using musical instruments.
On Wednesdays Brian comes to sing with us.
OUTDOOR PLAY
Everyday, I will play outside. There will be lots of exciting
equipment to play with such as climbing frames, slides,
bikes, trucks, pushing and pulling toys, mats and building
bricks. Whilst I am playing outside I will be learning to
share and take turns as well as getting fresh air and
exercise.
CONSTRUCTION
I will have opportunities to play with a wide variety of
constructed toys such as Duplo, Mobilo, Brio, Train Sets
etc. I will be able to use bricks and small bricks to make
models and build towers. I will also be able to build
outside with big wooden blocks, planks and tyres.
P.E.
Valley School has a large hall with big apparatus, so I will
have the opportunity to explore, climb and balance on it.
I can also practice my catching and throwing skills using
different sizes of balls, bats and beanbags.
Sometimes we will go into the hall to do music and
movement or to have assembly.
Please let me wear easy to manage clothes on P.E. days.
BALL POOL AND SOFT PLAY
I know I will love this room. It is full of big shapes and a
ball pool for me to jump and bounce about in. My class
will often use this room.
POOL
Valley School has a large warm hydrotherapy pool. I will
be able to join some of friends for a play and swim if
mum is able to come with me in it
LIGHTROOM
This is a magical room with lots of different coloured
lights. I will be able to watch the light bubble tube
and the projector with its different scenes and
Imagine myself to be on the moon or under the sea.
MINIBUS
Sometimes I will go out in the school minibus. It is a
new bus with up to twelve seats, all fitted with
seatbelts.
We will be able to visit parks, shops, farms and many
other places too.
MOVING TO SCHOOL
All my time spent at Nursery will be preparing me for
when I go to ‘Big School’.
During the time before I move to school my new
teacher usually makes arrangements for you to take
me on visits.
PERSONAL AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
In the Nursery the children are helped to respect, value and help
each other, to share toys and equipment and to play co-operatively in
order to establish the values necessary for later life.
We use an incentive system of recording special effort and kind
deeds in our ‘Achievement Book’ throughout the week and stickers
are given for being kind, brave, helpful and for good work.
NURSERY THEMES
Our Nursery class follows a thematic approach. Each half term or
term a plan will be put up in the cloakroom area outlining our theme
and the activities to be experienced by the children.
After reading the theme details you may have suggestions to put
forward or you may feel that you can help in a particular way. If so
please discuss it with the Nursery staff as we welcome parental
input and help at all times.
We hope that you and your child will spend a happy and successful
year with us.
Lisa Colling
Anna Floyd
Caroline Nield
Sue Hyde
Jane Bennett
Nursery Teacher
Nursery Teacher
Nursery Nurse
Classroom Assistant
Classroom Assistant
INFORMATION FOR PARENTS/CARERS ABOUT THE
NURSERY PROVISION AT VALLEY SCHOOL
Are there any differences in the teaching and learning at Valley
School’s Nursery, compared to other Nurseries
Teaching and Learning is based on the Early Years Foundation Stage
Curriculum in Valley’s Nursery, as it is in all other nursery settings.
The difference is that the nursery caters for a much wider range of
ability amongst its pupils than most other nurseries. This means that
our teachers and support staff need to be skilled and experienced at
planning learning activities that are motivating and accessible to
children with very different needs
HOW DO I APPLY FOR A PLACE
How do I apply for a place?
First make sure you have visited the nurseries that you think may be
suitable for your child. When you have a clear preference, complete
an application form for a nursery place. These are available from
school, you can obtain them from libraries and information centres or
from the Admissions, Support and Advice Team on 0161 474 3926
You can also apply online at:
www.stockport.gov.uk/schooladmissions
I am concerned about how well my child will settle in the nursery.
Will I be able to stay with him/her for a while?
Parents/Carers are welcome to stay with their child in the nursery for
as long as it takes for them both to feel settled and relaxed.
Parents themselves are usually the ones who decide when to go. In
some cases this is on the first day, in some cases it takes a while longer. Staff will provide support and advice to you during the
settling in period, and will be glad to receive further information from
you about your child’s preferences, and anything that will help both you
and your child to feel comfortable and confident