Blackheath High Early Years Prospectus

INSPIRATION CURIOSITY DISTINCTION

WELCOME

Welcome to Blackheath High Nursery, where girls begin their exciting educational journey in an environment tailor-made for them.

The Blackheath High School community offers a complete education for girls from ages three to 18 years, and our Early Years Department lays essential foundations in confidence, social interaction, independence and learning skills.

We actively welcome parental involvement in these early stages of education as we firmly believe that schooling is most successful when there is a close and positive partnership between home and school.

We recognise that by choosing Blackheath High School for your daughter you are entrusting us with the most precious person in your lives and we do our very best to make sure that each and every little girl enjoys and achieves whilst in our care.

I warmly invite you to visit to see for yourself why our Nursery provides the best possible start for girls.

Lizie Riordan Head of Early Years Foundation Stage

PUTTING GIRLS FIRST

Blackheath High School was established for the education of girls in 1880, and is proud to have been among the first Girls’ Day School Trust (GDST) schools in the country. The Nursery occupies a purpose-built setting within the Junior School, on the impressive original site of the School. The GDST’s purpose to help every girl fulfil her potential and dreams permeates every aspect of Blackheath High Junior School.

The modern world makes huge demands of our young people. We provide a safe and stimulating environment for the youngest members of our community, while fostering the innovative Blackheath High School spirit. Girls are encouraged to develop independence and self-reliance within a supportive and welcoming setting.

WE PROVIDE A SAFE AND STIMULATING ENVIRONMENT FOR THE YOUNGEST MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY

INSPIRATION

We know that girls flourish when they can explore, investigate and engage with the world around them. Imaginative games, role-playing and making things instigate creative thinking and collaborative behaviour. Our girls follow the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum and the vast majority exceed the expectations of that framework by the end of Reception.

As part of a larger school community, Nursery girls are involved in numerous activities with older girls or whole-school events –our “big girls” inspire those younger than them. Blackheath High Junior and Senior girls are fantastic friends and role models: Sixth Formers are actively involved with Nursery girls at After School Club and as helpers on school transport; Year 6 girls are Nursery Monitors, eager to work with Nursery children at breaktime.

CURIOSITY

Throughout Blackheath High, girls are encouraged and supported to try new things, learn from their experiences, and have an enormous amount of fun along the way. When girls enter the Nursery we embrace their curiosity and desire to learn, giving them the confidence and opportunities to ask questions, investigate and problem solve. To try something new is to take a risk. We try to instil, in even our youngest girls, a sense of resilience, to “be brave and strong when little things go wrong”.

Use of IT is particularly strong and girls are unafraid to use it widely, creating animations, programming Beebots and enjoying learning applications on the School’s iPads.

THE GIRLS LEARN FROM THEIR EXPERIENCES, AND HAVE AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF FUN ALONG THE WAY

BALANCE

The broad curriculum of the Early Years is delivered through structured play and both adult and child-led tasks, inside and outside of the classroom. Our Forest School exemplifies our belief in the value of outdoor learning – girls make scientific discoveries, become more aware of the environment and have great fun getting really muddy! The Nursery has its own playground with a wide range of equipment to spark the imagination and promote physical activity.

Nursery girls also have all the advantages of being part of a larger school and can join co-curricular activities such as ballet, circus skills or French club. They have weekly French lessons, PE lessons and gymnastics in the gym, and there are frequent visits to the School’s inspiring library. Visiting musicians, dance and theatre groups enrich learning, as do trips to exciting destinations in the capital.

INDIVIDUALITY

Staff really get to know every girl and we strive to forge strong relationships with families to create a partnership for learning at school and home. There are formal parent-teacher meetings throughout the year to discuss progress and teachers are available after school. A contact book goes between home and school each day for messages, and parents can see their daughter’s work vividly displayed in an individual learning blog.

Demand for Nursery places is high but we are determined to keep our Nursery at the optimum size to ensure girls and families enjoy the focused support and attention only possible in small classes.

Breakfast Club is open from 7.30am and After School Club is also open to Nursery children until 5.50pm when they are collected by parents.

STAFF REALLY GET TO KNOW EVERY GIRL AND WE STRIVE TO FORGE STRONG RELATIONSHIPS WITH FAMILIES TO CREATE A PARTNERSHIP FOR LEARNING AT SCHOOL AND HOME.

COMMUNITY

Our diverse student body reflects the cosmopolitan nature of this part of London. The School aims to encourage an international outlook in all our girls, raising their awareness of other cultures. Nursery girls take part in special events and whole-school events such as Harvest Festival, Diwali and Christmas celebrations and visit local places of interest to learn more about their immediate surroundings.

Blackheath High School is proud of our Healthy Schools Award. Girls are encouraged to try new foods and snack time and lunchtime are opportunities to develop social skills, such as turntaking and sharing. Girls learn that mealtimes are great occasions for sharing news, ideas and opinions with friends.

FROM NURSERY TO JUNIOR SCHOOL

Girls enter our Foundation Stage at age three when they join Nursery, and at age four move into our Reception classes. The vast majority of girls continue at Blackheath High into the Junior School.

The transition to Junior School is a big moment for every child. Your daughter will already be familiar with some children, staff and buildings making the move smoother and easier, but girls are also well prepared for the change. Individuals’ concerns or worries are addressed sensitively and routines can be adapted accordingly.

LOCATION

Blackheath High School founders chose the perfect setting.

Just five miles from Canary Wharf and eight miles from central London, the School benefits from all that our capital city has to offer while enjoying the village atmosphere and extensive heathland of Blackheath itself.

The School is adjacent to Greenwich Royal Park, 13 acres of open space with extraordinary views across the River Thames to St Paul’s. The Park is home to the Royal Observatory and the Greenwich Maritime Royal Heritage Site, close to the National Maritime Museum, the Royal Naval College and the magnificent Cutty Sark.

Transport links are superb by road, rail and bus. However, our transport service offers a range of routes which are updated each year to reflect demand, ensuring girls get to school safely and securely and providing parents an alternative to the school run. Sixth Form helpers accompany the youngest girls on our buses and see them into school.

VISIT US

Of course, the best way to see what Blackheath High School Nursery does so well is to visit us. Contact our Admissions Officer to arrange a personal visit or to attend one of our forthcoming Open Days.

We look forward to meeting you.