AIMS OF KING WILLIAM’S COLLEGE & THE BUCHAN SCHOOL
As the only independent school on the Isle of Man we provide parents with choice and we seek to offer an education that is distinctive and of the highest quality. We cater for a broad ability range and through our bursary scheme we provide financial support to families who could not otherwise afford independent education.
We are a small school and this encourages a strong sense of community and allows individuals to flourish. As a Christian foundation we believe that education should be of the whole person and we seek to prepare our pupils to be confident and responsible citizens with a life-long love of learning.
A SENSE OF COMMUNITY
We aim to create bonds of friendship and mutual support which will last a lifetime. Our pupils should play an active role in the school community and the world beyond.
ACADEMIC RIGOUR
We aim to offer an education with academic rigour at its heart. This also informs our approach to the curriculum, in particular our endorsement of the values and internationalism of the International Baccalaureate which underpins the education we provide throughout the school.
FOCUS ON THE INDIVIDUAL
We aim to support and stretch the individual. To achieve this aim we need to provide teaching and learning of the highest quality together with appropriate support structures and an extensive enrichment programme.
OPPORTUNITY
We aim to provide an education which offers a wide range of opportunity outside the classroom. So our aim is to offer an excellent programme of sport, drama and music and a broad range of extracurricular activities.
DEAR PARENTS
Welcome to The Buchan Nursery, we are so thrilled you will be joining us.
We hope to provide you and your child with a positive and happy start to school life. To achieve this, we promote a caring environment, through the highest standards of professional practice, in which your child can flourish physically, emotionally, socially and intellectually.
We will strive to work closely with you as a partnership that will facilitate the transition between home and school. We look forward to building a strong and positive relationship with you and your family.
Before your child starts with us, we will invite you and your child to come and visit us for a taster session. This is a fantastic opportunity to see our nursery at work and play. Our staff will be on hand to answer any questions and help you and your child get off to the best start at our nursery.
We very much look forward to you and your child joining us all here at The Buchan Nursery.
With best wishes,
GEMMA GELLING
Head of The Buchan Nursery +44 (0) 1624 820481 thebuchannursery@kwc.im
THE BUCHAN NURSERY
ETHOS
OUR ETHOS IS BASED UPON NURTURE AND KINDNESS IN A STIMULATING EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT.
Our philosophy is to learn and play in a nurturing environment that provides the stepping stones for every child to fulfil their potential.
We believe every child is an individual, requiring personalised care and nurture in order to learn and develop.
Children have the right to an environment and a curriculum that facilitates development, independence, quality relationships and learning through play a nd enjoyment.
We find that all children are willing to learn, given the right opportunities and support.
Our staff strive to develop an honest, caring and supportive relationship with parents and carers. We recognise you, as parents, are your child’s first educators.
We hope that we can work with you together for the benefit of your child, showing respect, understanding and tolerance of one another.
We aim to maintain a reliable and welcoming environment where you will be treated with respect in a non-discriminatory and unbiased relationship, so that we can create a ‘safe haven’ which fosters an open-door policy.
AT THE BUCHAN NURSERY WE:
• Provide high quality care and education in a safe and stimulating environment which promotes outdoor play and a healthy eating lifestyle.
• Work in partnership with parents to help children learn and develop.
• Offer children and parents a service which promotes equality and diversity.
• Provide children a developmentally appropriate curriculum based upon sound research and recognised best practice.
• Add to the life and well-being of the local community.
• Help to create habits of listening, sharing, concentration and pride in our achievements.
• Help children establish the skills required for ‘school readiness’.
• We pride ourselves on being approachable and welcome everyone wholeheartedly into The Buchan Nursery family which is based on loving care, nurture and development.
THE BUCHAN NURSERY STAFF
We understand the importance of having a strong and knowledgeable team and believe that continuous development is important to ensure that all staff are up-to-date with current legislations. We provide our staff opportunities to train and develop their skills to broaden their knowledge in caring and educating children. This is done through continuously evaluating practice through self-evaluation, reflection and discussion and by holding regular staff meetings and staff attendance to both internal and external training courses.
We believe in a hands-on leadership. The Head of the Nursery is fully involved in the day-to-day running of the nursery and, along with the School’s Senior Leadership Team, we pride ourselves on offering high standards in childcare.
EARLY YEARS
FOUNDATION STAGE
We follow the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework (EYFS), which emphasizes the importance of learning through play.
We work alongside Pre-Prep 1 (Reception) to ensure a seamless transition to The Buchan School.
KEY PERSON SYSTEM
We have a key person system in operation. This will be your child’s Class Teacher. The role of the key person is they are responsible for establishing and maintaining an ongoing relationship between ourselves and your child as well as with your family. Your Class Teacher, along with the Teaching Assistant, will help to settle your child into nursery routines, maintain records of your child’s development on Tapestry, our secure online learning journal, and be the first port of call for you whenever you have any questions regarding your time with us at nursery.
Your child’s teacher is always available for an informal chat should you have any questions or concerns. The Head of Nursery is available to speak to all parents every day and we always maintain an open-door policy.
Our ethos is that all the staff get to know all the children. This will encourage your child to be happy to ask for help from any member of the team. We all work together in sharing the care.
Your child will be placed in a class alongside other children of a similar age. We find this helps children to work together and encourages equal measures of development and learning at a rate accessible to all. We have three year groups: Little Seeds, Seedlings and Sunflowers.
THE EYFS IS BASED UPON FOUR PRINCIPLES
A UNIQUE CHILD
We recognise that every child is a competent learner and we endeavour to support children in becoming resilient, capable, confident and self-assured. We value the diversity of individuals and recognise that children develop in individual ways and at varying rates.
ENABLING ENVIRONMENTS
We understand that the environment plays a key role in supporting and extending children’s development. Our learning areas are organised to allow children to explore and learn, and to locate equipment and resources independently. We have an enclosed outdoor area which is designed to have a positive effect on children’s development. It offers children the opportunities to explore, use their senses and be physically active and exuberant.
POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS
We recognise children learn to be strong and independent from secure relationships. We aim to develop caring, respectful and professional relationships with children and their families. We recognise the role that parents in educating children and we value the contribution you make
LEARNING & DEVELOPMENT
This is divided into the seven areas of learning following the EYFS.
Three Prime Areas:
• Personal, Social and Emotional Development
• Communication, Language and Literacy
• Physical Development
And four Specific Areas:
• Understanding the World
• Mathematics
• Literacy
• Expressive Arts and Design
PARTNERSHIPS WITH PARENTS
We recognise that you as parents are the first and most important educators of your children. We will work with you in providing care and education for your child.
HOW YOU CAN JOIN IN
We welcome offers from parents, grandparents, family or friends of the children to share their own interests and skills as a volunteer.
Children love to have you at the nursery so please do come in to show us your talents or help at the nursery.
We also hold Update Sessions during the year where your child’s teacher will go through their progress with you and talk to you about the Early Learning Goals. This is a great opportunity for you to discuss your child in confidence and ask any questions to either your child’s teacher or the Head of Nursery.
RECORDS OF
ACHIEVEMENT
Our staff have an excellent understanding of how children develop and learn. The children can experience both free choice and planned activities indoors and outdoors. Through regular observations our staff will use assessments to plan an appropriate curriculum and next steps for your child. Staff and parents working together on your child’s learning journey is one way in which we can work as a partnership with parents. Your child’s Record of Achievement helps us to celebrate their achievements and to work together to provide what your child needs for their well-being and to make progress. Our regular observations are put onto Tapestry; our secure online learning journey.
With your permission we will collect information about your child’s needs, activities, interests and achievements and this information will follow your child through to Pre-Prep 1 (Reception). This will enable the staff to identify your child’s stage of progress. Please feel free to add to this Record of Achievement by providing copies of any certificates, medals or cups they have won, or any other achievements your child may have made. No achievement is too small to be celebrated.
PARENT
CONTRACT
To request a copy of our Parent Contract please contact thebuchannursery@kwc.im
STARTING
AT THE BUCHAN NURSERY
We want your child to feel happy and safe. To make sure this is the case, the staff will work with you to decide on how to help your child to settle. We will ask you to complete a brief profile of your child to help give them the best start. If your child has been attending another nursery or with a childminder, it may be helpful to have a transition report from them to assist us with settling your child and meeting their needs.
We will also arrange a ‘taster’ session before your child’s start date. This will be a great opportunity for you to meet your teacher and your child to become familiar with the surroundings. We ask that you make every effort to come to this, as it is immensely helpful in establishing the foundations for your child at nursery.
All children need to be accompanied to the taster sessions by a parent/guardian. We will work with you to find the best way to help your child settle as quickly as possible. This will likely involve shorter sessions to start with. Your child’s teacher will guide you through this settling in process and we hope to see your little one settled and content in their new environment. We have a Settling In Form for you to complete. Please bring this to your taster session to help us learn about your little one and make the settling in process easier for you and your child.
If English is not your child’s first language, please could you help us in providing as much information and translated words to help your child. Your child’s teacher will discuss this with you in further detail before you start.
SLEEP
We have a dedicated sleep room and children who still have a nap in their daily routine will have the opportunity to rest after lunch in a cosy environment.
Each child has their own dedicated sleep mat and bedding. This is kept in a named container and are washed on-site regularly. If your child sleeps with a comforter please speak to us at your settling in session and bring this in their gym bag for use when they sleep.
OUR TIMETABLES & ROUTINES
We believe that care, education and happiness are equally important in the experience we offer our children.
We have visual timetables in the nursery for all children and parents to see the structure of the day. The routines and activities that make up the session/day are provided in ways that:
• Help your child to feel secure.
• Help each child to feel that she/he is a valued member of the nursery.
• Ensure the safety of each child.
• Help children to gain from the social experience of being part of a group.
• Provide children with opportunities to learn and help them to value learning.
We include a variety of extracurricular activities during the day:
• Ballet
• Drama (Sunflowers)
• French
• Ready Steady Dance
• Buchan Rangers
• Dramatots (all ages)
• Music
• Sport
We organise our sessions so that the children can choose from - and work with - a range of activities and in doing so build up their ability to select and work through a task to its completion.
Within their class children are also helped and encouraged to take part in adult-led small and large group activities which introduce them to new experiences and help them to gain new skills, as well as helping them to learn to work with others.
We have over 13 acres of grounds, so that children can enjoy outdoor activities. They will also have opportunities to try growing flowers and vegetables; enjoy digging and exploring in the garden environment, as well as experiencing the joys of Buchan Rangers in the woods.
Staff and pupils from The Buchan School regularly interact with the nursery pupils so they become familiar with the people and surroundings as they move through the school.
POTTY TRAINING
We do not require your child to be potty trained when they start with us. We will work with you to encourage your child to gain the skills which help them to be independent and look after themselves. These include taking themselves to the toilet and washing their hands. Clothing which is easy for them to manage will help them to do this.
When your child is ready for potty training please ensure that adequate changes of clothing are provided as accidents can be frequent. All changed clothing will be returned to you at the end of the day.
TRANSITIONS FROM THE BUCHAN NURSERY INTO PRE-PREP 1
The Pre-Prep Department work closely with The Buchan Nursery to ensure a smooth transition and excellent continued progress for pupils as they start school. Children benefit from regular use of the extensive school grounds and facilities throughout their time in Nursery as well as benefitting from regular specialist subject teaching in French, Drama and Music. A number of taster sessions to the P1 classroom for pupils take place throughout the preschool year and children build positive relationships with Pre-Prep staff. Only children from the Nursery will be present in the taster sessions.
Information is shared about each child’s progress within the EYFS and their overall development before they begin school, providing the P1 teachers with an insight into each child’s needs from the very beginning. Our Head of Early Years, Miss Gemma Martin, communicates regularly with the Nursery staff regarding planning and progress for the nursery children.
Tapestry records which have been built from your child’s first day of nursery allow P1 teachers to have a comprehensive insight into your child’s learning journey from the very beginning at The Buchan and to see how much they have grown and progressed so far. Tapestry records for children at The Buchan Nursery will continue seamlessly for parents and staff as they join P1.
THE INDUCTION PROCESS
A comprehensive induction process will take place during the preschool year for pupils registered to join P1. Where possible, any children who have attended nursery settings on the island will be visited by the P1 teachers in their own nurseries during the preschool year to know each other better and best enable us to support a smooth transition.
All children registered to join P1 will be invited into school for a series of pre-visits during the preschool year and a welcome presentation will take place for parents during the summer term prior to joining. Initial visits for children to P1 will be supported by the staff from The Buchan Nursery. Children will be gently guided though a series of planned visits. This allows the children to become acquainted with their new classroom and surroundings as well as meeting their new teachers and perhaps some new friends.
Our P1 teachers will liaise with nursery staff across the island about any pupils joining P1 and time on visits to nurseries is spent discussing how to best support each pupil in their learning, development and pastoral needs within the transition.
Within the induction process, individual parent consultations will take place with a member of the P1 team, enabling us to focus on your child, their unique experiences and specific needs prior to starting school and answer any questions you may have.
CLOTHING & UNIFORM
As part of The Buchan School we have a sunshine yellow uniform. We ask that each child wears either a Nursery polo shirt or sweatshirt each day. Please put your little one in their most comfortable bottoms, the easier they are for playing, the better!
We learn through play and play can get messy, therefore, we have aprons for all the children.
The Buchan Nursery uniform:
• Yellow polo shirt
• Blue sweatshirt
• Buchan jacket (optional)
The uniform is available for purchase at the online.
Please see HERE
for our school uniform and sportswear lists, which are available to purchase online.
To start to shop please register HERE
Details on how to shop online can be found HERE
If you need assistance please contact Schoolblazer HERE
Please supply a change of clothes, weatherproof clothing, hat, gloves and a pair of wellingtons for your child to change into as needed. As we have a great emphasis on outdoor activity, please also supply waterproof clothing for outdoor play (trousers or all in one suit for the wetter months). These can be kept at nursery for our regular Rangers sessions.
Please note children will not be able to participate in Buchan Rangers without appropriate wet weather clothing.
During the summer months please send in a sun hat for your child to wear when playing outside. We will supply suncream unless your child has allergies, in which case, we ask that you supply this clearly named. Please make sure all clothing and shoes are labelled with your child’s name.
BIRTHDAYS AT THE BUCHAN NURSERY
Birthdays are a big deal in the life of a child. So, for that reason, they are a big deal for us. If you would like to bring in a birthday cake (or traditional favourite treat) for your child to share with their nursery friends, please do so, please include a list of cake ingredients for allergy reasons.
Please speak to your child’s teacher and we can arrange this special celebration and a ‘Happy Birthday’.
Regular newsletters are sent out to let you know what’s happening at The Buchan Nursery. We’ll keep you updated on our themes and activities, as well as remind you of all the important dates coming up. Our newsletters will be sent via email.
We also have a varied school social media platform (including, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Linkedin) and website www.kwc.im where you can keep up to date with the latest new.
OUR APPROACH TO A
HEALTHY LIFESTYLE
All pupils will receive a homemade lunch at The Buchan School. There are a variety of hot and cold options to choose from and we cater for all allergies, intolerances or religions. Nursery children eat lunch in the school lunch hall at a time dedicated to nursery and Pre-Prep 1.
A menu is available each week and is displayed in the nursery as well as on Tapestry.
The Buchan Nursery will provide a healthy morning and afternoon snack which will vary from week-to-week depending on topics, themes or the time of year.
If you are celebrating a national festival at home and would like to bring in a traditional meal or snack for the children to try, then please do speak to your child’s teacher. We welcome as much variety as possible to encourage the children to try different flavours, textures and food groups.
