Chapter 1

Ear l yYear sFoundat i onSt age Handbook

welcome to acorns

Information Drop off is between 8:25-8:40 each morning. Children are brought to the Nursery gate and will be welcomed by a member of staff. It is helpful if your children arrive before 9:00am as the school day begins with registration and sometimes involves specialist lessons the children are required to attend.

Collection is at 3:20. The children will be brought out to the parent/carer. Please make use of the intercom to let the staff know that you have arrived for collection. Please let the office know if someone rather than the regular person will be collecting.

Before school care is available in the Rayson Room from 7:45am-8:15am. The children will be brought into Nursery by the staff on BSC to start school at 8:25. Should you arrive after 8:15, please wait at the nursery gate until the staff open the doors at 8:25.

After school care is available from 3:20-6:00pm.

The first slot is, 3:20-4:15 in the Nursery building; thereafter the children will be taken to the dining hall where they are able to stay until 6:00pm. They will be charged from 4:15pm onwards.

A snack will be given at both ASC sessions.

what to bring - Wellies with lining for Winter - Winter Hat - Summer Hat - Waterproof mittens - Wellies for Summer - Spare sets of uniform, including socks!

- Nappies if required - Coat - St Peter’s drawstring bag for spare clothes - St Peter’s book bag - Please ensure that all items of clothing, shoes, bags and boots are clearly labelled with your child’s name.

- During the summer months please apply ‘once a day’ sunscreen to your child’s face, neck and arms.

'Let nature be your teacher.'

William Wordsworth

information Each child will have a peg allocated to them. This will be where they will hang their coat and bag each morning. Wellies will remain at school under the pegs throughout the term.

We have a morning and an afternoon snack which the catering staff provide.

The children are given a choice of milk or water.

Morning snack is usually a selection of fruit and the afternoon snack varies dependent on the chef. It usually comprises of something baked. Children with allergies are catered for accordingly.

If your child does suffer with any allergies, please ensure that the office knows this information and has been passed on to the medical team.

The children will attend Music, PE, Italian, Forest School, and the school library each week. On the day allocated for PE, children arrive dressed in their PE kits and trainers and do not need to bring school uniform in.

Waterproofs are provided for Forest school.

life in acorns Each child will have the opportunity to register themselves by hanging up their own Acorn peg doll. The children will have free play while their friends arrive at school. At about 9.00am the children will gather for circle time and welcome all their friends to Acorns. We use a visual timetable to let the children know what is happening each day.

Each day is different depending on whether there is Forest School, PE, Music, Italian or library. The children can choose whether they want to go outdoors or stay inside. Snack time is around 10 am followed by continuous play until we get ready for lunch which is at 11.25am in the dining hall. After lunch the children play outside in the playground until 12.45pm. When the children come back inside, we have a time of quiet. The children can choose to read a book, sit quietly, or rest. Some restful music/nursery rhymes are played, and this gives the children an opportunity to relax.

After quiet time, the afternoon session starts with continuous play outside or inside. The day ends with a snack given around 2.45pm followed by songs and stories before the children are collected or go to after school care.

special events Christmas Nativity Valentine’s Day Pancake Day Chinese New Year World Book Day Mother’s Day Easter Father’s Day Harvest Transition Day

Parent communication Evidence me Phone School Email Reports

what you can do at home Play with your child and play some more!

Read with your children and to your children.

Answer their endless “WHY” questions as enthusiastically as you can.

Praise your children for the smallest things.

Let them know that you are proud of them and that they are loved.

Encourage the use of eating with a knife and fork.

Encourage getting themselves dressed, including shoes.

Encourage independence in toileting and personal hygiene.

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