“Curiosity in children is but an appetite for knowledge”
NURSERY HANDBOOK
TERRINGTON HALL SCHOOL VISION AND VALUES
OUR VALUES:
Kindness We act with kindness always. It is at the heart of everything we do. We show children the power of kindness, encouraging them to act with empathy for each other, their community and our planet.
Confidence As we take our children on a journey of discovery, we make learning fun and light a spark in hearts and minds. We show how with every small step, we learn and build confidence in our own unique abilities.
Courage It takes courage to do the right thing. We act with integrity, showing the value of honesty and good character. We show how with courage, we can take calculated risks and be willing to have a go without fear of failure.
OUR MISSION STATEMENT:
As the world around us evolves, so do we. We encourage children to expand their minds, life experiences and skills, to build confidence and effect change, and for the future.
WELCOME
At Terrington Hall, we offer an outstanding Nursery and Pre-Prep environment where children have space to explore and learn through play with our tailored teaching approaches.
It is my pleasure to welcome your family to Terrington Hall School where we will support you and your child’s transition into formal education as we develop their foundations of learning. At Terrington Hall we believe that these early foundations to learning are key to your child’s educational success and the partnership between school, parent and child plays an important role in this lifelong journey.
Rachel I’Anson
Deputy Head Pastoral and Head of Pre-Prep
TERM DATES
2024—2025
Term dates for 2024 - 2025 are as follows:
Michaelmas term 2024
Term Begins Monday 2nd September
Exeat Friday 20th - Sunday 22nd September
Half Term Friday 18th October – Sunday 3rd November
Exeat Friday 22nd November – Sunday 24th November
Term Ends Thursday 12th December
Lent term 2025
Term Begins Tuesday 7th January
Exeat Friday 24th – Sunday 26th January
Half Term Friday 14th – Sunday 23rd February
Exeat Friday 14th – Sunday 16th March
Term Ends Friday 28th March
Summer term 2025
Term Begins Wednesday 23rd April
Bank Holiday Friday 2nd—Monday 5th May
Half Term Friday 23rd Sunday 31st May
Exeat Friday 13th – Sunday 15th June
Term Ends Wednesday 2nd July
USEFUL CONTACT DETAILS
We have listed the names of those staff who you will meet most frequently whilst your child is in Nursery:
Mrs Ashley Cooper Nursery Class Teacher acooper@terringtonhall.com
Miss Rachel I’Anson rianson@terringtonhall.com Deputy Head Pastoral and Head of Pre-Prep
Designated Safeguarding Lead
Miss Claire Wainwright office@terringtonhall.com Head’s PA and School Office
Mrs Claire White cwhite@terringtonhall.com Admissions
Mr Huw Thomas hthomas@terringtonhall.com Headmaster
COMMUNICATIONS
We have an genuine Open Door policy at Terrington Hall School and parents are welcome to talk informally to their teacher as and when needed. If a more formal discussion is required with the class teacher, Head of Pre-Prep or the Headmaster, a convenient appointment time may be made directly, via email. We do our best to accommodate any requests as soon as possible. To strengthen communication between school and home, a weekly newsletter ‘Terrington Trumpet’ is emailed to parents via the office every Friday giving news of the past week and reminders for the following week. All parents receive a school calendar at the beginning of each term. Dates of important school events and match fixtures, as well as term dates for the year ahead, are listed on it. Occasionally, amendments must be made, but parents will receive any changes via the weekly newsletter or directly from your child’s Form Tutor. The events calendar is also available to view on the school’s website.
CONCERNS
In the event that a parent has a concern or complaint, the first line of contact is the child’s form tutor. If the Form Tutor cannot resolve the matter alone, The Head of Pre-Prep/Deputy Head Pastoral will be consulted. In the event that the problem cannot be solved after speaking to the Head of PrePrep, she will then arrange an appointment for you to speak with the Deputy Head Academic or Headmaster.
WHO TO APPROACH
Form Tutor – In the first instance this should be a parents’ first port of call for all academic and pastoral concerns.
Head of Pre-Prep– if parents are unable to resolve their concerns with form tutors, they should contact Miss I’Anson
Deputy Head Academic – Mr Keens should be contacted for all academic matters unresolved by the form tutor. For Senior School entry queries please contact Mr Keens.
Deputy Head Pastoral – Miss I’Anson should be contacted for all pastoral or Safeguarding matters that cannot be resolved by the form tutor.
STARTING SCHOOL
It is our aim to make the very first experience of school as exciting as possible for every child. All new children are invited to attend settling in sessions prior to them starting Nursery. This not only gives the children time to familiarise themselves with the Nursery environment and their new peers but also allows you as parents time to discuss any issues or concerns with our Nursery staff. These sessions enable your child to make the transition from home to school with more confidence. Once your child is settled into the Nursery you will be invited to attend a short meeting with the class teacher to discuss the progress that they are making and to consider their next steps together. Thereafter, there will be regular opportunities to meet together to discuss the progress that your child is making and to also share your child’s learning journey together.
SESSION TIMES AND FUNDING INFORMATION
At Terrington Hall School we offer 15 hours Early Years Free Entitlement. To allow flexibility to parents, we offer this through various sessions. Please contact admissions to arrange your sessions and funded hours.
ADMISSIONS
Children may enter Nursery within the term in which they are 3 years old. If your child’s birthday falls within the term dates, they are eligible to start at the beginning of that term.
COLLECTING YOUR CHILD FROM SCHOOL
Parents or carers collecting at 12:55pm or 3:30pm should wait outside the Pre-Prep doors and your child will be brought to your by their class teacher or assistant. Please ensure that your child holds your hand and does not run ahead of you into the car park when leaving. If dropping or collecting your child early/late please report to the main office where we will bring your child or return them to class.
CHANGING SESSIONS
Each term we will ask parents to complete a form to request sessions for the following term. We will do our best to meet your requirements.
THE SCHOOL DAY
The Nursery class is open from 8:15am each morning of term. We find that even the youngest children settle quickly into the routine of school and are happy to be left with us. We will always call you on the first few sessions to let you know how they have settled and what they are engaging with.
Monday to Friday
School opens (pupils may enter classrooms) 08:15
(including assembly, church or form period) 8:30
9:00
10:45
11:10
(Nursery to Y3) 11:50
12:55 Pre-Prep day ends at 15:30 15:30
EXEAT WEEKENDS
Please note an EXEAT is when the school day finishes at 5.30pm on a Friday and remains closed until the Monday morning. The May EXEAT also includes the Bank Holiday Monday.
WINTER WEATHER
During periods of extreme winter weather such as snow and ice the school will endeavour to remain open with any changes to the school day being communicated to parents via email or text message.
PARKING AND TRAFFIC FLOW
Please note there is a 5mph speed limit within the school grounds.
Parents are kindly requested to park on the front drive at drop off or collection times. Please ensure that the disabled bays next to the swimming pool are strictly reserved for Blue Badge holders only.
WRAP-AROUND CARE
BREAKFAST
Breakfast is available to all children. Your child may arrive from 7:30am and will have breakfast before the start of the school day. A member of staff has specific responsibility for looking after the children at breakfast and will take them to their classrooms afterwards. For catering purposes, breakfast should be booked in with office@terringtonhall.com with 24 hours notice. Breakfast is charged at £5.00
AFTER SCHOOL CARE
Our after school care for Nursery is held in the Pre-Prep building and is run by the Pre-Prep staff. We include a range of age-appropriate toys and activities, as well as much needed rest time. We take a child-led approach with a ‘home from home’ atmosphere to help them relax after their busy school day. During this time, children are offered a substantial snack. After School Care runs from 3:30-5:30pm and is charged at £6.20 per hour.
TEA
Parents requiring childcare beyond the school day can make use of the tea service where pupils are welcome to have a freshly prepared tea at 5:30pm to 6:00pm. For catering purposes, tea should be booked in with office@terringtonhall.com with 24 hours notice. Tea is charged at £5.00
NUT FREE
Although we recognise that this cannot be guaranteed, Terrington Hall aims to be a Nut-Free school. Measures in place are to reduce the risk to those children and adults who may suffer an anaphylactic reaction if exposed to nuts to which they are sensitive. The school aims to protect children who have allergies to nuts yet also help them, as they grow up, to take responsibility as to what foods they can eat and to be aware of where they may be put at risk. We do not allow nuts or nut products in school.
MINIBUSES
Pupils from Nursery can use the school’s daily transport if they are independent enough to manage. All of the transport routes use the school’s own minibus fleet and drivers, who are fully DBS checked and employed by the school. Pupils using the buses are dropped off in front of the Main School building on arrival and are collected from staff by the relevant driver before being escorted to their bus at the end of the day. Buses arrive in School at approximately 8.15am and depart at 5.30pm Monday to Friday. Transport is charged on a per trip basis. Full details of the bus service, times and costs are available on request from the school office.
LOST PROPERTY
Children are encouraged to take responsibility for their own possessions and for keeping them in the correct places in school. Inevitably items get mislaid, but if all possessions are marked it is easy to restore items to the correct person when they are found. Lost property is kept in a box in the Pre -Prep hall and each term it is sorted and unclaimed items are sent to the second hand uniform shop.
TOYS AND OTHER POSSESSIONS
Children are discouraged from bringing toys to school as they may get broken or misplaced.
ABSENCE
If your child is unable to attend school due to illness, please inform your child’s class teacher and the school office to ensure that the correct mark is made to the register.
ILLNESS AT SCHOOL
Should your child be taken ill at school, he/she will be cared for and we will make every effort to contact you.
Should your child suffer from sickness or diarrhoea, it is school policy that they do not return to school for at least 48 hours after the last incident. It is very important for you to let us know if you have given your child Calpol or any other medication before coming into school.
If your child bumps their head, they will be checked over by a first aider and you will be notified of treatment given in addition to a bumped head note.
Accidents can happen. Small cuts and bruises will be dealt with directly at school by staff who all hold a current paediatric first aid qualification. In the event of a more serious accident which is likely to require advanced medical care, we shall endeavour to contact parents at work or home. If a parent or family friend (named contact) cannot be contacted, we shall arrange to have your child taken to a local doctor or hospital. In such cases, the child will be accompanied by a member of staff. In an emergency an ambulance will be called.
MEDICINES
Medicines should be administered at home unless there is a special reason why your child may need to take it through the school day. If this is the case, the medicine must be given to a member of the Pre-Prep staff on arrival to school and a medicine consent form signed. Prescription medicine should be in the original packaging with the dispensary label attached.
INTIMATE CARE
Even children who are toilet-trained may have the occasional accident when they are engrossed in their learning and play. A designated changing facility is located in Pre-Prep. All EYFS children are expected to keep spare underwear in school in the event of soiling. If wetting or soiling occurs frequently, the class teacher will arrange to meet with parents to discuss appropriate strategies to support the child and a ‘Personal Care Management Plan’ will be drawn up. Exchanging information with parents is essential through personal contact, telephone or correspondence. On the rare occasion that a child is soiled to a point where they are unable to clean themselves to a comfortable state, parents would be contacted so that the child can be taken home for bathing. All children should have a change of clothes in their school bags at all times. Further details can be found on the schools intimate care policy.
SUN CREAM APPLICATION
During the summer months we like to spend as much time in our outdoor area. We feel that the children’s health is paramount and during the summer we ask that all children have sun cream applied before they attend their session at Nursery, allowing them to safely spend time in the sunshine. Parents will be asked to sign a permission form so that children will be supported in reapplying sun cream supplied by school for afternoon sessions.
MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING
At Terrington Hall School, we place positive mental health and wellbeing at the centre of school life. Our values, Kindness, Confidence and Courage, highlight the importance we place on supporting on every child’s wellbeing. We show the power of kindness in everything that we do, build confidence on our unique abilities and show how with courage, we can have a go without the fear of failure.
We aim to ensure positive mental health and well-being for every pupil, parent/carer and staff member. Our positive ethos is based on the understanding that all children need the foundations of positive mental health. As a result of this, we hope children will fulfil their potential academically, socially, emotionally and healthy, helping them to grow in confidence and participate in everything that goes on in the wider community.
Our buddy system helps to promote friendships, better support of learning, behavioural and social needs, and can foster a greater sense of belonging and a more inclusive school community.
The Terrington Hall ambition is to equip young people so they can better deal with difficult circumstances in their lives, preventing them experiencing common emotional and mental health problems.
Wellbeing days are a good opportunity to bring awareness of the importance of mental wellbeing into schools. Classes are encouraged to plan wellbeing days, termly. The Assistant Head of Mental Health and Wellbeing oversees this.
Our peer mentoring has been evidenced as having a positive impact on the emotional health and well-being of children and young people. Peer mentoring can support children and young people by:
• enhancing social competence
• building security within the setting and the wider community by realising their worth as social beings
• improving attendance and educational attainment whilst developing friendship skills in a positive environment
Staff endeavour to make regular contact with parents either in person or via phone call/email, to keep you up to date with your child’s effort and attainment in class.
Parents are encouraged to make use of their child’s communication book, reading diary or email to raise any minor issues or concerns. Staff undertake to feedback either in person, email or via a phone call as soon as possible. This helps parents who are unable to visit the class teacher to keep in touch and allows parents to play a key part in their child’s learning and in turn offers staff invaluable input for increasing their knowledge of the unique child.
During the first half term the Nursery teacher will carry out an entry check on your child, focusing on the 3 Prime Areas, which will be shared with yourselves and targets will be jointly agreed.
We encourage you to contribute to your child’s progress record on Tapestry and comment on their child’s learning diary.
Each half term, you will be invited to meet with the Nursery teacher to discuss your child’s progress and agree on new targets and next steps.
You will also receive written reports across the year.
We believe Terrington Hall is a special place. A place for learning, a place for adventures and a place where children can just be children.
Why should you choose Terrington Hall Nursery for your child?
Because:
we will make your child smile and give them lots to talk about when they get home
we believe that every child is special and unique we will help your child make friends and be sociable we will encourage your child to be an individual we will enhance your child’s academic attainment we will increase your child’s confidence we offer a continuous adventure of indoor and outdoor education we understand young children
we will make each day feel like an adventure we will provide a safe and nurturing environment we have our own setting on beautiful grounds we think of exciting experiences
we have an inclusive and diverse family community we use highly qualified, approachable and experienced staff who care we use the specialised teachers and facilities of the Prep school to enhance learning we accept Early Years vouchers.
THE EARLY YEARS
The Early Years Foundation Stage provides a diverse range of rich opportunities where the children can develop their confidence and independence. We work very closely with this to provide a curriculum where children can learn through talk, play and different experiences, while covering the seven areas of learning and development; Personal, Social and Emotional development; Physical development; Communication and Language; Literacy; Mathematics; Understanding the World and Expressive arts and design. These will be introduced to the children through open-ended learning and ‘learning through play’, allowing the children to explore inside the classroom with its warm, nurturing and safe environment, using different resources but also developing the children’s curiosity by taking the classroom outside and using the natural environment to excite and inspire the children.
At Terrington Hall, we are very ‘hands on’ and enjoy taking the Nursery children out of the classroom as often as possible to develop their confidence and let them begin their learning journeys. Our staff work hard to ensure that opportunities inspire young minds to develop their interest in the world around them. We encourage the children to become resilient, open-minded and to spark curiosity as well as be kind and thoughtful to others. This will create long lasting friendships which will continue to grow as they progress throughout the rest of the school.
LEARNING
THROUGH
CONFIDENCE, COURAGE, GROWTH AND KINDNESS
Our aim is to encourage children to think and always question ‘why?’ and ‘what if?’.
In today’s ever-changing world, it is important that we take time to stop and appreciate all that we have around us. We all lead busy lives and manufacturers are able to produce toys simply to ‘entertain’. We must, however, question “Is this allowing my child to think critically?” “Does it require them to problem solve?” “Are they actively engaged?” This answer usually is “NO”.
Our shift towards using real-life objects and loose parts allows children to demonstrate respectful and careful behaviour towards their learning environment. We carefully choose objects that stimulate their curiosity and allow them to see that magic they are looking for.
Play in these earliest years is the foundation building blocks for all future learning. To embed ideas, thinking, to solve problems, work things out! To develop skills of self regulation, empathy, respect. To form friendships and be able to resolve conflicts. To develop an intrinsic desire to learn. To become an active learner who is curious to discover, find out and overcome challenges. A child who is physically ready for school, core strength, coordination and development of gross motor skills and pivotal joints. A child who is happy, excited and eager to find out, solve problems and is confident in their own abilities.
LET them be LITTLE
OUR NURSERY CURRICULUM
The Nursery class follows the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).
The EYFS is built around three prime areas:
• Personal and Social Development
• Communication and Language
• Physical Development
This is combined with four specific areas:
• Literacy – Reading and Writing
• Mathematics – Number, Shape, Space and Measure.
• Understanding the World
• Expressive Art and Design
All learning focuses on the development of key skills and interaction with real experiences. Activities are adapted and extended, to meet individual learning needs.
REGISTRATION
This is an important time in the daily timetable where children engage in a focused adult-led session. Children complete the fire register, practice their nursery rhyme/days of the week, daily timetable, weather and delegating roles and responsibilities for the day (including line leader and classroom monitors)
In the Nursery, we base our topics around a book or seasonal celebration and this is changed approximately every two weeks. We base our activities and greater knowledge around these topics daily to grow a love for reading and books as well as learning about a range of themes. We link learning to the children’s interests.
An example of a year of topics is as followed:
Michaelmas Term: Outside Inside Knowing Yourself
Lent Term: Talents and Powers
Sowing a Seed
Summer Term: Strength of Mind
Family and Friends
SOUND OF THE WEEK
In the Pre-Prep, children use Ruth Miskin’s ‘Read Write Inc.’ programme. This carefully selected, award winning scheme is continued through to Year 2 and includes highly structured lessons in phonics and reading. All EYFS children who are learning to read do so on a one-to-one basis daily. This ensures that every child is given an opportunity to meet their full potential. Nursery children learn a sound of the week and where they are able, we aim to begin blending in the Lent term.
MATHEMATICS
Maths is heavily embedded into the school day and can be accessed in all areas of continuous provision. The Nursery class follow the White Rose Maths scheme which allows our pupils to work at a greater depth when mastering numbers.
SPECIALIST TEACHING
From Nursery, we are proud to offer a broad curriculum. Children are taught through exciting and engaging lessons that encourage curiosity, that take into account the needs of individuals. The school also dedicates time for swimming, PE, music, drama and Spanish (from Reception) taught by our subject specialists in school.
READING RECORD BOOK
Children will be given a reading record book at the beginning of the year. This is to be used between home and school as a reading record, but also for parents to confirm pick up times. Please mark books daily 3:30/4:30/5:30/Bus– dependent on your child’s collection time each day
TAPESTRY
Children attending Terrington Hall Pre-Prep have a personal online Learning Journal. At Terrington Hall, we use Tapestry, which is a stand-alone application enabling a two way communication between the school and parents.
The benefit to you from Tapestry being online means that you have constant access (via a website that you log into using your email address and password) to access your child’s Learning Journal.
Tapestry records photos, observations and comments in line with the Early Years Foundation Stage in order to build up a record of your child’s experiences during their time with us.
WOW MOMENTS
We encourage you to share information about your child and their experiences at home through Tapestry. We then use some of the children’s interests and achievements as starting points for planning.
LUNCH
Children have a wide variety of healthy snacks each day including soup, smoothies and pittas.
All children staying to lunch are provided with a cooked meal. We sit in the dining room with the Pre-Prep children and an adult sits with a small group of children at each table. We encourage children to have a varied diet and try new things.
If your child has a medical condition that requires a special diet, please communicate this to the Head of Pre-Prep in the first instance.
STAY AND PLAY
Stay and Play Sessions are organised and enjoyed termly. These opportunities give parents/carers/grandparents an insight into life in our Nursery. Your child will love showing you around and having you there to play with. The format of these sessions regularly alters, reacting to parental and staff ideas and input. They usually last for around an hour and can involve participation in a music or P.E. session, as well as sharing a story or art activity.
REWARDS
There will be many opportunities to earn class dojo points for positive behaviour such as marvellous manners, super tidying and lovely listening. A weekly star certificate, Travelling Ted and reading raffle are also awarded each week.
SANCTIONS
In the Nursery and Pre-Prep, inappropriate behaviour is dealt with immediately. This is discussed with an adult and gives children the opportunity to explain what happened, what they were thinking and involves children in the process of solving the situation. Staff are firm but fair and demonstrate high expectations of good behaviour. Where necessary, incidents are discussed with parents. This is in line with our school Positive Behaviour Policy.
STAR OF THE WEEK
A special weekly assembly is held each Friday for Pre-Prep and parents are welcome to attend. This celebration assembly shares children’s achievements of the week and is an opportunity for each class teacher to select a ‘Star of the Week’. Parents will be notified if their child has been selected.
LEARNING SUPPORT
All pupils at Terrington Hall are taught a wide-ranging curriculum within smaller than average, mainstream classes. Staff deliver high quality teaching with classwork and prep appropriately differentiated. Children are regularly monitored to ensure they are making progress to the best of their ability, and challenged according to their own level to ensure success is within reach. It is sometimes appropriate for children to receive additional support to achieve their full potential. Our learning support resources are centred around “The Hub”. As the base for Learning Support, Wellbeing and our ‘Stretch and Challenge’ programme, The Hub is a bright, warm and welcoming classroom resourced with access to online intervention programmes, classroom support, and small group work. The SENCO and a part-time assistant work together across the academic departments to provide and plan support for all children. Individual Lessons are by arrangement and in agreement with parents, SENCO and Form Teacher. Learning support is integrated through the school from Nursery to Year 8 with a focus on the child as an individual. We believe in inclusion and seek to provide a broad, balanced and differentiated curriculum that provides equal opportunities for all. For those children who receive learning support, close communication between school and home is encouraged and parents are invited to a termly meeting to discuss their child’s Individual Learning Plan (ILP) alongside any specific targets. If parents have a concern regarding their child’s learning, they are encouraged to contact their child’s form teacher in the first instance.
FOREST SCHOOLS
The flexibility of outdoor learning and teaching is liberating for our staff and consequently more relevant and enlightening for the children. Our Forest School ethos is embedded within the curriculum and is not something that is tagged onto the learning experience. The discoveries that we make beyond the boundaries of the classroom will often follow us back to school and children’s self-esteem grows with the praise they receive when they ‘have a go’.
At Terrington Hall, we use our Forest School and extensive grounds in order to provide a variety of learning opportunities. Here, children can fill their lungs with fresh air whilst they build dens, play in the mud kitchen, summit the colossal tree trunks or try their hand at gardening. The children love listening to stories around the fire circle or amongst the snowdrops. Our children have the most amazing adventures in the woodland.
TERRINGTON TREE TOTS
Free Forest School Fun in our magical woods
Every Friday 9:30am-10:30am during term time for Pre-Nursery children.
For further information and to register, please email Mrs Claire White on cwhite@terringtonhall.com
SCHOOL TRIPS
To enhance the curriculum, we aim to take children on a variety of school trips, particularly in the summer term. Trips are published in advance in the termly calendar and additional details are sent nearer to the visit date. Parents are asked to complete a ‘General Consent Form’ each academic year, which gives permission for children to visit the local area at short notice.
EVENTS
There are several annual school events which Pre-Prep parents and children are highly encouraged to attend: Harvest Festival, Fireworks Nativity, Christmas, Main School plays, Easter concerts, Spring Fair and Sports Day. Everyone is invited to attend these events so please do bring along Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles and Friends! These events can be found in the termly school calendar.
FRIENDS OF TERRINGTON HALL
The Friends of Terrington Hall Fundraising Committee organises social events throughout the school year, primarily to enable parents to meet each other and enjoy themselves. In the process, a profit is usually made and this funds ‘icing on the cake’ for the benefit of the children. The committee is always looking for extra members so please do come forward if you can help in any way.
POLICIES
There is statutory duty for schools to provide certain information to parents of current and prospective pupils. Terrington Hall does so willingly and encourages any parent to contact the school with requests for information or guidance. School documentation, including policies and guidance are a valuable source of information and we are pleased to make them available, either through the School Office or on the School’s website.
