Nursery
Moor Green Primary Academy operates a full time Nursery running from 8.45am to 3.15pm. A full day totals 6.5 hours or we offer 3 hour morning places 8.45am – 11.45am, and 3 hour afternoon places 12.15pm – 3.15pm.
We can provide both 15 and 30 funded hour places (space dependent) and take up to 21 children per session. Parents wishing to pay for additional sessions can do so at £5 per hour. For more information on whether you are entitled to 30 hours free childcare, please visit the Childcare Choices website by clicking here.
We offer a tailored child-centred learning experience where your children work towards the early learning goals but learn through play. We offer a warm caring environment where your children feel safe and each child is given the opportunity to reach their full potential, enabling them to develop their own sense of self-worth. Staff plan activities to ensure each of the development areas are covered; thus helping each child move on to the next stage of development, whilst enhancing their natural desire to learn. We have created an environment where all our children can make their own discoveries, both indoors and outdoors, as well as exploring the cultures and festivals of others – both in this country and around the world.
Although acceptance into our Nursery does not guarantee a place in our Reception class, both Reception and Nursery work closely together to ensure a smooth transition into mainstream education. Our brand new Nursery is furnished and equipped to a very high standard.
Please ensure that when you apply you fill in your correct contact details, and inform us if they change, as we will be notifying parents via post about the outcome of their applications. If we don’t receive a response we will allocate your place to the next person on the waiting list. Our admission criteria, including ages at which your child can attend our nursery, can be downloaded from the admissions section of our website.
Nursery FAQs
What is a typical day in nursery?
Children start at 8.45 and choose where they want to work. The room is set up to provide learning opportunities in all areas based on the EYFS curriculum. The nursery garden is open from 9.15. We tidy together and sing songs or play language games before learning how to wash our hands in time for our mid morning fruit snack. We tidy again and play number games or sing number songs before lunch. We eat our lunch in the nursery room. After lunch we return to learning through play and finish our day with story and songs.
During our day the adults work alongside children to observe their play and look for ‘teachable moments’. This means joining their games and teaching new vocabulary and ideas at the moment the children need it and will respond to it. The teaching is taking place all day and in all areas of the room and garden!
How many children and adults are there?
There is a teacher and teaching assistant in nursery and we have a maximum of 21 children per session.
What do the children eat?
The school menus are available on the website and all food is halal. We provide fruit for snacks and we enjoy baking with the children so will often make biscuits or fairy cakes.
Do the nursery children wear uniform?
Nursery wear their own clothes but some families choose to buy the Moor Green jumper or a simple version of the school uniform. Clothes are likely to get dirty due to the nature of the activities we do and our outside play so we advise you do not wear special or expensive clothes to nursery. You will also need a warm, waterproof coat, hat and gloves for cold weather and a hat in the summer. You are welcome to bring wellies to leave at the welly station where children are taught to change their own shoes.
Does my child have to be toilet trained?
We do not have nappy changing facilities so we do ask for children to be toilet trained before starting nursery. We do not expect them to be perfect at this and we know accidents will happen so parents are asked to bring a bag of spare clothes to stay on their child’s coat peg.
What does the nursery curriculum include?
The nursery follow the EYFS curriculum which is available on the government website: https://www.gov.uk/early-years-foundation-stage. We teach number, phonics, name writing. Subjects such as science and geography come under our area called ‘Knowledge of the world.’ Our curriculum includes music, drama and art.
All of these areas are known as Specific areas and they are underpinned by our Prime areas which include physical development, communication & language and personal, social and emotional development. These are vital to nursey children’s development and through our play based approach we are able to address each child’s needs and support their progress.
What do the children do at Forest school and the mini farm and how often do they do?
We take part in forest school activities such as stick paint brush making, listening walks and bird spotting. We begin the sessions in small groups when we feel the children are able to listen to instructions to ensure they can take part safely. We don’t have timetabled sessions but begin to go regularly (at least every fortnight) as the year progresses.
We use our mini farm to help children to settle. They might go with an adult to visit the animals in the morning to help them have a happy start to the day. As the year progresses we begin regular visits led by the nursery staff. They can collect eggs from the hens. Children who are nervous around animals can take part as much or as little as they wish. We learn about how to care for the animals and we take art materials out to draw them.
I’m worried about my child’s social skills when they start. They may not know how to play with others.
The nursery curriculum supports children’s social and emotional development. We use a wide range of strategies to ensure pupils make great progress in this area. We can support children to learn how to play with others and to make friends. It is an exciting year and we are proud of how our pupils become confident, caring classmates who are ready for reception. Don’t worry if they don’t have all these skills in place before they start.
Is there a breakfast club or after school club?
Nursery currently do not have access to these clubs. We will update this page if they re open to nursery. Reception to year 6 pupils are able to attend them.
My child may have special or additional needs. Who should I speak to?
Mrs Harries is our Assistant Headteacher in charge of inclusion. If you are not sure if our setting will meet your child’s needs you can call the school office and ask for further advice.
