Welcome to the nursery.

This year our class name is

'Yellowstone National Park'.

"We are the grizzly bears"

Welcome and a special hello to the new children that have started nursery. 

We are looking forward to the warmer weather and spending most of our time outside.

We aim to be one big family where our priority is to ensure that all the children feel safe and happy, within a calm and nurturing environment.

We have places for 26 children during our morning and afternoon sessions  with a dedicated outdoor space overlooking the large school grounds that surrounds the school.

Playing together and learning together 2020 to 2021

We love to take photographs of the children while they are at nursery - playing and learning together. 

The Early Years Foundation Stage

We believe that the children's time at school should be a nurturing and enjoyable experience in which they are able to discover, explore and create in a secure and happy environment.  

The children learn through a mixture of planned and child-initiated play activities.

We follow the guidance given in the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum (2014) and also plan activities to take into account the children’s differing interests, needs and abilities

Outdoor learning

Our children are encouraged to spend lots of time outside every day and take part in "Forest School' type activities each week. 

We explore outside in our nursery garden, in the school grounds or in the Rookery at the bottom of the school field.

We ask that children wear suitable clothes to play outside as we go outside whatever the weather. This may include a warm coat, hat, scarf and gloves or a sun hat. All the children will need a pair of wellies with their name clearly written inside. They can be kept on the wellie stand outside.

We will provide waterproof jackets and over trousers for the children to keep their school clothes clean and dry.

The 'Statutory framework  for the Early Years Foundation Stage' 2014 states that children should:

•     Show curiosity about objects, events and people
•     Use their senses to explore the world around them
•     Initiate activities
•     Seek a challenge and take a risk
•     Make predictions and test their ideas    

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The outdoors is an ideal place to cover these statements and allow the children to learn through exploration, movement, play, talk and sensory experiences.           

We involve the children in activities that are both challenging and exciting. Some of the activities are led by the adults involved and some of the activities are child initiated as the children explore the space around them. These include storytelling, den building, role play, imaginary play, creating art from natural resources and learning about nature and the environment in which we live.

'Tapestry'

We subscribe to 'Tapestry', an online learning journal which parents and carers can access from home. Through this app, we are able to share your child's learning at school with you.

 You are then able to add comments to your child's work, as well as add information about what your child has been doing at home.

The children love sharing their home learning with their friends and the grown ups at school. 

Please speak to Mrs Draycott about setting up your Tapestry account.

Any questions...

If you have any worries or questions we are available to speak to at the beginning or end of each session, or you can telephone school to make an appointment (01909 720251)

You can also email Mrs Draycott at:

sarahdraycott@whitwell.derbyshire.sch.uk