Our Nursery was established in January 2020 and currently has two classes per day (morning and afternoon) that young children can join. Being part of a school Nursery ensures quality teaching, learning and exploration is provided.  It gives smooth transition into Reception for children, and it helps guarantee that we are constantly in touch with new thinking in the field of child care and education. We gain from the support of Local Authority School Improvement Advisors, and we have a highly skilled and experienced Senior Leadership Team who lead the way.

We offer:

• Places for children aged 3 and 4 years old
• Fun and friendship with children and other adults
• A developmentally appropriate curriculum to meet the needs of each individual child
• A quality nursery education and curriculum
• A fully qualified and experienced Nursery class teacher
• Support staff with a wealth and breadth of experience as well as relevant childcare qualifications including NNEB, DPP and NVQ3 qualifications
• Excellent staff to pupil ratios with a Key Worker approach for all
• Quality care and education for nursery children and support for their families
• Excellent facilities for your child to mature and develop in a child oriented environment
• A well-established team who work closely with our Early Years Leader
• Staff with First Aid and Food Hygiene Certificates

Session times:

Currently, we run a total of ten sessions per week during term time. We have five morning and five afternoon sessions.

Our Nursery sessions are:

• Mornings – 8:45am to 11:45am
• Lunch – 11:45am to 12:15pm
• Afternoons – 12:15pm to 3:15pm 

Parental Partnership

Research shows that children learn better when their parents are involved. Here at Stopsley, we recognise that parents are the first and most important educators of their young children and are passionate about working together. Therefore, we encourage all parents to participate in our events and to join our parent forums. We also welcome parent helpers during sessions. It is also a useful opportunity for you to help in developing conversation and language skills with your child. We have an open door policy and offer daily opportunities for parents to chat with staff and key workers. Staff pride themselves on being approachable and supportive and are only too happy to help if you are in need of advice or ideas to support your child.

Our parents are welcome to:

• Take part in the school's parent events and parent forums
• Volunteer to help out regularly during sessions
• Take advantage of the training courses, workshops and conferences run by the school and recommended external providers
• Tap into staff experience and expertise

Curriculum

Within the group, all children are supported in developing their potential at their own pace. Our regular planning sessions enable us to provide a wealth of experience from which your child can build and expand their knowledge and skills.

Learning Journeys will be completed for each child during their time with us and these will provide evidence of their progress and achievements at Nursery.

There are seven areas of learning in the Early Years. These are:

• Personal, Social and Emotional
• Communication and Language
• Physical
• Mathematics
• Literacy
• Understanding of the World
• Expressive Arts and Design

At the age of 3 and 4 years old the key areas are known as the Prime areas. These are:

• Personal, Social and Emotional
• Communication and Language
• Physical

These areas of development are the cornerstone on which the other areas of development are built. We plan to intertwine these areas into all we do and plan for the children to have a well-rounded experience which helps each child to make progress which is right for them and to support them in being well-prepared for starting school.

Special Educational Needs

We have experienced Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Coordinators (SENDCOs) who work alongside our staff to provide individual planning, activities and support for children who have additional needs. They work closely with our Nursery staff to support both the children and their families.

Admission Arrangements

Stopsley Community Primary School and Nursery offers the Government's universal educational entitlement of 570 hours a year, through 15 hours per week, 38 weeks a year.  All children who are 3-4 years old and live in Luton are eligible to attend Stopsley Community Primary School and Nursery under this entitlement.

In addition to the universal entitlement, we also offer a limited number of full-time places for families who either qualify for 30 hours free childcare or wish to pay for the additional sessions.  Currently, our fees for additional hours are £4.88 per hour (the cheapest anywhere in the East of Luton). 

Families can apply for the extended 30 hours funding by clicking this link: 30 hours free childcare.  Eligible families will be given a funding code which must be provided to the Nursery prior to admission.  Upon receipt of a valid code, children will be allocated a full-time place (subject to availability).  The 30-hour funding code covers the morning and afternoon session, with an additional charge of £3 per day being made for the lunch period.

We operate a rolling admissions system and children are admitted to Nursery shortly after their third birthday providing there are sufficient places.

We aim to ensure that our Nursery is as financially viable  as possible, so we will endeavour to fill all places.  Families will be able to choose five morning sessions, five afternoon sessions or five full days (subject to availability).  Unfortunately, we are unable to accommodate any requests for unusual attendance patterns or offer part week sessions.

Fees

Additional fees are payable every half-term in advance. No reductions are made for absence through sickness or holidays. An invoice will be issued by our school office and should be paid within the first two weeks of that half-term.  

Session Changes and Termination

A two-week notice period is required for any families wishing to increase their sessions from part-time (15 hours) to full-time (30 hours) or to change their morning bookings to afternoon bookings (or vice versa).  Changes to sessions are subject to availability and cannot be guaranteed.

If you wish to terminate your child’s place at Nursery, two weeks written notification is required in order to calculate fees payable and to administer leaving paperwork.

Starting Nursery

Firstly, complete and submit the online application form (found in the right-hand menu on this page), or complete and return a paper application form, which can be obtained from the school office or the Nursery. Applications can be made from your child’s 2^nd birthday.

We will contact you as your child approaches the age of 3 years old in order to arrange a mutually convenient start date.

We would advise you to visit the Nursery prior to the start date. A visit will enable you to meet the staff and ask any questions. You will also be able to experience the daily routine, which is registration time, free play/curriculum activities, tidying-up time, snack time and story time at the end of the session. A mutually convenient time for a visit can be arranged with the school office.

If you wish to contact us by telephone, you can find all our contact details here.

It is important for parents and Nursery staff to work together to help the child to feel confident and secure in the group. Some children settle quickly. For some this takes longer. We will work closely with parents to support each child as needed. We do ask that a parent stays with the child on their first session as this helps the child to integrate more quickly and gives you the opportunity to ask any questions and become familiar with the routine.

In order to feel free to explore and experiment with all kinds of materials, including messy ones, it is best to send children in clothes which are easy to wash and not too new. Simple clothing, which they can handle themselves, will enable them to go to the toilet easily and to put on and take off their outdoor clothes without being too dependent on other people’s help.

School uniform is not compulsory for Nursery children. However, some parents do prefer to send their children in a school jumper as they wash well, and it can help the child to feel they are ‘going to school’, especially if they have older brothers and sisters who wear a ‘uniform’ to school. Uniform can be purchased online. Details for this can be found in the prospectus pack.

Free milk is provided but for medical reasons, you are welcome to supply an alternative.

On starting Nursery, you will be given an introduction to Nursery life and a parent handbook which gives more details about Nursery. You will be asked to complete a pupil personal information record. All information on this form is kept strictly confidential but provides us with the details that we need to know so that we can get hold of parents at any time and so that your child's needs are catered for fully and safely.