Information on nursery education in Cambridgeshire

• There are 6 nursery schools and 22 nursery classes in Cambridgeshire, all offering part-time early years education for children from the term after their 3rd birthday.
• Applications for places in the spring of 2007 must be made by 1 December 2006, those for places in summer 2007 by 1 March, while those for places in autumn 2007 by 1 June 2007.
• If you wish to apply for a place at one of the nursery schools or classes you should make arrangements to see the headteacher of the school concerned and pick up a copy of the policy and nursery application form.
  

Foundation Stage learning has six learning areas.

• Personal, social and emotional development
• communication, language and literacy
• mathematical development
• knowledge and understanding of the world
• physical development
• creative development.

Pupils with Special Educational Needs

The School does not discriminate against any pupil or parent whose child wishes to enrol, or is enrolled under the terms and conditions of the Special Educational Needs and Disability Act (2001). We welcome enquiries and applications from all boys and girls. Entrance to the School is competitive and based on academic ability.
Individual arrangements can be made, subject to reasonable adjustments, for boys and girls with special educational needs to ensure that the examination (or other assessment) for entrance to Colfe’s is accessible to all. Pupils with special educational needs are admitted according to the same criteria as other pupils, provided that admission is compatible with:

• the provision of efficient education for the children with whom he/ she will be educated
• the efficient use of resources

There are no special facilities at the School for pupils who are physically disabled, nor any special units. However the School is committed to the integration of pupils with a wide range of needs, and their involvement in the whole life of the school, in line with our Equal Opportunities Policy and the terms of the Special Educational Needs and Disability Act (2001).

Admission Criteria for St Joseph’s Nursery School

Admissions to the school are made by the Governors. The Governors intend to accept 52 children –twenty six in the morning and twenty six in the afternoon into the Nursery. St Joseph’s serves three parishes namely Virgo Fidelis, St Matthews and St Margaret Clitherow. St Joseph’s is a Catholic School, which is normally very over subscribed: The Governors therefore observe the following criteria precisely; they are in order of priority

• Looked after Catholic Children
• Baptised Catholic children being brought up in the Catholic faith who live within the parish boundaries of the three named parishes, who regularly worship at Catholic Mass.
• Baptised Catholic children being brought up in the Catholic faith who live outside the parish boundaries of the three named parishes, who regularly worship at Catholic Mass.
• Baptised Catholic children being brought up in the Catholic faith who live within the parish boundaries of the three named parishes, who worship intermittently at Catholic Mass.
• Baptised Catholic children being brought up in the Catholic faith who live outside the parish boundaries of the three named parishes, who worship intermittently at Catholic Mass.
• Other looked after children.
• Christian children of other denominations whose parents are in sympathy with the aims and ethos of the school and whose application is supported by the Minister.
• Children of other faiths whose parents are in sympathy with the aims and ethos of the school and who can provide evidence of regular practice of their faith.
• Any other applicants.

The attendance of a brother or sister at either St Joseph’s Infant or St Joseph’s Junior School at the time of entry will take priority over applications, within each category, who do not have siblings.

Admission to School

It is most helpful for advance planning if we know how many children will be starting school each year. For this reason, if you have any young children and wish them to
attend Edgar Sewter Primary, or the Nursery, please contact the school. All children for the Nursery will be put on our Admittance Register, no matter how young. Every effort is made to ensure a smooth progression from home/Nursery to school. The parents have a meeting with the Reception class teachers, and the children have a series of classroom visits prior to their admission.
The Nursery children participate in the life of the school and use school facilities for some of their activities.
Parents of young children transferring form another school are encouraged to visit the school for a pre-transfer welcoming visit.
Children are admitted to the school (not Nursery) as follows:
1. In September if they become 5 on, or before, 31st December.
2. In January if they become 5 on, or before, 30th April.
3. After Easter if they become 5 on, or before, 31st August.
Any variation to this timetable needs the personal approval of the Area Education Manager.

If my child has special educational needs, how will this affect my application?

If your child has special educational needs this does not affect you obtaining a place at your preferred school you just follow the same procedure when applying for a nursery place, places can not be refused because of a child having Special Educational Needs. In certain circumstances when a child has a Statement of Special Educational Needs this can state that the child should attend a particular school as a result of their SEN, this should be adhered to. You can find out more by clicking on special educational needs.

So how do I choose a maintained nursery class?

Please contact the school by telephone. The headteacher will be pleased to arrange for you to visit and to answer any questions you might have.
Maintained nursery classes are located at the following schools
Bearwood Primary & Nursery School: 01202 590703
Hamworthy First School & Nursery: 01202 672377
Hillbourne Community First School & Nursery: 01202 693793
Old Town First School & Nursery: 01202 674966
Some schools have additional childcare facilities or links - please ask the school for details.

What is the Foundation Stage Cirriculum?

Effective early education requires a special and relevant curriculum led by practitioners who know all about your child. The Foundation Stage Cirriculum has six areas of learning, all equally important.

• Personal, Social & Emotional Development.
• Communication, Language and Literacy.
• Mathematical Development.
• Knowledge and Understanding of the World.
• Physical Development.

Children develop rapidly during this time time, physically, intellectually, creatively, socially and emotionally. The Foundation Stage is about developing key learning skills such as listening, speaking, concentration, persistence and learning to work together and co-operate with other children. It is also about developing early communication, literacy and numeracy skills that they will develop further in Key Stage 1 of the National Cirriculum.

Independent place nursery

Our policies
Medicines
To administer medicine of any kind we require a parental letter and either a Doctors prescription or letter. These must show the date, times and quantity to be administered. Medicines must be brought in by parents, and clearly labelled with the child’s name. A record is kept of all medicines given and parents/carers guardians must countersign this.
Behaviour
We encourage good behaviour by praise and explanation. The children soon learn what is expected of them and respond to reward, encouragement and disapproval. We never, under any circumstances, use physical punishment in any form. Should unsociable behaviour arise, we explain to the child why such behaviour is not acceptable. Parents are always informed of any behavioural concerns.
Equal Concern Policy
Quality child care involves valuing every child equally, and affirming the positive value of different skin colours, genders, religious, cultural and family backgrounds. We aim to give children a realistic picture of the world they live in, and correct distortions and prejudices about that world. The Nursery has an equal opportunities policy.
Individual Needs Policy
All children are individual and unique. We provide safe, stimulating play and education in an environment where individual needs are met by staff expertise and a wealth of resources.

Admission arrangements and starting nursery

In many parts of Hackney, children aged 3 and 4 can go to nursery classes attached to primary or nursery schools. The age your child can go depends on the number of places available. Some nursery places are for half a day (morning or afternoon), others for the whole day. Going to a nursery school or nursery class gives children a valuable introduction to school. It gives them the opportunity to develop their skills and be part of a large group of children of their own age in a happy and relaxed atmosphere.
The day is arranged so that children can develop at their own pace. If your child attends a nursery class attached to a primary school there is no guarantee that your child will transfer into the reception class at the same school. There is no right of appeal for admission to nursery classes and nursery schools.

Allocation procedure for nursery places

The University's nursery provision is oversubscribed, and there is a long waiting list. However, due to the change in the waiting list procedures from 1 March 2004 and the opening of the new nursery at Jack Straws Lane there is a greater chance of being offered places than in previous years. Parents who fall into priority groups will be allocated places first. Thereafter, all other applicants are offered places (when available) according to the date when they applied. The priority groups are parents or children with a disability, those who have been nominated under the sponsored places scheme, lone parents, and those with a sibling already in a university nursery or a nursery where we have subsidised places.