Initially children aged two years old attend for two sessions – Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from 1.00pm to 4.00pm in order to allow them to settle in with children of their own age, to grow in confidence and begin to socialize with other children and to commence working on the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum (EYFS). Usually this is sufficient for children starting nursery for the first time. In the case of two year olds who are ready for a more varied day these sessions can be built up to five afternoons and become full time in the term in which they become three.

On entering the Foundation Unit your child is assigned a Key Person. ‘A key person has special responsibilities for working with a small number of children; giving them reassurance to feel safe and cared for and building relationships with parents’ (EYFS Practice Guidance) and this member of staff will liaise with you regarding any aspect of your child’s education to ensure that your child’s needs are being met. The Key Person usually changes each year this is so your child learns to socialise with more adults giving them an opportunity to grow in confidence without becoming too attached to one member of staff.

Our staff will be happy to talk to you about settling in your child and will do all they can to allay your concerns. We are happy for parent to come in and stay for a while until their child settles or to drop their child off and just say goodbye.

We have an induction afternoon prior to them starting school full time where children come in and meet their teachers and find their coat peg.

In the term in which they turn 3, children can attend full time 8.30-3.30. A full time place is for 10 sessions (Monday to Friday).