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Nursery
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Last modified: Thursday, 14 March 2024, 5:11 PM
APS Nursery
Welcome to our Nursery
At Abercarn Primary, The nursery runs half-day sessions running from 9am – 11:30. (Door open at 8:50am)
Children can start at our nursery in the September following their third birthday. However:
- Children born between 1 September and 31 December may be offered an early start from the January following their third birthday, if places are available
- Children born between 1 January and 31 March may be offered an early start from the April following their third birthday, if places are available
- Children born between 1 April and 31 August are not eligible for an early start
Meet the Nursery Team
Mrs C Lews
Nursery Manager
Mrs C BishopMrs C Bishop
Additional Practitioner
Children arrive by 9:00am and are welcomed in by our friendly nursery team. They hang their belongings on their peg.
Whilst at Abercarn Primary School your child will experience a range of activities. Some will be directed by staff, others freely selected by your child.
Your child will learn to investigate; explore; experiment; question and solve problems through learning experiences that are relevant to their stage of development.
In the Early Years we place a high priority on developing pupils’ speaking and listening skills, to successfully underpin later skills of reading and writing.
The Importance of Learning in the Outdoor Classroom
It is widely recognised that children who have experienced good quality outdoor learning develop strong social skills, are able to work in groups effectively and display a higher level of both self-esteem and independence.
At Abercarn Primary School your child will be given every opportunity through the use of the Outdoor Classroom to develop these skills. Many children prefer learning outdoors and fresh air can have a profound effect on the concentration and involvement of children. Remember, the outdoor classroom will be used in all weather and there is no bad weather, only bad clothing!
Please provide a pair of wellies for your child. These wellies will stay in school for your child to wear outside in wet weather.
We will provide opportunities for children to engage and experience authentic learning that links to the real world. Real-life experiences can enable children to take the lead in asking questions, identifying problems, taking risks and finding solutions. We will create opportunities for children to apply what they are learning to real-life situations helps them understand the purpose of their learning and can enhance well-being, self-esteem and resilience. It encourages exploration and creativity, and will support children to develop an understanding of the world around us.
We will offer the children a wide range experiences, which will be will be hands on, purposeful and meaningful to the child. We will encourage children’s independence, and offer risk, challenge and opportunities to experience success along the learning journey. They will be rooted in real-life, authentic contexts, which will engage them in deep levels of involvement and long periods of uninterrupted active child led learning. The areas of learning and opportunities for learning will include elements of children’s own choices, ideas that emerge from local or current interests and ideas that we will set up for the children to engage with and explore.
They will engage with lots of opportunities to experiment with a range of mark -making instruments and materials lots of this will be displayed around the classroom for the children to see their own work or will be sent home for you to enjoy and spark a discussion. It will also create a connection between home and school
We recognise that our role is vital to the progress of all children and is particularly significant in this period of early learning. We will set the expectation for learning by creating emotionally safe environments that support children to begin to express and regulate their feelings and behaviours in positive ways. We will model a joyful approach to learning, and encourage and support children’s natural curiosity, making best use of the teachable moments that occur naturally as we observe or engage in their play.
Fruit snack is paid a term in advance and will cover the cost of providing fruit every day. We factor in the cost for any absences. If you’d like your child to have fruit provided, please complete the TryBooking form before the deadline. The QR code will be on newsletters and Seesaw. We cannot accept payment after the deadline. If you do miss the deadline and want your child to have fruit, you can send this in every day and staff will ensure your child has it.
Ready for School
- I can use the toilet independently
- I can wash and dry my own hands
- I can blow my own nose
- I can ask for help if I feel unwell.
- I can put my own coat on and off
- I can put my own shoes on and off
- I can open my own packed lunch
- I can use a knife and fork
- I can sit at a table when I eat.
- I can interact and play games with others
- I try to be a good friend
- I can problem solve
- I have persistence
- I am willing to try
- I am able to turn take and share
- I am confident being away from Mummy and Daddy
- I am able to express my emotions, thoughts and needs.
Nursery Handbook
Whether you’re a parent of pupils already at our school or a parent considering our school for your child, we hope that you’ll be able to find all the answers to your questions on our website or in our Nursery Handbook. You can either download a PDF version of our Nursery Handbook here or request a paper copy from the school office. If you can’t find the information you’re looking for, please get in touch and we’ll do our best to help.
Frequently asked questions
Admissions to our nursery are made through Caerphilly Council. The easiest way is to fill out the online application form, click here
Once your child has been allocated a place in our Nursery, Caerphilly Council will write to you to confirm your child’s place and they will also inform us.
When we have received our complete Nursery admission list at each admission round during the year, we will write to parents to invite you and your child to an information session. This information session will give you the chance to meet key staff as well as receiving important information ahead of your child starting with us. Your child will also have the chance to explore our nursery, play with some of our toys and meet new friends who will be starting at the same time as them.
Ahead of your child starting with us we will also ask you to do three things:
- Complete a Data Collection Form to provide us with information about your child and emergency contact information. You can either do this online or complete a paper form.
- Send us a copy of their Birth Certificate. You can either email a photograph/scan of this to us or bring it into the office for us to copy.
- Complete all for the following consent forms, ICT Consent, GDPR Consent and Photos/Video Consent.
For children starting at the beginning of an academic year in September, we usually stagger their starting days during the first week – meaning your child would attend nursery once as part of a small group for a reduced session between Monday – Thursday and they would then stay for their full session from Friday onwards. This helps us to get to know your child really well and helps them to settle in quickly without feeling overwhelmed.
For children starting in our nursery as an in-year transfer (not at the start of an academic year or as a Rising 3 in January or April), you will receive a notification from Caerphilly Council that your child has been allocated a place.
Your child should bring a coat to school, we spend lots of time outside!
They can bring their own water-bottle if they choose but we have plenty of cups for children to drink water when they’re thirsty.
A spare change of underwear can be helpful in case your child has an toileting accident.
In Summer months, please make sure your child wears sun cream and brings a sun hat to school.
Yes, we expect all children to wear our school uniform, though please don’t worry if there are odd days where you. haven’t managed to wash it and need to send your child in wearing something else. You can find out more about our school uniform and where to get it from here. We also have some uniform available from school.
At Abercarn Primary, we communicate with parents in a variety of ways.
Text Message: We often send text messages to update parents on school events or various matters.
Telephone: For more urgent issues, we will contact you via telephone.
SeeSaw App: We will upload some of your child’s work to the SeeSaw app. You can also upload images and videos of your child’s work/achievements outside of school to share with us.
School Website/Newsletters: Each week (Friday), we send out a newsletter to update parents on all that’s been taking place in the school.
Child’s Annual Report: At the end of the school year, parents are provided with a written report summarising what their child has covered and achieved during the year.
Young children love it when you chat, play and read with them!
Read together
Reading is a fundamental part of education and reading on a daily basis greatly helps your child in all areas of learning. Reading is also a great opportunity to wind down and relax in between other activities. Picture books introduce your child to new things they may not have seen yet. Try to use the same book because children learn from repetition.
Talk
Switch off the television and talk to your child about everything. When talking to your child you are teaching them what communication is about. Remember to listen to what they are saying and respond.
Imaginative play
Imaginative play is a great way to get children to express their creativity. You could create a scene such as setting up a shop with tins from the cupboard. You could set up a pet shop using soft toys or a farm using animal figures.
Replicate activities
Repeating activities or tasks your child has carried out at nursery can help to reinforce the things they have learnt. You will learn directly from your child what they have enjoyed and things they might like to do more of. You can find what we have been up to in nursery on Seesaw