Nursery
Nursery
Welcome to the Nursery class page.
The nursery class is led by Mrs Hurst and Mrs Pacey. They are supported by Miss Bashford, Mrs Cross, Mrs Thomas. Miss Easey helps with lunchtimes. 
The Nursery is the start of our children’s journey of learning at Godstone Primary and Nursery School. Our Nursery provides a happy, safe and secure environment where we facilitate the children’s learning through play, direct teaching, small group and individual experiences. We work with our children where they are, planning learning according to the interests and needs of each individual child. The children thrive in the indoor and outdoor classrooms, with the adults encouraging independence, good communication skills and positive relationships with each other and the Nursery adults.
The Nursery has a light, bright, open-plan building that has been designed for two, three and four year olds. The furniture and resources enable the children to be independent and be able to access high quality learning opportunities. The children are taught by highly experienced staff.
Foundations for phonics in Nursery
- We provide a balance of child-led and adult-led experiences for all children that meet the curriculum expectations for ‘Communication and language’ and ‘Literacy’. These include:
- sharing high-quality stories and poems
- learning a range of nursery rhymes and action rhymes
- activities that develop focused listening and attention
- attention to high-quality language and new vocabulary.
- We ensure Nursery children are well prepared to begin learning grapheme-phoneme correspondences (GPCs) and blending in Reception by following the Little Wandle Foundations for Phonics programme.
- Children in their last year of Nursery are taught early phonics skills every day including letter sounds, oral blending (hearing sounds to make a word e.g. b-a-t = bat), rhyming and alliteration (words starting with the same sounds e.g. six slithering snakes).
What age children do you take?
Our Nursery class takes children aged two, three and four years old. Children may start in Nursery from the term (September, January or April) after their second or third birthday. Admissions are only at the start of each school term. Please see our admissions policy for more details.
Children can have a two-year-old place or a three/four year old place. We have 4 two-year-old places and priority is given to children with FEET funding. Two-year-olds automatically get a three-year-old place in the term after their third birthday.
We have 24 places for three/four-year-olds (per day).
What hours/sessions do you provide?
Children may have either a 15-hour place or a 30-hour place. 15-hour places are either all day Monday, all day Tuesday and Wednesday morning OR Wednesday afternoon, all day Thursday and all day Friday. 30-hour places are all day Monday to Friday.
Full days start at 8:45am and end at 2:45pm; however parents can pay for an additional 30 minutes so that children are collected at 3:15pm. Wednesday mornings are 8:45am to 11:45am. Wednesday afternoons are 11:45am to 2:45pm (including lunch).
We are unable to offer individual sessions outside this pattern.
If you’re interested in wraparound care from 7:30am until 6:00pm then please contact the school office to register your interest. This is for children in their final year of nursery in discussion with the early years lead.
Do I have to pay?
We take two-year-old children with FEET (Free Early Education for two-year-olds) or working parent funding, so if you are entitled to FEET or working parent funding, then no! For more details please see:
If you are not entitled to FEET or working parent funding, then you can pay for two-year-olds (see admission policy for current prices).
All Three and four-year-olds are entitled to 15 hours of Universal FEE (Free Early Education) funding. If both parents are working a minimum of 16 hours then you could be entitled to an additional 15 hours, making a total of 30 hours free early education. More information can be found at:
You can apply for 30 hours extended free childcare via the government website:
https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/
If you’re not entitled to the additional 15 hours then you can pay for these.
To find out what help you could get with childcare costs visit this website.
https://www.gov.uk/childcare-calculator
You will only need to pay if you want to take advantage of the extra 30 minutes at the end of each day, and for school dinners.
Parents are expected to provide all nappies, wipes etc. for children who need them.
Do you provide lunch?
Children can either bring a packed lunch or parents may pay for a school dinner. All meals are eaten in the nursery building.
What will my child do at Nursery?
The children will spend the majority of the day engaged in purposeful play. The children are supported in their play by skilled adults who teach and develop a range of skills with the children as they play.
We have a vast range of play activities available to the children both inside and outside including:
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role play and dressing up
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sand and water play
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dough to develop imagination and muscles ready for writing
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painting
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workshop area (junk modelling)
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small world e.g. dolls’ house, farm, puppet theatre, train track, cars, animals
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musical instruments
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mark making and writing area
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construction area e.g. blocks, Duplo and large foam blocks outside
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ride on toys and bikes
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balls, skittles, bats, obstacle courses and outdoor games
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nature and gardening areas
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balance frame
The children will be following the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and focus on the prime areas of Communication and Language, Physical Development and Personal, Social and Emotional Development.
The children will get together for stories, singing and other short carpet times. They will also spend time in their key person groups, developing their speaking, listening and social skills in small groups.
What do I do next?
If you would like more information or to register your interest in a place, please contact the school admin@godstone.surrey.sch.uk or 01883 742326.