Bexley Manor Nursery School
Ofsted report Pictures	Prospectus   Contents: General information The purpose of the school The aims of the school The Nursery curriculum Session Times Policies and Inspections Uniform Health and Safety Registering your child and visiting the school Fees, grants, and term dates
Headteacher Jenny Waters

GENERAL INFORMATION All enquiries and correspondence should be addressed to:   Mrs Jenny Waters  Headteacher Bexley Manor Nursery School                    Telephone:  020 8309 6055 162 Penhill Road BEXLEY Kent  DA5  3EA bmns@chessmail.co.uk Bexley Manor Nursery School was established in 1984 by the current Headteacher, a fully qualified teacher with more than twenty years teaching experience.  All other members of the staff are either trained teachers, or qualified to NVQ level 3, 4, or 5, or have other qualifications relevant to the welfare and education of pre-school children.  We also have a part time SENCO (Special Educational Needs Co-Ordinator) who gives additional help to children with special needs or disabilities and, where appropriate, liaises with speech therapists, educational psychologists, etc.  A further member of staff is also employed to work with children with additional needs and this benefits all children in the Nursery. THE PURPOSE OF THE SCHOOL The purpose of the school is to give all children opportunities for learning and advancement according to their abilities without restrictions because of age. A good nursery education gives a child a firm grounding for infant school, enabling his/her first infant teacher to avoid having to spend a lot of time introducing things with which the child could easily have coped at an earlier age. The majority of our children attend two or three sessions at Nursery School from the term in which they become three, and increase the number of sessions attended after a term or two. Many of our children go on to state primary schools and parents frequently report that their child has done very well due to having the advantage of being able to read and write before starting at primary school.  Over the years we have watched a large proportion of our children achieve a high standard in the selection tests for secondary schools.  We believe this is partly due to the fact that children showing above average ability on entering school will be expected to continue to do well by future teachers, rather than having to prove themselves capable of this later.  Their self confidence is also directly related to their efforts to do well and this leads to a happier and generally positive approach to their own education. A number of our pupils remain in the private education system and local private schools are happy to take our pupils at the age of 5 even if they have a nursery class attached to their own school.  Some parents prefer Bexley Manor because, unlike some other private schools, we do not demand that a child attends 5 days a week from the age of 3!  Indeed we believe that this may deprive a child of extremely valuable time with a parent or carer at an age when one-to-one learning can be most advantageous. Our classrooms are light and airy and each room is self-contained, having access to toilets and wash-basins directly from the classroom, and with direct access to the outdoor play area.  The rooms have a homely feel which the children find more friendly than a large hall.  Each room offers a similar variety of activities, including painting, cutting, and sticking; floor toys; jigsaws; large and small construction toys; drawing; tracing; small world (dolls' house etc); and role play.  Children are allowed to choose their own activities for a large part of each session, and independence and helping others are positively encouraged.  A large hall is available for use by each class in turn for PE, and for opportunities to work with bigger construction toys and to use the large role play area. Parental involvement Staff recognise that parents are very busy people, and there is no obligation or pressure to assist in the Nursery.  However some parents are willing and able to become involved, and there are opportunities to assist staff with projects such as gardening, sewing, and cooking, as well as to accompany children and staff on outings or nature walks.  It is the policy of the school that parents working with the children are always supervised by members of staff, all of whom have been police checked. An open evening is held for parents whose children have been attending for 1 or 2 terms.  Open afternoons are also held at the end of each term, to enable children to show their parents around their classroom and demonstrate some of their "work" activities.  Activity sheets are sent home periodically to give parents an opportunity to feed back information about their child's development which they have noted at home.  All parents are invited to the school in their child's final term, to discuss their transfer to primary school and to have an opportunity to discuss and contribute to the record sheets which will be passed on to the new school. Back to top

THE AIMS OF THE SCHOOL Our aim is to encourage the emotional and social development and well-being of your child. All staff have qualifications relating to Early Years and all have also attended courses on the government's EYFS (Early Years Foundation Stage) curriculum.  Our own curriculum is set out on the following pages and it incorporates all that is recommended in EYFS and more. All staff strive to improve their own performance and standards by attending various courses and regularly updating procedures and policies.  We also make use of Ofsted and Bexley's Self Evaluation Tools to review and update our practice.  As part of our registration we are required to be inspected by Ofsted and the consistently good results of these inspections can be seen on our website. Our Nursery staff are especially concerned with settling the children in speedily and ensuring that they are happy and content.  Any child who is unhappy or unwell can be sure of sympathetic care and attention.  Children are encouraged to share toys and apparatus thoughtfully and good manners and consideration for others are positively encouraged. The children are given plenty of opportunity and encouragement for co-operative and imaginative play.  Self confidence and independence are also developed, and children are given responsibility for their own possessions where possible and the opportunity to take responsibility for a small group of their peers, giving out pencils, biscuits, etc. Each child works with a group of children and a member of staff for part of every session.  Although the children are approximately the same age, their abilities vary and a certain amount of their work is tailored to their individual ability. Many of our children reach a standard well above that which is suggested in government guidelines.  Our aim is to encourage each individual child to achieve his or her full potential whilst enjoying the opportunity to share learning and play experiences with his/her peers. Our younger children are encouraged to work towards the pre-school curriculum by increasing their ability to communicate with one another and with adults.  They are encouraged to become more independent in such areas as putting on their own coats etc. They are also expected to work with an adult in a small group for a short time, learning to take turns at simple games or discussing an object or picture of interest.  The children enjoy these activities and staff are trained to increase the children's concentration time gradually so that their interest is always held. Ample opportunity is given to all children to take part in activities of their own choice.  Outdoor areas alongside the classrooms are available to all, and the larger playground area at the rear of the building is used by each class in turn.  Our aim is to allow all children to spend some time in the garden during each session.  We encourage an interest in living things and the children grow plants as well as caring for pets and studying insects, birds, and squirrels which frequent our garden. Back to top

THE CURRICULUM AT BEXLEY MANOR NURSERY SCHOOL Our curriculum has been followed successfully for many years and covers all aspects of development in the Government's Early Years Foundation Stage Guidance.  Children are assessed regularly through observation (not testing) and opportunities are given for learning through carefully planned play situations, as well as through more formal (but fun), teaching times. PERSONAL, SOCIAL, & EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT The children are given ample opportunity and encouragement in co-operative play with their peers.  Role play and turn taking together with rota and monitor systems give a wide variety of opportunities for the children to learn how to get along with one another.  Good manners and consideration for others are an important part of the development of your child.  Independence in dressing and personal hygiene is constantly encouraged.  We aim to work alongside parents and carers, continuing the social development which in itself brings happiness and satisfaction to every child. The children are expected to show respect and consideration for people of other cultures and beliefs.  They learn to care for and respect living things through growing flowers and vegetables in the Nursery garden and caring for the Nursery pets.  The self-confidence they gain is demonstrated by the children when they perform songs and poetry recitals at the end of term or proudly show off their work to their parents. Disciplinary measures are rarely called for since the children are closely supervised and potential confrontations can normally be avoided by talking through the situation and encouraging children to share toys and be thoughtful and kind towards one another.  All staff are trained to praise good behaviour and take advantage of the fact that children of this age like to please, and respond well to praise.  Serious or persistent poor behaviour will be discussed with parents and measures agreed to help the child improve his/her behaviour if necessary. COMMUNICATION, LANGUAGE, & LITERACY Activities are designed to improve and build on the children's vocabulary and use of the English Language.  Children are encouraged to progress from using single words, to phrases, to complete sentences.  They are expected to ask correctly for what they want and to work towards expressing their feelings and opinions verbally.  Their comprehension of time and space is improved by work on comparisons, e.g. under/over, up/down, in/out, larger/smaller, etc, and questions such as "What did you do yesterday?", "Where are you going tomorrow?" Opportunities for mark making are always available and these are presented in a wide variety of ways both indoors and outdoors.  Children are encouraged to develop their ability to write and form recognisable letters and numbers using a variety of pens, pencils, crayons, chalk etc for mark making during play.  They are also shown the correct formation of letters and numbers in a more formal teaching approach.  Emphasis is given to holding pencils correctly and encouraging left to right movement across the page.  All children learn to write their name to the best of their ability and work towards being able to compose and copy a sentence. The children learn many classical Nursery Rhymes as well as lots of new ones.  They enjoy the traditional fairy tales as well as a rich assortment of carefully chosen stories and poems, often linked to our weekly themes.  Story time is an important opportunity to encourage the children to discover the pleasures of a well-stocked library.  Children are frequently to be found quietly enjoying the many bright and colourful books with which the Nursery is equipped. Children share books with adults in a one-to-one situation and in groups, taking part in role play as well as listening to stories told by their peers or staff.  In this way they can be encouraged towards an appreciation of reading and the world of books and also develop their own imaginative skills.  Emphasis is put on the phonic alphabet and the children learn the sounds of the letters before starting to read.  All the children work on 'Jolly Phonics' rhymes and songs and have lots of fun learning the sounds and actions relating to each letter.  When the child is ready, he/she begins to read using one of the several reading schemes available in the Nursery.  Many  children go on to reach a high standard of fluency and expression.  Books are taken home regularly, to be shared with parents and friends and to enable the child to have plenty of opportunity for repetition and learning. PROBLEM SOLVING, REASONING, AND NUMERACY We have a wide variety of sorting toys for the children to match, sort, and count.  Children learn to use and understand mathematical language to describe shape, size and quantity.  They learn to read and write numbers to 10 and to use them in everyday situations.  They are encouraged to examine larger numbers and to consider the language needed for practical activities involving addition and subtraction.  Mathematical ideas and concepts are linked to sand and water play as well as cooking activities and a variety of games etc. KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD Children are encouraged to learn by discovery using water, sand, magnets, solid shapes, soil, plants, construction toys etc.  Discovery of the world of nature is encouraged through the keeping of pets and plants both indoors and out.  The nursery garden and local walks are explored and observed throughout the year.  A variety of play equipment, dressing up clothes, jigsaw puzzles and books are used to reflect the cultures and religions of other nations and children are encouraged to share their knowledge of their own and other people's way of life. The children's knowledge of technology is expanded by the use of construction toys designed to encourage understanding of movement using wheels, cogs, magnets, etc.  Older children may use CD or cassette players to listen to story tapes or record their own stories.  Programmable toys are  available for regular use by the children, and they also have access to computers, supported where necessary by 1:1 assistance from a student or parent helper under guidance from staff. PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT Our outdoor play area offers a variety of different types of apparatus including a large rope bridge, trikes, slides, mini-trampoline, climbing and balancing equipment, giving children opportunities to develop their gross motor skills through pedalling, balancing and climbing etc.  P.E. sessions using hoops, balls, bean bags, skipping ropes and stilts etc also take place outside when the weather permits.  Our hall is used to supplement these activities during bad weather.  Hand/eye coordination and fine motor skills and are developed, indoors and out, through throwing and catching, bead threading, woodwork and sewing etc. During summer months many of the activities carried out inside Nursery are moved to the garden, where children enjoy painting, den-making, and a wide variety of activities in the fresh air.  Children are taught about the need to wear sun-hats, and shaded areas are provided. CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT Painting, cutting, and sticking activities are incorporated into almost every session, encouraging the children to develop their fine motor skills at the same time as developing their imagination and creative skills.  A wide variety of two and three dimensional materials are available to allow the children to use an assortment of mediums to create their own art work. The use of music is varied.  We have a wide variety of instruments from countries around the world.  Singing is encouraged with the learning of Nursery Rhymes and songs, many linked to counting.  Children are also given the opportunity to experiment in making their own musical instruments.  Listening to and interpreting music as well as acting, story-telling, and role play are all used as ways of encouraging creativity.  Professional musicians visit the school regularly to inspire interest in music and instruments of the orchestra. *********************** We aim to cover this curriculum with children attending Nursery five sessions per week for at least three terms.  Those who start later, leave earlier, or attend only two or three sessions per week will obviously cover only a proportion of the work described. Back to top

SESSION TIMES Parents may choose Nursery Sessions from one of the following options: Option 1:      Five morning sessions (Mon - Fri) Option 2:      Five afternoon sessions (Mon - Fri) Option 3:      Three afternoon sessions (Mon, Wed & Fri) Option 4:      Two afternoon sessions (Tues & Thurs) Children initially attend option 3 or 4 and progress to a different option after two or three terms, increasing to five morning or afternoon sessions for a year before transferring to Primary School Reception Class. Times In order to accommodate parents' cars in our car park, each of our three classes has a different start and finish time.  These are as follows: Option 1 Class 1 8.45 - 12.00 Class 2 9.00 - 12.15 Class 3 9.15 - 12.30 Options 2, 3, and 4 Class 1 12.45 - 3.45 Class 2 1.00 - 4.00 Class 3 1.15 - 4.15 Parents are requested to park in nearby side roads where possible, in order that the car park can be available for those in greater need, eg parents of twins, those with younger siblings in the car or childminders with several children in their care. Parents are encouraged to car-share, in order to reduce the use of the car park and to help protect the environment by reducing the number of car journeys.  Please let staff know if you are willing to share the school run, so that we can put you in touch with other nearby parents. If for any reason (eg heavy snowfall, flu epidemic, etc) we feel it is advisable to close the Nursery for the day, a notice will be posted on the home page of our website.   Back to top

POLICIES AND INSPECTIONS Policies Bexley Manor Nursery School has policies relating to over 20 aspects of school life.  Relevant policies are issued to parents when their child starts Nursery School.  Students and parent helpers are given additional policies and a full list of all policies held is given to all.  Any policy not routinely issued to interested parties may be requested from the Nursery office. All policies are regularly reviewed by the Headteacher and staff. Inspections The school is inspected regularly by the government standards regulator - Ofsted - and parents are given a summary of the findings of this inspection. Copies of the full inspection report are available in the school office and local libraries for inspection on request.  The report may also be found on this website by clicking here. Back to top

UNIFORM The school uniform may be purchased from Caseys in Blackfen, www.caseysschoolwear.co.uk. Second hand uniform donated by parents of past pupils is available at much reduced prices, from the school office. The uniform comprises: jade or navy polo shirt (with Nursery logo) navy jogging trousers or shorts navy cardigan or jade sweatshirt sensible shoes with Velcro, buckle or lace fastening (not trainers, 'jellies' or open-toed sandals) white or navy socks Children attending more than two sessions a week (ie attendance Option 1, 2, or 3) will also require a pair of black or white named plimsolls in a bag, clearly named on the outside. In order to increase the children's self confidence and independence we aim to encourage them to be responsible for their own possessions such as coats, hats etc.  It is particularly important therefore that ALL OUTER GARMENTS SHOULD BE CLEARLY NAMED and your child's coat should be left at Nursery on the pegs provided.  This means that coats are available to be worn in the playground, and we can also encourage the children to dress themselves. The school provides aprons for painting and water play as well as cooking. Should your child require a change of clothing whilst at Nursery this will be supplied by the school and your child's own clothing will be sent home for cleaning.  We would appreciate the spare clothes being washed and returned to the school within one week. Your child will also need a Nursery School book bag, and these are available from the office.  All children are required to wear a sun hat while in the garden during the summer months.  Nursery sun hats (legionnaire style with the Nursery logo) may be purchased from the office (either new or second-hand) or your child may prefer to bring his/her own hat.  ALL HATS MUST BE CLEARLY NAMED. Back to top

HEALTH AND SAFETY The following points are made for the benefit of all children and staff attending Nursery and we do ask that you give them careful consideration. Sickness If your child is unwell s/he may still ask to attend Nursery.  Please do not assume that because s/he wishes to attend s/he is well enough to do so.  A sick child is very likely to infect other children and may also require more sleep and certainly more attention than can be given by busy staff.  This particularly applies to sickness and diarrhoea but also to severe coughs and other highly infectious ailments such as impetigo and conjunctivitis.  If in doubt please ring Nursery before bringing your child as this is less distressing for the child than being refused admission on arrival.  A booklet covering childhood ailments is available in the office and gives recommended exclusion times, etc. If your child is unable to attend Nursery due to illness or other circumstances a phone call between 8.30 - 10.00 a.m. would be appreciated. If a child is unwell or has an accident whilst attending Nursery we will contact you as quickly as possible.  Please ensure that the emergency contact numbers are kept up to date. Outdoor safety While waiting for the door to open at the beginning of a session please supervise your children closely.  Cars are coming and going in our car park all the time and young children can rarely be seen through a rear window.  Penhill Road is extremely busy at times. Should the car park be full, parents are advised to park in nearby side roads, not in Penhill Road. N.B. A condition of our planning permission is that cars ALWAYS ENTER & LEAVE THE PREMISES IN A FORWARD GEAR. Every effort is made on our part to be punctual in admitting and discharging children from the building and we appreciate the same co-operation from parents in delivering and collecting children on time. Back to top

REGISTERING YOUR CHILD AND VISITING THE SCHOOL Applications are welcome from parents of all children regardless of gender, nationality, ethnicity, religion or disability.  It is the policy of the school to admit children with disabilities at the discretion of the Headteacher and provided that sufficient provision can be made for them that other children attending the Nursery are not deprived of staff time and attention. To obtain an application form and printed prospectus, please phone us on 020 8309 6055, or write or email to the addresses at the top of this section.  Alternatively, click here to download an application form. Your application form will be acknowledged and you will be notified of your number on the waiting list which will give you some indication of your chances of gaining admission for your child.  We have one main admission each year in September, and a smaller number of admissions in January and April.  Children may be admitted at other times if vacancies occur due to house moves etc.  Parents are advised to apply for a place at Bexley Manor Nursery before their child's second birthday since there is a long waiting list for places.  There is no restriction on earlier applications being submitted. Approximately two months before your child is due to start Nursery we will contact you with details of our vacancies.  A home visit will be arranged to discuss your child's needs in private and to give your child a chance to get to know a member of staff on familiar territory.  You and your child will also be invited to visit the Nursery for a morning or afternoon session.  This will enable you to observe the Nursery in action and your child will be encouraged to take part in the activities available. Should you wish to visit the Nursery prior to this you will be most welcome and a member of staff will be happy to show you round.  If you wish to make a separate appointment to speak to the Headteacher outside school hours we will be happy to arrange this. Once your child is attending the school the Headteacher or her deputy is always available to see you with or without an appointment when you drop off or collect your child.  If you have any suggestions or complaints about the Nursery your comments will be welcomed - a suggestions box is situated in the main entrance hall.  Any member of staff will be happy to assist you if you have any problems or queries relating to your child's welfare.  Our aim is to ensure that all the children are happy and keen to attend Nursery, since this is the frame of mind which will best enable them to benefit from the educational and developmental opportunities we can offer them. Our school is independently run and is not required to follow any council policies regarding catchment areas.  Parents travelling long distances however are advised to consider involving their child in other pre-school activities nearer to their home (e.g. Tumble Tots) to give the child the opportunity to form friendships which may continue when the child attends primary school. We do not require a registration fee, but would appreciate as much notice as possible if you wish to remove your child from the waiting list since this gives us the chance to give other parents a more realistic estimate of their chances of a place.  Back to top

SCHOOL FEES AND AVAILABLE GRANTS Early Years Funding Bexley Manor Nursery School is registered with the Local Authority to accept three and four year old children who qualify for Early Years Funding.  This is a non-means-tested grant available to everybody provided your child is old enough and not also attending a state nursery. Where the grant is applicable parents may be requested to pay an additional fee to include extended session times.  For children who attend longer sessions, and for those who are too young to qualify for government funding, the fees are shown in the table below. Fees from September 2011 Option Termly fee Option 1 (Monday to Friday mornings) £438 Option 2 (Monday to Friday afternoons) no charge Option 3 (Monday, Wednesday & Friday afternoons) no charge Option 4 (Tuesday & Thursday afternoons) no charge Children under the age of three at the end of the month prior to the commencement of each term are not entitled to Early Years Funding.  They will only be eligible for options 3 or 4, and will be required to pay the full termly fee shown below. Option 3 £639 Option 4 £428 The fees can be paid by cash, cheque, internet transfer, or by voucher.  We accept the nursery education vouchers which a number of employers offer as a benefit to their staff. Any increase in fees is made at the beginning of the school year and the fees then remain fixed for the academic year. SCHOOL TERM AND HOLIDAY DATES  -  SUMMER 2011 TO SUMMER 2012 Summer term 2011 Tuesday 26 April  -   Friday 22 July Half term Monday 30 May -  Friday 3 June Bank Holidays Friday 29 April and Monday 2 May Autumn term 2011 Monday 5 September - Friday 16 December Half term (1½ weeks) Wednesday 19 October -  Friday 28 October Spring term 2012 Tuesday 3 January   -   Friday 30 March Half term Monday 13 February -  Friday 17 February Summer term 2012 Monday 16 April  -   Friday 20 July Half term Monday 4 June -  Friday 8 June Bank Holiday Monday 7 May (Bank Holidays Monday 4 June and Tuesday 5 June) Back to top