About Our Setting
At Wooler First School Early Years in made up of
Nursery( Little Acorns) and Reception ( Oak Class)
Whether you are making a model of a racing car in our fantastic play area or splashing in mud in our Forest School, there are always lots of interesting activities that make Little Acorns and Oak Class an exciting place to learn.
This time in your child’s life is so important, as it helps your child get ready for school as well as preparing them for their future learning and successes. From when your child is born up until the age of five, their early years experience should be a happy, active, exciting, fun and secure; and support their development, care and learning needs.
Children can access a place at Little Acorns at the age of two, three or four. We provide places to children who are eligible for the 2 year old, 3 & 4 year old funding. Parents can pay for additional sessions beyond their funded entitlement, providing that we have available spaces to accommodate. Your child can then move into Miss Symons' class for their Reception year.
Prior to your child starting at Little Acorns, we invite you both along for a visit - giving you the opportunity to see the setting, meet the experienced staff and ask any questions. We also carry out a home visit to help us to get to know you and your child better, prior to them starting in our setting. Then when your child starts Little Acorns you will ask you to help fill in an ‘All about me’ form, alongside your keyworker, in order that we can plan and care for your child in the best possible way.
Nursery sessions are available from Monday to Friday. Morning sessions run from 9am – 12pm and afternoon sessions run from 12pm – 3pm. Parents can access two sessions over a day, from 9am – 3pm. The price of one non-funded session is £15.00. We also provide a breakfast club from 8-9am and after school provision from 3-5:00pm (4pm on Fridays), at the cost of £5 per hour. If your child attends the afternoon session they will join their friends and share lunch together in the Little Acorns room. Your child has the option either to bring their own packed lunch from home or parents can pay for a school lunch prepared by the school kitchen staff at a charge of £2.40.
Oak Class times are: 9am until 3:15pm.
For the three, four and five year olds we request that your child wears the school colours/sweatshirt. Please see the link on the virtual office tab at the top of the website.
The staff members in Nursery include five qualified and experienced childcare staff and an Administrative Assistant. Oak Class is led by Miss Symons ( Deputy Head Teacher) and qualified teaching assistants. Miss Symons is also Early Years Lead.
We implement the governments Early Years Curriculum, which is called Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). The staff plan and provide activities and experiences within sessions, which promote the children’s learning and development within the seven areas of learning. These are through the Prime Areas: Personal, Social and Emotional Development, Communication and Language, Physical Development and the Specific Areas: Literacy, Mathematics, Understanding the World and Expressive Arts and Design. As described in our mission statement we believe that children learn best through play.