Thornaby Childrens Nursery

As well as their formal qualifications, our staff have been specially trained by the Stockton Education Authority to deliver the Early Years Foundation Stage. We have written educational policies for the six areas of learning to help each child reach the early learning goals.

We have received three Ofsted inspections which have all been very positive. Our last report stated that “Staff create a stimulating and interesting environment that promotes children's learning and development very well”  OFSTED 2009 www.ofsted.gov.uk

In delivering this programme we regard our parents as our partners and value their educational influence on their children.

Parents have the added pleasure of seeing the positive benefits their children receive from being taught in smaller groups with the security, self confidence and happiness that this promotes. They see, most importantly, that we have won the trust and respect of every child who has grown up with us.

Many parents find that the Nursery Education Grant, to which each child over 3 years is entitled, enables them to send their children to us up to the age of 5 years when compulsory school starts.

The ongoing record keeping and assessment of children’s development is then a valuable tool to enable us to liaise with local schools about individual children.

The Early Years Foundation Stage was introduced in September 2008. It brings together principles from the former Birth to Three Matters and Foundation Stage Curriculum, together with elements of the National Standards for Under 8’s Day Care.

While divided into six main areas of learning, the strength of our curriculum rests in the overlap of one subject with another. Thus we are able to achieve the advantage of experiential learning outcomes. In this way, a single activity can provide a focus for development which touches several learning areas. Observation and record keeping are part of the ongoing assessments of children’s progress and informs the planning of the next step of learning.