For all administration enquiries, please email: EYadmin@whitecourt.essex.sch.uk

Little Acorns Nursery at White Court School aims to provide a secure and caring environment for children aged 3-4.  There are clear routines and a structure to each session, which encourages a smooth transition into the Foundation Stage at White Court School.  We follow the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum, which is a National Curriculum for children from birth to 5 years of age.

Learning is divided into seven areas:

• Physical Development
• Personal Social and Emotional Development
• Communication and Language
• Mathematics
• Literacy
• Understanding the World
• Expressive Arts and Design
   

From a variety of topics we generate activities to develop children’s learning, understanding, interests and abilities.  We encourage a child initiated approach allowing each child to explore their individual interests both inside and out, with children of their own age.  At Little Acorns Nursery our aim is for your child to develop a range of skills to build the foundation stones for many years of learning, through playing, exploring and most importantly by having fun.
 

To enable us to build good relationships with parents/carers, we offer an open morning in the spring term prior to the September that your child is due to start with us.  You will have the opportunity to meet the staff and see the current children enjoying their nursery experiences. 

We use an online learning journal called 'Tapestry' during your child's time with us, this enables both staff and parents to record the children's experiences. This online journal will transfer across to the Foundation stage, should your child attend White Court school.

In the summer term before they start, you will be invited to spend some time in the nursery setting to allow your children to familiarise themselves with the supporting adults and surroundings.

We feel it is important to work closely with parents/carers to ensure that their child’s experience at Little Acorns Nursery has a positive impact on their development. Each term we will invite parents in for a parent event so that the children can share some crafting skills.

Uniform

We encourage the children to wear a White Court polo top but the children can wear whatever they feel comfortable in. We encourage independence and would recommend shoes and clothes that the children can change easily. Lots of water and play and getting muddy!

Session times

Morning: 08:45am to 11:30am
Afternoon: 12:45pm to 3:15pm

All 3 year old children are entitled to 15 hours of Government funding which you will be able to utilise at Little Acorns Nursery. This can be used in a variety of different ways:

•  3 full days
•  4 morning or afternoon sessions and 1 full day
•  2 full days and 2 morning or afternoon sessions
   

Places will be allocated on a first come basis and at the discretion of the Head Teacher and the Nursery Manager.

It is possible to split your 15 hours of funding between settings, but we would ask you to use at least 10 hours of funding with us. This enables your child to have time to form good relationships with both staff and their peers, as well as being able to access the rest of the school facilities.

If your child is eligible for the 30 hours funding, these hours may be used for:-

• 5 full days including lunchtime supervision - 32.5 hours
• 4 full days including lunchtime supervision - 26 hours
• 3 full days including lunchtime supervision - 19.5 hours
• Wrap around care (Breakfast and After School club)
   

Any additional hours over and above funded hours will be chargeable.

30 hours funding

To ascertain if you qualify for 30 hours of funding, you will need to visit www.childcarechoices.gov.uk and you will require your National Insurance number.  If you are entitled to the 30 hours funding, you must apply before 31st August to receive the extended funding for the Autumn term.  Failure to apply before this date means you will be charged for any extra hours that your child attends Nursery over the 15 hours of universal funding.  PLEASE NOTE:  you will not be able to apply until after your child has had their 3rd birthday.

Lunchtime

If you choose for your child to attend nursery for full days, they will stay for lunch. You will need to provide your child with a packed lunch and a drink.  Alternatively, your child can have the option of having a school dinner - this will be charged at £2.20 per day. Funding can be used to cover the lunchtime hour. 

Little Acorns Nursery follows the whole school policy of being a nut free area.

Snack

We kindly ask parents/carers to make a voluntary contribution each week.  This money not only helps towards the cost of snack, but will allow us to provide ingredients for weekly cooking sessions, art and craft materials and a variety of resources to support the development of the EYFS curriculum. During snack time your child will be encouraged to become independent by pouring their own drink (we offer milk or water).  This is a social time for the children, where they can talk with their friends and the supporting adults, building on their social skills.

Useful Information

How to apply: Registration forms can be obtained from the school office.
Telephone number:  01376 331801