We hope very much that you and your child will enjoy your time at the Nursery.

Your child is at a very crucial stage in his/her development as it is now accepted that children learn more rapidly in the first seven years of life than at any other time. Therefore, it is really important that the children are given every opportunity to fulfil their potential. As a parent you play a vitally important part in the process. We in the nursery hope to play our part by treating your child as an individual and offering him/her a variety of experiences and activities which are designed to further the development process.

We hope that your child finds out that learning can be an enjoyable and worthwhile process. This prospectus is intended to give you information about the Nursery but please feel free to get in contact with us if there is anything about which you are uncertain.

1. To provide a caring, happy, safe and stimulating environment for children and staff
2. Within this environment to guide pupils in the development process of becoming a thinking, caring and responsible member of society.
3. To recognise the important role of parents, and help them to support their child's education.

Nursery education is about the development of the individual child. We hope to promote the child's ability to:

The Nursery promotes Equal Opportunities for all.

The children must be brought to the Nursery and collected by an adult known to the child. Please ensure your child does not enter the school car park unattended and if using the main entrance please cross via the playground.

The nursery operates a phased introduction of children over the first few weeks of term. This allows time for nursery staff to get to know the children and parents in small groups. The nursery staff make times available during these first few weeks to meet with parents in order to discuss important nursery routines.

The children will be given a small snack every day. The main purpose of this activity is to develop a range of social skills associated with eating. The children are encouraged to prepare much of the snack themselves under adult supervision. Snack costs 30p per day . The money can be paid weekly, monthly or termly, whichever is most convenient. The weekly snack menu will be displayed on the nursery notice board.

It is important that parents advise nursery staff of any dietary requirements prior to their child starting nursery.

All children must bring a pair of suitable indoor shoes. It would be appreciated if the shoes are easy to get on and off. Please make sure that all the children's shoes and clothes are labelled clearly. While we suggest that school uniform is not appropriate for nursery pupils, we would be willing to supply the school polo shirts - if there was an interest by parents

Children who are unwell should be kept at home until they are fully recovered and ready to attend the nursery again. If your child becomes ill, or has an accident while attending nursery we will contact you by telephone. If there is no reply then we will ring your emergency contact number.

Should the nursery need to close earlier than normal you will be contacted by telephone if prior warning has not been given out. Again, if there is no reply, we will contact your emergency contact to come and collect your child.

We believe that taking children out on a variety of visits is an important aspect of their education. The details of any visits will be posted on the notice board, which you should look at regularly. At the beginning of the session we will ask you to sign a consent form to cover all visits.

The nursery utilises school facilities as much as possible. During the summer term a structured programme of weekly activities introduces the children to Primary 1 routines and school staff.

These activities help to ensure a smooth transition from the nursery into Primary 1.

Most theories about learning stress the importance of communicating with others and consequently we will encourage your child to co-operate and work with other children and the various adults with whom the child comes in contact.

Much of the children's learning will be through play where children are offered a range of activities each with an underlying educational purpose.

Play is the means by which humans explore a variety of experiences in different situations for a variety of purposes. It is a process, which provides a way of learning, therefore, it should be seen as a means of teaching and learning rather than a separate entity.

Through activity based learning the brain and body are stimulated and active.

It provides pleasure and enjoyment which in turn will motivate children to further their learning by persevering, overcoming difficulties and concentrating for longer periods of time. It helps to build confidence in themselves and in their abilities. It allows the child to tackle new experiences in a non-threatening situation. It can provide an escape, relieve boredom, allow for relaxation and the opportunity for solitude. It helps the child to judge the many variables within social interactions and develop perceptions about other people.

Skills can be practised and repeated as many times as is necessary for confidence and mastery. Opportunities for sensory experiences which are the foundation of intellectual development are provided.

It provides reasons children can understand for acquiring the skills and knowledge adults value and creates context for language development.

Through their play children learn to:

Co-operate with each other; Share; Listen; Talk; Measure; Weigh; Organise; Think; Become more independent; Develop self-confidence; Control their body; Develop their creative skills; Use appropriate vocabulary; Behave appropriately.

To listen to stories: To sing and take part in a range of musical activities; To learn poems; To visit their local environment; To care for animals and plants

Sand and water play; Woodwork; Baking; Playdough; Painting; Junk modelling; Gluing; Tracing; Board games; Construction toys e.g. Lego, Duplo etc.; Imaginative play e.g. the home corner, the hospital etc.; Building blocks; Outdoor activities; Story corner.

The nursery recognises the role of the parent in the education process as that of a partner.

The individual interest and support of parents in their child's education is crucial. We encourage parents to inform the nursery staff of any worries which they or their child may have. It is also important that parents make nursery staff aware of any information which may affect their child in nursery.

Parents also contribute to the success of the nursery by voluntary activities:

Helping with auxiliary type duties e.g. cutting paper; Helping with an educational outing or visit; Contributing to the educational life of the nursery by taking or showing something of interest to the nursery children. Please contact the nursery if you have something of interest to offer!

 © Lochardil Primary School, July 2001