Early Years Foundation Stage
Nursery and Reception
A Bootham School education starts as your son or daughter is approaching the age of three, when we welcome our youngest pupils into our spacious, purpose built Nursery and excellent outdoor facilities.
The first years of your child’s education will set the foundation for a successful lifetime of learning and our passionate, highly qualified staff will nurture and inspire your son and daughter as they set off on their journey.
We also recognise the importance of a close relationship between Nursery and parents, with regular communication between home and school to ensure the happiness and success of our children.
Children are encouraged to learn through play and our small class sizes enable each child to be fully engaged with plenty of opportunities to develop their self-confidence. Fully qualified teachers and experienced teaching assistants ensure a high ratio of adult support, complemented by our specialist teaching staff in Sport, Music and Forest School. Why not book an informal chat with our Head of Early Years to find out more.
Our Quaker ethos encourages even the youngest children to work kindly alongside one another, helping to ensure a caring, respectful and happy environment for you child.
Facilities are excellent, with light airy classrooms and exciting, natural, outdoor areas. Lunches are delicious and nutritious. They are freshly prepared on site using fresh, local produce.
Childcare funding can be used in payment or part-payment of fees while your child is in Nursery or Reception Class (3 & 4 year olds). For full details please see the City of York Council Website: http://www.yor-ok.org.uk/families/Childcare/free-early- years-education-and-childcare.htm and also https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/
For details of the 30 hour child care programme available to York City residents, see http://www.yor-ok.org.uk/families/Childcare/30-hours-free-childcare-pilot.htm and also https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/
Home/School Diary
Every child who joins Bootham Junior School is given a planner. This is one of the methods for communication between parents and the school. We note significant events about which we feel you ought to be aware. We ask you to write down anything relevant which may affect your child’s mood and level of interest in the learning environment. The planner is also used as a reading record and has information about home learning projects and targets for the year.
Keeping in Touch
We appreciate that sending your child to Nursery is a big step and it is understandable that some parents may worry or feel anxious about their child’s well-being and happiness. That is why we invite your child to spend half a day or a full day in the Nursery before he/she joins us. You are always welcome to visit the school to talk to staff about any concerns you may have about your child. Any concerns will always be treated in complete confidence.
We send home regular newsletters full of recent activities to enable you and your child to discuss things of interest. We use ‘Learning Book’, an online learning record of your child’s time with us. Every family can access the photos, videos and anecdotes of their own child’s learning journey. Families can also add to it to form a home learning record.
As well as our newsletter; we have a Junior School e-bulletin, regular news on the website and social media posts. So please follow us on Bootham Junior School Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to stay up to date with all our activities.
Letters from the school are usually emailed to you or occasionally paper copies are put into your child’s reading bag. There is a section on the school website for parents where information, news and school policies are available to download. You are encouraged to check the website on a regular basis.
We also have exclusive Early Years social media accounts, so you can follow our journey as the children develop their early skills through creative learning, outdoor exploration and the arts. We love to share their ventures enjoying a broad curriculum, while being supported by a team of experienced and dedicated specialists. You will also learn more about our ethos, school community and just what makes Bootham so special.
Outdoor Learning
Activities within the safe, outdoor area are structured and planned daily based upon the childrens’ current interests and fascinations.. All the children will have free access to outdoor activities during the morning and afternoon sessions. There is a balance of teacher-directed and child-initiated learning opportunities. The Outdoor Education area in the grounds, enables the children to explore, play and learn. They are accompanied by their teacher and by an Outdoor Education specialist teacher. Forest School takes places for EYFS children one morning per week, usually off site.
Parents’ Information
Soon after your child starts with us, we invite parents in to discuss how they have settled and to share their achievements and next steps. It is an opportunity for you to share any information with us which you feel may be relevant to your child’s education. Parents’ Evenings take place twice a year and a full written report is provided at the end of the summer term.
Why not book to have a chat with out Head of Early Years to find out more.
Reports
Children are assessed throughout their time in EYFS, through observations, questioning and direct teaching. They are given the opportunity to develop their skills and knowledge through investigation and exploration. A profile of each child’s knowledge is developed using observations, photographic evidence and examples of children’s work. This ‘Learning Journey’ is available online and can be looked at throughout the year.
At the end of each academic year children are assessed for progress and attainment against nationally agreed standards. We have been granted exemption from the Learning and Development requirements of the EYFS curriculum, meaning that we are not required to submit our assessment data to the DFE at the end of Reception. A full, written report is made available for parents to read and parents are offered a chance to discuss their child’s profile.
Visits
We organise excursions to different places within the local community. These are designed to help the children acquire a basic understanding of the natural world and of the importance of other cultures. The class teacher will inform you of visits that are due to take place over the term. We will send you a letter in advance, telling you about every visit and, if appropriate, its cost and whether it involves an extension to the normal length of the school day. Copies of our policy on Visits for the Early Years Foundation Stage children are available on request.