Take a look at the Nursery and Reception class pages!

At Arundale Primary School we want our children to be happy, confident active and independent learners.  In our Early Years Foundation Stage, we do this by having a curriculum that is based on learning through play and hands on experience.

We offer fully funded 15 hour morning (8.45am - 11.45am) and afternoon (12.15pm - 3.15pm) Nursery sessions as well as 30 hour sessions (8.45am - 3.15pm). We charge just £35.00 per week for a full-time Nursery place if you are not eligible for 30 hour funding.

Both our Nursery and Reception units are set up with different areas of learning, for example areas for sand play, water play, and role play, a writing area, a maths area, a making area, a small world area (e.g. fire station, farm, dinosaurs etc.), a creative area and a book corner.

The learning areas are set out to help the children to become independent learners, with open shelving so that they can help themselves to the resources they need.  We make sure that there is a balance throughout the day of independent activities, when the children can choose which area they would like to learn in, and focused activities, when the children will be working with a teacher or a teaching assistant on a particular activity.

Children have the opportunity to take part in outdoor learning every day.  The outdoor area is set up in a similar way to the classroom with lots of opportunities for the children to independently choose where they would like to learn and also focused activities where the children will be working with a teacher or teaching assistant.  Please make sure your child has a waterproof coat with them every day as we try to go out whatever the weather!

We deliver the Early Years curriculum through topics that interest the children, e.g. Heroes, Dinosaurs, Minibeasts all inspired by high quality texts.  Each new topic is planned by the teachers and teaching assistants, taking into account what the children already know and what their interests are.  A curriculum plan showing what the children will be learning during the half term, can be found on your child’s class page on the school website at the beginning of each half term.

We understand that starting school is a big milestone in your child’s life! There can be a whole mix of emotions for both the child and the parent/carer. We aim to make it an enjoyable experience for them so you feel assured that they’re happy and safe during their school day. If you are looking for a place for your child please contact us to arrange a visit.

Reading

Reading is fundamental and at Arundale it is taught in a wide variety of ways.  Initially phonics is a very important part of the process, where we teach the children how to read (and write) the basic letter sounds which enable word building. (Please attend our Phonics events wherever possible where we will explain our phonics teaching, and tell you how you can help your child at home.)  Phonics is taught daily using the Read Write Inc Phonics scheme.  

Your child will have an individual reading book, which is usually changed regularly and it is really important that you read with your child at home.  They will read individually with an adult in school each week.  

We also practice shared reading, where the children each have their own copy of a group text, and read with more independence together with their group, answering questions to develop deeper understanding of the meaning of the text.

Reading is interspersed into all our teaching and is encouraged across our whole learning environment, with a specific class text generally being the starting point for our topic based learning.

For more information about part-time and full-time Nursery places and Reception places, click the 'Admissions' link below.