The Nursery Pre-School

Our new Pre-School in Castleford (near Pontefract, Normanton and Methley) is for children aged approximately 4 years +. Built in December 2010, it is a bright, modern and spacious teaching, learning and play environment which supports the needs and requirements of our oldest children. Our Pre-School is registered for only 16 children and, with a staffing ratio of one adult to eight children (1:8), as opposed to the state school ratio of 1:13, we are able to offer each child lots of individual attention and support.

The Pre-School is headed by Lorna Bryan, (who has worked at our nursery for over 10 years) and who is a very experienced, committed and highly trained early years practitioner. Lorna works in close consultation with the nursery’s Director, Susan Wakelin (a qualified Early Years Teacher) and together they ensure that children are provided with high quality teaching and learning opportunities.

Our Pre-School supports children’s development and progress within the Early Years Foundation Stage (the same curriculum that they would follow at school). An emphasis is placed on supporting children’s basic skills in speaking, reading, writing, number and IT in order to give children a ‘head start’ and ensure they are well prepared for when they go to ‘big school’. A further emphasis is also placed on supporting children’s independence skills, again in preparation for when they leave us to go to school, for example, putting on their own coats and shoes, serving themselves at meal times etc.

We are proud of our excellent reputation within the local community (and beyond) that Brambly Hedge children, on entering school, are very advanced and confident in their basic skills and social skills. Since building the new Pre-School some of our parents are already taking the decision to keep their child with us for a longer period of time as they are confident that their child will be supported in a highly professional manner to make good progress in their learning and development.

Like our Primary Room, our Pre-School also provides opportunities for children to ‘learn at every turn', for example children are supported to learn to read and we use the Oxford Reading Tree Scheme, a reading scheme which is also widely used in schools. Children also participate in daily ‘Letters and Sounds' (Phonics) activities to support their early reading skills. Children take part in hand writing and pencil control activities and we aim to ensure that all our children are able to write their own name, and in many cases are able to write much, much, more before they leave us to go to school. Staff support children with their early number work (counting, number recognition, shape and space) and early computer skills (we have an interactive whiteboard and children learn to use child specific educational software and programmes).

Children also have opportunities for role play, story time, imaginative play, music and movement, creative activities, technology, construction, small world activities, cookery and gardening. Children learn French and a specialist French teacher visits the nursery once a week: in a fun and informal way, children learn basic French vocabulary through songs, finger rhymes, games and stories. Pre-School children have their own ‘free flow' outdoor play area with sand and water play, gardening areas, picnic table, chalk board, bird table and decking area.