Welcome to the Blanchelande Nursery
Our Nursery is run by a close team of Early Years specialists. The curriculum is child centered, taking into consideration each child’s needs in a warm, happy and nurturing environment. Activities are fun and develop a love of curiosity for the world giving the children the tools to make a successful start on their holistic journey.
Our Nursery children benefit from being in a small group. Each child is allocated a dedicated Key Worker who tailors each individual’s learning and care on a daily basis. The Nursery follows the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum and Nursery staff are with the children at all times delivering this broad curriculum through adult led activities and play. Specialist teachers work alongside Nursery staff to deliver specialist Music, French, Dance and Forest Kindergarten sessions.
Each day we make the most of Blanchelande’s stunning rural setting and we have a well-equipped outdoor learning area. This area is stocked with exciting resources such as art and craft materials, construction, water and mud play and small world play. We provide every Nursery child with waterproofs and they keep their wellies in school, enabling them to fully embrace an array of unique learning opportunities. Outdoor learning takes place daily with activities including working as teams in the mud kitchen, planting flowers and vegetables at the Blanchelande Eco Hut, constructing obstacle courses, learning to ride a balance bike or pedal bike, digging with the small world cranes and trucks, mark making, amongst many other activities. There is always plenty of opportunity for the children to simply follow where their imaginations lead them. Children love their wooden playground filled with apparatus for them to climb and slide on, essential for building up their core strength and coordination. Nursery children also develop early tennis skills on our school courts.
Each child is provided with a daily free cooked lunch and they practise sitting down with their friends to enjoy a communal meal. Children learn how to use cutlery, serve themselves (with adult supervision!) and practise good table manners. Phonics is taught daily and we foster a love of stories and books. Children have ready access to a wide range of library books to take home and change regularly, based on their interest.
Nursery day timings
| 8.15 am – 8.45 am | Early Bird Club (optional) |
| 8.45 am – 9.00 am | Welcome and free play |
| 9.00 am | Circle time |
| 9.15 am | Activities and Free flow |
| 10.00 am | Snack |
| 10.20 am | Activities and Free flow |
| 11.40 am | Lunch (Cooked) |
| 12.20 pm | Outdoor Adventures |
| 2.30 pm | Story |
| 2.45 pm | Home time |
| 2.45 pm – 3.50 pm | After School Club (optional) |
For Early Bird Club and After-School Club prices, please visit our fees page
Communication with parents
Nursery has its own entrance and parents are warmly invited to chat to Nursery staff at the start and end of each day. Nursery teachers keep you up to date through regular posts on ClassDojo, including photographs, messages and reports of activities. We send a school report home before the end of the Christmas and summer terms and we hold parent meetings in the Autumn and Summer terms. For more information about our Nursery department, please contact Mrs Yeoman (Head of Infants). Email: yeomana@blanchelande.sch.gg
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