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Our Vision
Our Vision
“Step by step, learning together” summarises the vision we have for our school community, which is made up of children, who are the heart of everything we do, staff, governors, parents and families.
Our children
We recognise the steps our children have already taken in their lives and beginning nursery school is another significant step. We support this by providing a secure, safe, nurturing, happy and stimulating start to their school life, supporting each child’s transitions from home/day care/playgroup into nursery education. Our children are growing and learning all the time. At nursery school, we encourage exploring and engaging with materials, creativity, independence and problem solving, so that children build focus and concentration as well as skills and attitudes.
Our parents and families
Nursery school is a good opportunity for parents to make new friends, share ideas and support each other.
We offer “Stay and Play” days, coffee mornings, parent information sessions, and some workshops e.g. to help with sleep, speech and language, learning through play, positive behaviour and transition to P1.
Parents can also get involved in helping and supporting the school with practical things and fundraising.
We involve our local community to enhance our children’s experiences, and to make our contribution, when possible. This includes, e.g. inviting PSNI, firefighters, dental and other health professionals to speak to the children, visiting local sheltered housing to sing at Christmas, inviting the residents to our nursery to share traditional skipping rhymes and ice cream in the summer term. We have an active partnership with Cathedral Nursery School, promoting links between the two schools, and our local communities.
Our staff
We engage in training, through EANI and other agencies, for specific areas when possible. As a team, we share ideas, planning and work together to solve problems and evaluate our practice. We work with other nursery schools in the local area and through partnerships and clusters. A training programme is also available for our Governors, who may take on specialist roles e.g. safeguarding and child protection, finance and recruitment.
“We believe outcomes for our children are better when we all work together!”
School Aims
Our Aims
We aim to provide a child-centred pre-school experience featuring developmentally appropriate learning in a positive, fun, friendly and flexible environment in which all children are encouraged to reach their full potential as members of a happy, caring community.
The aims of Hope Nursery School are founded on the beliefs that :
Childhood is not merely a preparation for adulthood but is a valid and important phase in itself
Every child is unique and has his/her own needs
Learning for young children is holistic, and not separated into subjects
Children have the right to develop physically, emotionally, cognitively, socially and morally to their full potential
Children learn through first hand experiences using their senses to develop an understanding of their world
Children need opportunity and space to explore their environment
Play is central to a child’s learning process: play is the business of childhood
The starting point in each child’s education is what they can do, rather than what they can’t
We Aim To
provide a broad and balanced curriculum, which is challenging, flexible and progressive, and gives our children opportunities to learn, practice and transfer skills
To motivate each child actively in his/her own learning, provide him/her with experiences, which will arouse curiosity, stimulate interest and encourage experimentation, problem solving, curiosity, concentration and perseverance.
To build confidence and establish a love of learning for our pupils.
To promote the wellbeing and carefully consider the welfare of the pupils in our care.
To foster independence, confidence and a consideration of the needs of others and to help children form, sound, happy relationships with both their peers and the adults around them.
To develop parent partnerships and encourage friendly and effective communication between home and school as well as involvement in the nursery life where possible.
To support parents in developing skills and knowledge to support their children at home.
To promote and sustain the school’s positive image within the local community by maintaining strong links with and involving it as much as possible in the daily life of the nursery.
To establish effective relationships with partner and outside agencies where possible.
Curriculum
The Nursery School Curriculum
Hope Nursery School curriculum is based on CCEA curricular guidance for pre school. This sets out aims, principles and good practice as well as areas of learning for pre school children. https://ccea.org.uk/pre-school/curricular-guidance-pre-school-education
Our children enjoy a variety of activities planned across wide, flexible themes and incorporating the six areas of the pre school curriculum. These are
The six areas are:
Personal, social and emotional
e.g. learning independence, focus, concentration, sharing, waiting, taking turns, being kind and managing our emotions
Language and early literacy skills
e.g. attention and listening, enjoying stories, learning new words and ideas, talking and listening, learning about sounds, letters and words, and enjoying books.
Early mathematical skills
e.g. learning about mathematical concepts and ideas, measures, shape and space, numbers and counting.
Arts
e.g. being creative, making pictures and models using different materials, role play, pretend play, songs, play with percussion instruments and listening to sounds
World around us
e.g. our themes and interests, e.g. seasonal changes, planting and harvesting, farm and jungle animals, growing and changing, hot and cold places, people who help us, celebrations and festivals now and in the past.
Additional support
Some of our children will face significant challenges and will need additional support and specific plans made for them, within the context of their class. We seek to work with parents/carers to help all our children take their next step, whatever their starting point at nursery. Sometimes this includes making reasonable adjustments, taking into account many factors e.g. individual needs, funding for staff and resources, training etc. and balancing the needs of other children. We also seek to work with parents and to try to access additional support where possible.
Parents and families
Parents are usually our children’s first teachers, supporting early steps in learning and developing attitudes, skills and independence. We recognise that outcomes for children are better when we work alongside parents and extended family members to support children.
This means that- We invest time in meeting with parents through induction to nursery and at times throughout the year
- We seek to be approachable and to listen as far as possible, we make time to speak to parents at drop off /pick up time, respond to phone calls, messages and maintain good communication
- We send photos and information home regularly (e.g. via seesaw app)
- We plan and facilitate social and learning events for parents, linked to the children’s learning in nursery school and their development
- We organise stay and play events for parents/grandparents– usually one per term,
- We link with others, e.g. health visitors, speech and language therapists, Educational psychologists, specialist teachers, family support and social services as necessary.
School Day / Hours
A typical school day
While each day at nursery is different and flexible, we do try to ensure there is a predictable routine, as this ensures that the children feel secure.
After arriving, hanging up coats etc, and washing hands/toilet, the children self-register by finding their photograph and placing it on a magnetic board.
There is usually time to explore the activities on offer before we gather everyone together for “good morning time” This is when we talk about plans for the day, the weather, our themes, remind about expected behaviours or demonstrate new activities. As the children gain confidence, they also begin to tell us their news.
We usually have sustained play inside / outside with snack available following good morning time. Sand, water play, art and craft, mark making, investigative play, construction and manipulative materials e.g. clay or play dough, are all available, as are e.g. small world, role play, construction and floor play.
After tidy up time, we usually talk about the children’s good choices and achievements, as a class, and as part of our reward systems before changing to a different type of play, e.g. outside / in the covered area or sensory room.
Before lunch we usually have story, songs, rhymes and sometimes language activities.
At lunch the children sit at large tables, usually with an adult and are served a hot lunch and dessert, while the adults encourage the children to chat and to try a variety of food.
After lunch there are usually more structured activities e.g. table top games, music /drama / art, games, work in groups and, weather permitting, outdoor play.
We are very fortunate to have a large outdoor are which includes e.g. a sand house, outdoor classroom, climbing equipment, an area for scooters and trikes, an area for ball skills, a vegetable patch, trees and plants, space for small equipment and large construction items, We make full use of this area, in all seasons whenever possible!
Our Facilities
Our Facilities
Classroom Learning:
We have two classrooms fully equipped with a variety of play equipment which is regularly changed to ensure everyone is engaged in learning! We aim to provide children with well planned, enjoyable activities within the classroom to help develop skills in all areas of the pre school curriculum. Each classroom has a quiet room, often used for small group work, individual work and big group story, music and songs. Each classroom has an adjoining toilet area.
The Outdoors:
We are fortunate to have a very spacious and well equipped outdoors area. We view the outdoors as an extension to the indoors environment offering a full range of activities allowing children the opportunity to develop skills and enhance their experiences of all areas of the pre school curriculum. Children can develop their physical skills, experience fresh air and exercise, problem solve, build, join in games and explore the outdoor world. We have a mud kitchen, outdoor classroom, sand house and creative area. We have some fruit trees and a planting area, where our children enjoying growing flowers and some fruit and vegetables, which we can cook and eat for snack or treats.
The Covered Area:
We have a covered outdoor area behind the classrooms. This is very useful for setting up climbing and balancing activities, games etc. on wet days.
Events
Events throughout the year
Some events may include:-
Stay and play
We try to ensure that parents/grandparents can come and play with their child, usually once a term. This is a great opportunity to meet your child’s friends and other families, and the children are very excited to have their parent at nursery!
Getting Ready to Learn programme
We are fortunate to have some funding for home activities through this funding,. We use this for story books, games and other materials for weekly lending
Shared education
We have developed a strong partnership with Cathedral Nursery School over many years. We usually try to arrange a shared programme including e.g.
- Stay and play at each others schools,
- drumming workshops,
- a trip to the Gruffalo wood,
- a trip to winter wonderland,
- a visit to the farm and/or the park
Nativity
Each year the nursery school nativity is a highlight not to be missed!
Visitors to nursery
throughout the year may include e.g.
- Community Dentist
- Santa Claus
- Community Police
- Fire Service
- Ambulance service
- Belfast City Council
Charity
Each year we like to support a variety of charities. We take part in a range of fundraising activities, e.g. pyjama day, Pudsey day etc. and we are grateful to parents for supporting us each year.
Graduation
At the end of each year, we hold a graduation celebration which is held in the Living Hope Church. It is a great opportunity for staff and parents to come together to celebrate the children's achievements before they enter into primary school.
Our Team
Our Team
Enrolment Process
Enrolment Process
Enrolment is through EANI pre-school applications https://www.eani.org.uk/parents/admissions/pre-school-admissions-guide
The enrolment process usually opens in January for the following September. We usually arrange an open day – please see local advertisements, our Facebook page, or phone the school for more information
Contact details
Tel 02890323185
Email – hopenurseryschool@hotmail.com
