At St Oswald’s nursery, we are proud to provide high-quality school-based provision in a caring and stimulating learning environment for children aged 3-4 years. Our provision and learning environment is planned for effectively; to ensure that the children can experience the best quality pre-school learning in order to promote school readiness. Every child is unique and therefore we make it our priority to ensure that each child joining St Oswald’s will feel welcome, be able to settle confidently, make the best possible start to their learning journey and above all enjoy every day as part of our school family. Our nursery staff are dedicated to support every child to reach their full potential and to become an independent learner.

At St Oswald’s, we provide a high-quality education where young children can investigate and explore a well-planned, imaginative and challenging environment both indoors and out; where they will be inspired and encouraged to flourish and where every day is varied, stimulating, exciting and above all… FUN!! The outdoor area is an extension of our classroom provision and children will also enjoy spending many hours learning and exploring down at the Forest School area! Young children’s learning should be embedded in what is familiar, involving play as an essential and rich part of the learning process. Through our knowledge and expertise of how young children learn and the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum we provide our children with a carefully planned balance of adult-led and child-led learning opportunities. We believe this allows our children to build their confidence and independence in small and larger group activities. The children are encouraged to join in with both adul- led and child-led activities, introducing them to new experiences and helping them to gain new skills. Such activities will meet the individual needs of your child to learn, experiment, make progress and develop – emotionally, socially, physically and academically. Warm and positive relationships between staff, children and parents, supported by consistent routines, are key. We recognise the crucial role that early year’s education has to play in providing firm foundations upon which the rest of a child’s education is successfully built.

Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum

At St Oswald’s, we recognise that the Early Years Foundation Stage is the foundations of our children’s education and an integral part of their learning journey, through the school. We have developed a curriculum for our children in Nursery and Reception that meets the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage statutory framework, drawing upon Development Matters 2021. In our Foundation Stage we offer a broad and balanced Early Years Curriculum based on the seven areas of learning;

Prime Learning Areas

  • Personal, social and emotional development
  • Physical development
  • Communication and language

Specific Learning Areas

  • Mathematics
  • Literacy
  • Understanding the world
  • Expressive arts and design

Characteristics of Effective Learning

  • Playing and exploring
  • Active learning
  • Creating and thinking critically

Working in Partnership

We work in partnership with parents, carers and other settings to provide the best possible start at St Oswald’s Preschool Nursery; ensuring each individual reaches their full potential from their various starting points. We always encourage parental involvement in our children’s learning and welcome knowing what the children achieve at home. As a way of sharing this from home to school, we use Tapestry as our main means of communication. Tapestry enables each child to have a personal journal, or diary, which builds over time. As a parent and caregiver Tapestry also allows you to contribute to this growing journal by commenting on the journal entries, or even adding your own.

Sessions

Our preschool nursery offers parents flexibility with a variety of funded sessions; including mornings, afternoons or full days and also the opportunity for wraparound care before and after school hours. If children stay for the full day they have the option of purchasing a school lunch or parents can provide a packed lunch (school lunches at an additional cost of £2.12).

Mornings 8:45-11:45am (3 hours)
Afternoons 12:15-3:15pm (3 hours)
Full days 8:45-3:15pm (6 hours + 30minutes lunch)

Morning and afternoon sessions can only be booked in blocks of three hours. Each session of three hours above the initial entitlement will be charged at £17.50.

Wraparound care

    • Nursery Ozzie Breakfast Club 7:30-8:45am (With Breakfast) – £7.50
    • Nursery Ozzie’s After School Club (3:15-4.30pm) – £9.00
    • Nursery Ozzie ‘s After School Club (3:15-5.30pm) – £12.00
    • Nursery Ozzie’s After School Club (3:15-6.00pm) – £14.00

Holiday Provision

    • Nursery Ozzie’s Holiday Club (Full Day) – £47
    • Nursery Ozzie’s Holiday Club (Half Day) – £27

Uniform

At St Oswald’s, we believe that wearing uniform encourages the children to have a sense of belonging and pride in nursery and it helps them in their preparation for school. We also want the children to spend a lot of time being creative, exploring and possibly getting messy! Our uniform requirements are:

    • Plain white polo shirt
    • Navy joggers
    • St Oswald’s maroon jumper or cardigan or a plain maroon jumper or cardigan
    • Black velcro fastening trainers or shoes that are appropriate for climbing and playing in a busy nursery! (Preferably no laces)
    • In the summer term, navy shorts or red and white gingham dresses can be worn
    • A named coat
    • If possible: a named pair of wellies and an all in one waterproof suit that can stay at school

Please remember that from the day your child joins us, we are preparing them for lifelong learning. If your child does not come home spotlessly clean; it means that they are trying to be independent, creative, and explorative but most of all it means that they have had lots of fun learning!

Meet our Early Years Foundation Leader

Admissions

At St Oswald’s, we accept pupils into our Preschool Nursery from the beginning of the term following the child’s third birthday. New pupils can enrol in September, January and April, depending on the availability of class spaces. Eligible families can use their 30 hours/15 hours funding. 

We would love for you to visit; to meet the Headteacher and/or Early Years Leader and for you to see the provision we have to offer. Please contact the school office if you would like to arrange a visit to St Oswald’s Nursery by calling 01943 873570 or completing the booking form below. All admissions are dealt with according to our Nursery Admissions Policy for the school year 2023-24. Parents and carers can apply for a place at any time from the birth of their child up to the application deadline relevant to your child. Please complete the form below if you’d like to request an application form. Please note that securing a place in our school’s Nursery does not guarantee entry to the main school. Parents and carers must apply again for entry into main school. All the information about main school admissions can be found on the admissions page. Further information about childcare funding

Book your preschool nursery visit

To book a visit or request an application please add your details to the form below and we’ll get back to you soon.

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    Useful Nursery Documents

    Document Title Download
    Nursery Admissions Policy 2023-24