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Welcome to Dounby Community
Early Learning and Child Care Setting
2017-18
Dounby Community School
Dounby
KW17 2JA
Tel: 01856 771234 Email: [email protected]
Manager: Mrs Charis Pottinger
Parent/care giver of
Firstly we would like to welcome you to Early Learning and Childcare at Dounby
Community School, we hope that your association with the school is a long and
enjoyable one.
Your child is due to start nursery in ____________ and has been allocated the
following sessions:
Day Morning Afternoon
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
We run mixed sessions throughout the year and all children have a mix of both
morning and afternoon sessions. This means that when the children move into
primary one they are familiar with most of the children at the same stage and
have opportunities to develop a variety of friendships. As we have to plan the
nursery and preschool numbers over the course of the whole year in accordance
with staffing, we have little flexibility in changing sessions.
Early Learning and Childcare Times
Mornings 9.20am – 11.50am
Parent Liaison Time* 1140am – 11.50am
Afternoons 12.55pm – 3.25pm
Parent Liaison Time* 3.15pm – 3.25pm
Full Day 9.20am to 3.25pm
Lunch 12.00pm to 12.55pm
Parent Liaison Time* 3.15pm – 3.25pm
*There is a 10 minute period at the end of each session to give parents a
chance to speak informally with the nursery team.
Key Groups - Your child is in the ___________ Key Group.
Your child’s Key Worker is ________________.
The Manager has overall responsibility for the management of the Nursery
however, we work with a key group system where both the Manager and Early
Years Practitioners have day to day responsibility for a key group. The Key
Worker for each group will be your first point of contact for all day to day
issues concerning your child at nursery. However, you can ask to speak to the
Manager at any time.
When your child arrives in the morning or afternoon they will find and take
their picture from the magnetic whiteboard in the cloak room. With support
from their parent/carer they will then put their picture on the magnetic
whiteboard in the area where their key group will meet each session.
The children will meet in their key groups for the start and end of each session.
They will be located in the same place each day so that they become familiar
with the area. During parent liaison time, parents will be invited into the
nursery and will go to their child’s key group area where the key worker will
share what the children have been doing during the nursery session.
Meet the Nursery Team
Our nursery is staffed by a Manager and Early Years Practitioners. Below is
our current nursery team. We have an open door policy and you are welcome to
come and speak to us at any time regarding any questions or concerns that you
may have.
Staff
Charis Pottinger Phyllis Ballantyne
Early Learning & Childcare Manager Early Years Lead Practitioner
Miss Jessica Wood Miss Emily Dennsion
Early Years Practitioner Early Years Practitioner
(Afternoons only)
INTRODUCTION
The early years of children’s lives are ones of rapid growth and development. They enter nursery
with a significant background of learning experiences within their family and with friends, neighbours
and relatives. Many of a child’s most valuable experiences will continue to take place in the home and
the community. Staff in nursery are therefore working in partnership with parents in developing
children’s learning.
The vital contribution of nursery education lies in developing and broadening the range of children’s
learning experiences, to leave them confident, eager and enthusiastic learners who are looking
forward to starting school.
CLOTHING
In order to encourage independence in toileting and changing for Gym please dress your child
in clothes which do not have too many fastenings.
All clothes and footwear must be named.
Each child will need
1. A suitable bag for carrying library books and spare clothes.
2. Access to soft supportive shoes on a daily basis, preferably with easy fastenings.
These can be stored in trays if you wish.
3. Please provide spare pants, socks and trousers in case of an accident.
4. It would be helpful if all children bring rubber boots for outdoor play when conditions
are wet. They can be left in school.
5. We have waterproofs in school for the children to wear when needed.
SNACKS
Snacks are provided during each session.
Snack money will be collected weekly or termly. At present the charge is 40p per session.
The children help in the preparation of the snacks which are varied and nutritious e.g. baking,
fruit, raw vegetables, plain biscuits etc.
Milk is provided free to all Nursery children by the government. If your child cannot drink
milk then he/she can have water.
LIBRARY BOOKS
To foster children’s interest in books they are encouraged to take a library book home. The
importance of looking at picture books, learning Nursery Rhymes and reading daily to your
child cannot be stressed enough.
Please ensure that all books are looked after and returned. The Kirkwall Library’s policy is
that lost books must be replaced. Book Fairs are held in the school on a regular basis.
STORYSACKS
Storysacks will be offered to the children/parents from October-March. These are a
valuable resource, which give parents and children the opportunity to enjoy books and games
together. Each child can borrow only one sack at a time. Can we kindly request that lost or
badly damaged items be replaced.
AIMS
In the curriculum we aim to:
Provide a broad and balanced curriculum through a variety of appropriate and
stimulating experiences
In development and learning through play we aim to:
Provide a stimulating learning environment which offers opportunities for learning
through play
In support for children and families we aim to:
Be responsive to the support needs of children and families and be sensitive to
individual circumstances
In our nursery community we aim to:
Create a climate where mutual trust, respect, confidence and a caring ethos are
evident to children, parents and staff
VISION
Thinking, Learning
Community: We value happiness, health, justice,
effort, questioning, creativity, equality and
respect.
We are aware that the development and learning
needs of the children in their first year of Early
Learning and Childcare vary from those children
nearing school age. Activities in the sessions are
differentiated to suit each child’s ability.
A CURRICULUM FOR EXCELLENCE
The Scottish curriculum implemented within the classroom sets out for the first time values,
purposes and principles for the curriculum 3-18.
It sets out to enable children and young people to develop their capacities as successful
learners, confident individuals, responsible citizens and effective contributors. It provides
us with an important opportunity to improve early education for all children. We have an
opportunity to ensure that all children experience stimulating effective learning in ways that
are appropriate to their needs.
The starting point for all learning is the child. When your child starts at nursery we hope to
build on the learning experiences you have given your child at home and in the community and
the wider world. Just as children will vary in the achievements that they bring to Early
Learning and Childcare, they will also develop and progress at different rates.
Play is the principle means of bringing together the variety of ways in which children learn,
e.g. exploring, observing, listening and talking.
The children’s development and learning is planned in the following subject areas:
Health and wellbeing Sciences Literacy and English
Religious and moral education Social studies Technologies
Numeracy and maths Expressive arts
Health and Wellbeing & Religious and Moral education
These are the most important areas of the curriculum. We aim to provide a secure and
caring environment, where children can explore new ideas. We hope that the children will
develop confidence and fully enjoy the activities planned for them. Through their
involvement with staff and other children, they will be aware of the needs and feelings of
others in the classroom, and learn to play co-operatively and to share. They will build
friendships with children and form positive relationships with staff and other school staff
members. As time goes on they will become more independent in looking after their
belongings, dressing/undressing for gym, personal hygiene etc.
They will learn the importance of rules and the need for them. They will also soon become
aware of expected behaviour.
Literacy and English
We will ensure that through their play and day to day group activities that the children are
encouraged to listen and talk to other children and adults. They will listen to stories, songs
and rhymes. There will always be books available for children to look at in class and at home.
Computer Programs will provide opportunities for developing both literacy and numeracy.
The use of computer packages will allow children to be introduced to basic computing skills.
They will learn to listen and pay attention to information and instructions from adults.
Drawing is encouraged and there will always be a good supply of paper, pencils and pens in the
drawing and writing area. We are pleased to have children bring up drawings which they have
done at home to show the children in the class and display in the Writing Area.
Numeracy and Maths, Sciences, Social Studies & Technologies
We shall be encouraging the children to be aware of the world around them and show an
interest in animals, plants, flowers etc. Their powers of observation will be developed
through using their senses. Asking questions, experimenting and solving problems will broaden
their knowledge of simple mathematical language, counting and how things work. We develop
mathematical skills through play. Children take part in counting games, computer games,
sorting shapes, weighing and measuring activities.
Expressive Arts
The children will be given the
opportunity to paint and draw,
make models with clay and junk,
make collage pictures and work co-
operatively on large wall pictures.
They will be encouraged to take pride in their efforts which will
either be taken home or displayed in the class.
We shall be making music by singing, clapping rhythms and playing percussion instruments!
Singing games and movement to music will also be enjoyed.
We aim to provide a stimulating environment for role play, imaginative games and drama.
Health and Wellbeing (gross and fine motor development)
Children’s hand control will be developed through
handling scissors, pencils, brushes and crayons.
(Activities such as baking, woodwork, playdough and
clay will also develop this skill.) Construction materials,
jigsaws and threading help improve hand-eye co-
ordination.
Energetic play in the outdoor area is an important part
of physical development.
We shall regularly be using the gym for running
and ball games, and the large equipment to gain
confidence in balancing, climbing and jumping.
HEALTH AND SAFETY
It is important to let us know if your child has an allergy to any food or material or suffers
from a condition such as glue ear, asthma or epilepsy. You will be asked to complete a form
when your child enters Nursery and any medical details need to be included.
We are in close contact with speech therapists. If you have any concerns regarding your
child’s speech and language or your child is already receiving speech therapy please speak to
a member of staff.
We ask for emergency contact numbers for parents and a relative or friend who lives locally
whom we can contact if the parent is not available.
If your child is not well or absent for another reason please inform the Nursery by
telephone, or by sending a message with another parent or child in the school.
We have been advised by the Department of Environmental Health that children who have
been absent with sickness and diarrhoea should remain off school for 48 hours after
recovery.
Unfortunately we are no longer allowed to accept baking/birthday cake from home to share
with the children in the classes. However we can still have some!!
Please let us know
o changes of address or telephone number
o changes in emergency contact
o changes in home circumstances that could affect your child eg death of a grandparent,
hospital admission etc.
o worries you may have about your child
It is important that parents remember always to close the gate when they come into the
outside area of the Nursery.
There is a possibility that snack foods may contain one or more of the allergens listed on the
following pages. Please let us know if your child is allergic to any of these.
PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT
Parents are welcome to visit the nursery and parental help will be enlisted when required.
We invite parents to accompany children on outings, assist with craft work and woodwork,
bake with small groups, supervise computer games etc. Regulations dictate that all parent
helpers must be checked by the SCRO (Scottish Criminal Records Office). If you are willing
to have this done please contact the school office.
Throughout the year parents and staff have opportunities to share and exchange information
about their child’s progress:
There are Parents’ Evenings for parents of children in year 2 of Early Learning and Childcare.
There is an Open Afternoon in terms 2 and 4 for Nursery children and parents. This is in
addition to the chats we have with parents as they come in with or pick up their child. These
informal moments are very highly valued by all staff.
In the Parents’ Room there are books and leaflets to inform parents and give ideas to help
them in the very important part they play in their child’s education.
Parents are encouraged to offer ideas for theme related activities. We welcome books and
related materials from home. This type of involvement from parents also stimulates the
children’s interest.
WORKING WITH OTHER PROFESSIONALS
We work closely with the Health Visitor based at Dounby Surgery and meet up on a termly
basis. We also work closely with Occupational therapists and Physiotherapists to support
children who may have physical difficulties or movement and co-ordination problems that may
cause them barriers to certain activities. The therapists are here to advise us on children’s
needs and any specific referral to these therapists would only take part with parental
consent. We regularly seek advice from Educational Psychologists to help us to support and
meet a range of children’s different learning styles.
We are in contact with Speech Therapists regularly. Speech and Language Therapy can
benefit children who have difficulties with any aspect of communication, such as listening,
understanding what others are saying, using language to make sentences and have
conversations, pronouncing words clearly, and stammering. The Speech and Language
Therapist works individually with pupils who have already been referred to the Service and
as part of their routine work they advise school staff on communication within the classroom.
They can also help staff identify any children who may have difficulties with their
communication. They may be invited to a Nursery session to chat or play informally with
pupils as part of this routine work.
EARLY LEARNING AND CHILDCARE 2020
At present, children in early years settings are entitled to 600 hours a year of Early
Learning and Childcare. In order to enable this, our setting will offer parents whole days,
Monday to Friday, including lunch, as well as half day sessions. As of August 2020 all children
will be entitled to 1140 hours a year of Early Learning and Childcare. Over the course of the
next 3 years, the structure of our setting will change as we work towards implementing the
1140 hours.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
As the Parents’ Room is beside part of Primary 1’s learning area, it is important that the
children, as well as their younger siblings, are not too noisy when arriving or departing. We
want the children to be aware of other people in the school.
Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland
(SCSWIS)
Complaints Procedure
The Dounby Community School Nursery is registered as a care service with Social Care and
Social Work Improvement Scotland.
The Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care, known as the Social Care and Social
Work Improvement Scotland (SCSWIS) has been set up to improve the quality of care
services in Scotland.
How to make a complaint
In the first instance any complaints or concerns should be discussed with the Manager. If
you are not satisfied with the outcome of discussions with the Manager you can contact
Catherine Diamond (Principle Early Years Teacher). Her contact details are below:
If you are still not satisfied with the outcome of discussions with Catherine Diamond you can
contact the Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland (SCSWIS) or the Care
Inspectorate. Their contact details can be found below:
Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland (SCSWIS)
Compass House
11 Riverside Drive
Dundee
DD1 4NY
Tel: 01382 207100
Fax: 01382 207289
Local telephone number for the Care Inspectorate:
Tel: 01856 885410
