Park Nursery

Handbook 2014-15

Hands on Education
Cluster Head Teacher Mrs Tania
Mackie
Depute Head Teacher Mrs Karen
Cox

WELCOME TO PARK NURSERY

We very much hope that you and your child will enjoy your time at Park
Nursery.
Your child is at a very crucial stage in his/her development as research
has shown that children learn more rapidly in the first seven years of life
than at any other time. For this reason it is really important that the
children are given every opportunity to fulfil their potential. As a parent
you play a vitally important part in the process. We in the Nursery hope to
play our part by treating your child as an individual and offering him/her a
variety of experiences and activities that are designed to further the
development process.
We hope that your child finds out that learning can be an enjoyable and
worthwhile process.
This handbook is intended to give you information about the Nursery, but
please do not hesitate in contacting us if you have any queries or
problems relating to your childs nursery education.

_____________________s starting date is

____________________
at _____________________

Our contact detail are:

Park Nursery, Albany Road, Invergordon,
IV180HA.
Tel: 01349 852037
Email: park.primary@highland.gov.uk
Website: www.parkprimary.wordpress.com

Mission Statement
At Park Primary we pride ourselves on being proactive and
enthusiastic in delivering a curriculum that is inspiring and
relevant. Children at Park Primary are provided with a quality
educational experience and staff work as a team to ensure this.
In the Nursery we aim to build on childrens natural curiosity and
zest for life, developing and broadening their range of learning
experiences and promoting positive attitudes and feelings for
themselves and others.

Hands on Education
At Park School our school vision is:

Hands on pencils, hands on your work!

Active fun for everyone.
Pupils at Park and South Lodge
Parents, community, it doesnt matter who,
Yes! They can all help us in our learning
too.
Friends there for each other,
Achieving success, outdoor and in,
Confident learners moving forward,
Excellence in everything we do!
South Lodge and Park, together as two.

Written by the pupils of Park and South Lodge Primary Schools. April 2013

When does Nursery start and finish?

Due to changes in nursery education. Sessions
are changing from 2 hours 30 minutes to 3
hours 10. Our session hours will need to be
confirmed and this information will be
provided as soon as these time are finalised.
Previous sessions have run from:
Morning session

9.00am ~

11.30am
Afternoon session

12.15pm ~ 2.45pm

All children must be accompanied to and from Nursery by an adult known

to the child. If someone other than those listed is collecting your child,
you must fill in and sign the temporary form and give it to the staff.
Please try to be as punctual as possible when collecting your child as
some children can become very anxious if they are left at the end of the
session.
Child Protection
In Park Nursery we follow Highland Councils Child Protection Procedures
and Policies. These, along with all our other policies can be viewed at any
time in our Parents Policy folder, situated on the parents shelf.
Illness
If your child is ill, please do not bring him/her to nursery. If your child
becomes ill or has an accident while attending nursery, we will contact
you by telephone. If there is no reply, we will ring your emergency
contact number to come and collect your child, so please ensure this is
always up-to-date.
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How long should my child stay off with illness?

It is important that the following information and advice regarding
common infections and length of time a child is required to be
absent from nursery as stipulated by NHS Highland Infection
Control (December 2006) is adhered to:
Vomiting/diarrhoea
Chickenpox
dry)
Measles
Rubella
Mumps
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Slap Cheek
Impetigo

MUST be clear for 48 hours before returning

5 days from onset of rash (blisters must be
5 days from onset of rash
5 days from onset of rash
Until the swelling has subsided but not less than
days from the onset of symptoms
None unless fever is present
Until lesions are healed

What are the dates for the school year?

Autumn

Autumn term starts - 19 August 2014

Autumn term ends - 10 October 2014

Winter

Winter term starts - 27 October 2014

Winter term ends 19 December 2014

Spring

Spring term starts - 5 January 2015

Mid term break 16 - 17 February 2015

Spring term ends - 2 April 2015

Summer

Summer term begins 20 April 2015

Summer term ends 2 July 2015

Public holidays

Good Friday - 3 April 2015

Easter Monday - 6 April 2015

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May Day 4 May 2015

In-service days

The first day back after summer - Monday 18 August 2014

Thursday 25 September and Friday 26 September 2014

One day following the February mid-term break Wednesday 18 February 2015

Monday 1 June 2015

Session 2015/16

Staff Commence - Monday 17 August 2015

Pupils Commence - Tuesday 18 August 2015

How often does my child come to nursery?

It is advisable that children in their pre-school year attend nursery for 5
sessions per week, for purposes of continuity and progression. Each
session lasts for 2 hours 30 minutes.
Regular attendance, while not compulsory, is desirable. If you know that
you are not going to be coming to nursery for a while e.g. if you are going
away on holiday, please try to let the staff know in advance. Your place in
nursery will still be there when you return.
If you are ill yourself and unable to leave the house, try to arrange for a
neighbour or other parent to bring your child to nursery so that he/she
does not get out of the habit of coming. It could mean a much-needed
break for you!
How much does Nursery cost?
Having received instruction from Highland Council in August 2011 that
nurseries could not charge for snack, parents were in full agreement that
they would continue to pay 2 per week, but this would be classed as a
donation. This practice will be reviewed regularly. All monies received will
continue to be audited fully.
Health Promotion
We are a health promoting nursery. The snack, often
prepared by the children, varies from day to day, but
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always includes healthy food, e.g. fruit and/or vegetables. The children
may be taught how to weigh and mix ingredients together to make cakes
and biscuits, how to prepare sandwiches or fresh fruit, etc. Every child will
be given the opportunity to participate in these preparations. The children
will be offered milk or water to drink.
We aim to develop a positive healthy attitude towards food.
What if my child is allergic to something or is a fussy eater?
If your child is allergic to particular foods, please
ensure the staff have been informed so that these
foods can be avoided. If your child is a fussy eater at
home, you may find that in nursery he/she will
happily accept what others are eating, especially if
he has helped prepare it. Although every child will be
encouraged to eat what is provided, no child will be
forced to eat something he/she dislikes.
What should my child wear to Nursery?
Some essentials your child will need for nursery
Gym shoes: It is essential that the nursery floor is kept clean and dry as
the children enjoy floor play.
We also have access to the school gym hall which requires us to wear
gym shoes.
Suitable outdoor shoes/boots: They are necessary for
outside play ALL year!
Jacket/Coat: We aim to go out most days. It can be chilly outside
whatever the season!
Spare clothes: It is handy if you provide a labelled bag containing a
complete change of spare clothes to keep in the nursery in case of
accidents.
Nursery Uniform: Sweatshirts and polo shirts with our Park Nursery logo
are available to buy from the nursery.
The nursery does provide aprons and overalls for messy activities, e.g.
painting, gluing, baking, etc., but new or expensive clothes are not
recommended!
Please put your
sweatshirts, etc.

childs

name

on

gym shoes,

wellingtons,

How is my child expected to behave in Nursery?

As in every community, it is necessary to impose basic rules of conduct
and behaviour. Certain rules of safety MUST be observed and ALL
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CHILDREN will be expected to obey them. Most of these rules serve two
needs ~ they prevent your child from doing something undesirable, and
at the same time protects him/her from having something unpleasant
done to him/her e.g. throwing sand, biting, kicking, etc.
Other rules teach children to use equipment and apparatus correctly and
some rules are concerned with common courtesies such as not pushing,
learning how to share toys, tidying up and learning how to co-operate
with others in the nursery.
Your child will soon learn what is and what is not
acceptable behaviour in the nursery.
What if my child misbehaves?
When your child starts nursery he/she may find it
strange at first to adapt to the rules of the
nursery and be unwilling to accept nursery
discipline.
Physical force is never used in the nursery to
discipline a child. Our policy is to use praise and
encouragement and to acknowledge good behaviour. The sanction for
unacceptable behaviour is time out from a favourite activity.
If unacceptable behaviour is a regular occurrence with your child, you will
be informed of this and invited to meet with the nursery staff so together
we can work out a way of dealing with the problem.
As you bring your child to nursery, you will be able to bring up any
questions you may have when you meet the staff, so that if you have a
concern, there will be an opportunity to discuss it before it becomes a
more serious problem.
What if there are concerns about my child?
If either staff or you, as parents, have concerns about your child, for
example communication problems, we would discuss these together in
the first instance. Between us we may set some strategies in place to
address these issues, but if it is felt that more support is required, we are
able to call on the backing of other agencies e.g. speech and language
therapists, pre-school visiting teachers, etc.
How can I help my child prepare for nursery?
Before your child can settle down in nursery he/she has two difficult
obstacles to overcome.
Firstly he/she must come to terms with a separation from you, perhaps for
the first time, and secondly he/she must face a new environment full of
other children and some unfamiliar adults.

A little advance preparation makes the separation easier to manage. If

possible try to make friends with another child who will be going to
nursery at the same time, so your child will have a friend to go along with
~ how often have you been glad of the company of a friend or relative
when going to a new place for the first time? It helps to have someone
with you.
It will also help if you remind your child of the types
of activities he/she will experience ~ talk about
playing in the sand, in the water, with the building
bricks, baking, etc.
Most importantly, make sure you have a positive
attitude towards nursery and see it as an exciting
place where your child will learn lots of new skills.
What if my child does have a problem settling into nursery?
You may discover that despite your best efforts, your child may have
problems settling in nursery. Not all children, even happy confident ones,
will want to stay with a complete stranger for over two hours, especially if
there are other tearful children around. Having said that, the majority of
the children do settle in immediately, which means the staff are available
to offer extra support for those who need it.
If your child is happy for you to leave
him/her, then say goodbye and leave, but be
sure to leave a phone number where you can
be contacted should your child become
distressed.
If, on the other hand, your child is obviously
very tearful and upset at the thought of staying without you, then stay
with him/her and explore the nursery together. If after a little while you
feel he has had enough for one day, then take him/her home and repeat
the process the following day and for however long it takes until your
child gains enough confidence and is happy to stay without you.
Sometimes it can be a good idea to come in later so you and your child
leave at the same time as the other children
Please dont give up or give in. Persevere and the eventual reward will be
well worth the effort. In the meantime the nursery staff will be able to
help you deal with the situation and offer support until a solution is found.
How will I find out about nursery activities?

There are notice boards in the entrance hall that will keep you informed
about the current activities and other items of interest.
Please remember to check them regularly.
Further to this you will receive regular
newsletters that will provide more
detailed information and if required
additional notes may be put in your
childs tray.
What will my child do in nursery?
Nursery
education
is
about
the
development of the individual child and
during your childs time in nursery he/she will be introduced to a wide
variety of exciting activities and experiences, based on the Curriculum for
Excellence, which aims to enable each child to be a successful learner,
confident individual, responsible citizen and effective contributor.
We will encourage children to be successful learners through:

using literacy, communication and numeracy skills

using technology for learning
thinking creatively and independently
learning independently and as part of a group
making reasoned evaluations
linking and applying different kinds of learning in new situations

We will encourage children to be confident individuals by enabling them

to:
relate to others and manage themselves
pursue a healthy and active lifestyle
be self aware
develop and communicate their own beliefs and view of the world
live as independently as they can
assess risks and take informed decisions
achieve success in different areas of activity
We will encourage children be responsible citizens so they can:
develop knowledge and understanding of the world and Scotlands
place in it
understand different beliefs and cultures
make informed choices and decisions
evaluate environmental, scientific and technological issues
develop informed, ethical views of complex issues
We will encourage children to be effective contributors so they can:
communicate in different ways and in different settings
work in partnership and teams
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take the initiative and lead

apply critical thinking in new contexts
create and develop
solve problems

The curriculum consists of eight areas:

Activities offered to the children include:

- Sand and water play
- Painting
etc.
- Modelling
- Board games
- Baking
- Computer
- Story corner
- Musical instruments

- Construction toys e.g. lego, meccano, etc.

- Role play e.g. house corner, dressing up,
- Jigsaws
- Drawing and mark-making
- Cutting
- Physical activities, indoors and out
- Listening centre
- Investigative/discovery activities

Through their play children learn to:

co-operate with each other
listen

share

talk
measure

weigh

organise

think

problem solve

become more independent

develop self-confidence
control their bodies
use appropriate vocabulary
behave appropriately
Children
will
also
be
opportunities to:
listen to stories
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given

sing

and

take

part

in

range

of

musical

activities,

learn poem visit their local environment, care for animals and plants,
follow their own special interests.

How will I know how my child is doing?

In the nursery we have more contact with parents than at any other stage
in the childs education, so we welcome this opportunity to discuss your
childs progress at any time.
Throughout the year we open the doors 15 minutes before the end of the
session every Friday. This is to give you the opportunity to see what the
children have been doing during the week, have a look at your own
childs folder and have a chat with us if you wish. We have a formal
parent contact for the pre-school children at the end of January/beginning
of February and at the end of May/beginning of June for the ante-preschool children. Records of your childs progress can be shared with you
at any time throughout the year.
At the end of your childs first few weeks, you will receive a First Report
which will let you know how your child has settled into the nursery
environment. Prior to the parent contact time in the fourth term,
everyone will receive the progress report, which will show your childs
development over the year and will also be a memento of his/her time in
nursery.

How can I be involved?

Once the children are settled in nursery, we really appreciate
help from the parents. This can take the form of playing
board games, helping a staff member bake with a group of
children, helping supervise children on a local visit, or maybe
you have a particular talent that you could share with us. All
you need do is write your name on the appropriate calendar
in the hall on the day you would like to join us.
We also have to rely quite heavily on your help in fund raising. The money
collected is used to purchase books and equipment for the nursery and to
subsidise outings, etc. for your child, so we hope you will do all that you
can to help, as it is your child that will benefit.
If you have any good ideas for fund raising, please let
us know!

Who do I see if I think there is a problem?

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If you have concerns about anything to do with your childs education or

the nursery itself, please do not hesitate to speak to Mrs Banks our
Nursery Assistant.
If you feel your concerns have not been dealt with satisfactorily, the
matter can be raised with the Head Teacher, Mrs Mackie; if you still have
concerns you should contact the Area Education Manager or the Care
Commission:
Mr Maurice MacIntyre
Education, Culture and Sport Manager
Highland Council
Area Education Office
13 Castle Street,
Dingwall, Ross-shire.
IV15 9HU.

SCSWIS
Pavilion 5
Fairways Business Park
Inverness

Emergency/Early Closure Procedure

If the school has to close early, we will contact the
home, but, in case you are unavailable, please ensure
your emergency contact number is up to date.
During periods of heavy snow, when school is to be
closed, parents should listen to Moray Firth Radio,
which will be informed of closures or phone the school telephone
messaging service on 0870 054 6999 pin no. 04 2770.
If in any doubt, do not send your child to nursery during periods of heavy
snow.
In the event of the school requiring to be evacuated in an emergency,
pupils will be taken to Invergordon Leisure Centre.
Fire drills are held at regular intervals.
Some suggestions for helping your child at home
At the beginning of this handbook we stressed the importance of parental
involvement in the development of the child and how this can influence
their future learning.
Immediately after birth, babies are learning how the world works and
their place in it. Two of the skills they will eventually learn are reading and
writing. However the skills needed to learn to read and write are not
acquired automatically. They have to be encouraged from birth. As a
parent you can help your child to acquire pre-reading skills in many
simple ways that, along with the time spent in nursery, will be of
considerable value in helping your child prepare for formal learning in
school.
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TALKING AND LISTENING

-

Talk to your child

Name objects when you show them to your child
Teach the colours, using the words regularly
Use describing words
Talk about television programmes the child has watched
Teach your child nursery rhymes
Rhythm is important in words use words of different lengths
Young children enjoy repetition
They also enjoy alliteration a string of words beginning with the

same
letter

MOVING AND DOING

- Clapping helps the hearing and memory. Ask your child to copy a
simple
rhythm and build up to a longer one.
- Play games like Simon Says, making sure that the whole body is
involved in the movements, and include words that cause
difficulty like
up, on, off, for example.
- Dancing which includes clapping and stamping helps rhythm.

HAND CONTROL
- Encourage the muscles that will eventually hold a pencil with
activities
that involve gripping and small hand movements.
- Playing with water, sand and playdough.
- Supervised cutting with proper scissors.
- Baking
- Modeling with junk.
- Tracing, colouring pictures, dot-to-dots and mazes
- Playing with toy cars, straws, bead threading, peg patterns and
games
that use counters and dice.
HELP IN READING
- Encourage reading by creating a cosy situation that discourages
other
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distractions and interruptions.

- Use books with flaps.
- Ask the child to guess what will happen next from looking at the
pictures.
- Substitute a rhyming word to see if the child is listening.
- Stop reading a book that the child is not enjoying and choose
another.
- Continue reading aloud to your child long after he can read.
LISTENING AND LOOKING
-

Training will help your child to listen and look more carefully
Shut your eyes and tell each other which noises you hear.
Take turns to find rhyming words e.g. sun, bun, run, etc.
Encourage your child to describe well-known objects and people.
Play memory games, e.g. place some objects on a tray and cover

them
with a tea towel. Ask your child to remember them, or remove
one and
ask which one it is.
SOCIAL PLAY
- Play games with your child to encourage turn-taking and sharing.
- Teach your child to follow simple instructions
- Teach independence by training your child to do simple tasks for
himself or for you.
Please see the main school booklet for further information on
whole school policies, improvements and information.

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Some final thoughts

Most of what I really need to know about how to live and what to do and
how to be I learned at nursery school. Wisdom was not at the top of the
university mountain but there in the sandpit. These are the things I
learned. Share everything. Play fair. Dont hit people. Put things back
where you found them. Clean up your own mess. Dont take things that
arent yours. Say sorry when you hurt somebody. Wash your hands before
you eat. Live a balanced life. Learn a bit and think a bit and draw and sing
and dance and play and work every day.
Take a nap in the afternoon. When you go out into the world, watch for
traffic, hold hands and stick together. Be aware of wonder. and
remember one of the first words you learned to read, the biggest of all;
look. Think what a better world it would be if we all had biscuits and milk
about three oclock every afternoon and then lay down with our blankets
for a nap. Or if we had a basic policy always to put things back where we
found them and cleared up our own messes. And it is still true, no matter
how old you are, when you go out into the world, it is best to hold hands
and stick together.
Robert Fulgnum

All children are gifted, some simply open their presents

earlier than others.

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