Bright Stars at Cranmore – The Nursery Department
The aim of Bright Stars at Cranmore is to offer children a firm foundation for their entry into full-time education in a safe and secure learning environment. From September 2009 we are delighted to welcome girls into our Nursery and children can start from the age of 2 ½ years old. We recognise that every child is unique and we tailor the daily programme to meet the needs of the individual child.
We believe that every child should have the opportunity to shine and reach their full potential – this is achieved through a play-based curriculum with the emphasis on developing understanding, skills and attitudes in a warm and caring atmosphere.
The extensive nursery facilities allow for the pre-nursery age children and nursery age children to be split into age groups for some activities. Three morning sessions is the usual route into Bright Stars at Cranmore. The increase in morning and afternoon sessions is at the discretion of the parents – we are happy to fulfil individual requirements on a weekly basis. When they enter their final term in Bright Stars at Cranmore, many children build up their attendance to five full days in preparation for full-time education the following September.
The Curriculum
Bright Stars at Cranmore follows the Early Years Foundation Stage. The overarching aim of the EYFS is to help young children achieve the five Every Child Matters outcomes of:
- Staying safe
- Being healthy
- Enjoying and achieving
- Making a positive contribution
- Achieving economic well-being
Within the EYFS there are six early learning goals. The early learning goals cover the knowledge, skills and understanding which young children should have acquired by the end of the academic year in which they reach the age of five.
The six early learning goals are equally important and depend on each other to support a rounded approach to child development.
The six early learning goals are:
- Personal, Social and Emotional Development
- Communication, Language and Literacy
- Problem Solving, Reasoning and Numeracy
- Knowledge and Understanding of the World
- Physical Development
- Creative Development
All the areas of learning are delivered through planned, purposeful play-based opportunities with a a balance of adult-led and child-initiated activities.
Nursery age children take part in more structured activities and enjoy many of the facilities of Cranmore School: Junior library, gymnasium, sports hall, Junior ICT suite and music school. Weekly music lessons are taught by a specialist music teacher. The Nursery children also attend a Junior assembly once a week.
