Nursery | Woodcroft School

Woodcroft Early Years

At Woodcroft Nursery your child will be greeted by our warm, welcoming and caring staff. We have a passion for children's education and believe the experiences your child has in the Early Years sets the foundation for their future learning. In our Early Years setting, we strive to provide a vibrant, engaging environment to inspire children to learn. Our Early Years comprises of 2 classrooms, shared with our lovely Reception class and an amazing outdoor area!

Alongside focused daily Phonics, Mathematics and literacy activities, staff plan play activities based on topics tailored to children's interests. Our wonderful staff help to facilitate children while they play, helping them to learn whilst they play in a fun, engaging and supportive environment.

We offer Forest School sessions as part of our weekly timetable to provide a wealth of outdoor learning opportunities such as den building, exploring the natural environment, discovering the world around them and learning how to safely use tools. Allowing them the freedom to be creative and use their imagination in a variety of ways in the outdoor environment, Forest School also encourages the development of spatial awareness and gross and fine motor skills. Forest School provides exposure to manageable risk, which teaches the children how to assess risk and tackle it safely.

Our Outdoor Environment

We endeavor to go out in all weather, unless the conditions are too severe or unsafe! If it is cold and rainy or snowy, we wrap up warm and go out and explore. After all, this provides many more learning opportunities for children! As they say "there's no such thing as bad weather, only the wrong clothes". As well as simply encouraging a love of nature and the great outdoors, outdoor play has many other benefits for our children, it promotes healthy physical activity, team play and social interactions. Outdoors, children learn so much many things without even realising: from problem solving to social skills. Playing and learning outside encourages the children to show and develop their individual characteristics of effective learning.

We love getting messy in the outdoor area and one of the children's favourite areas to visit is the mud kitchen. Alongside developing fine and gross motor skills this also fosters their imagination, encourages their communication skills and allows them to develop their understanding and experience of capacity.

Our setting is open Monday to Friday during term time, providing a full and busy curriculum for children aged between 3 and 4 years old. We offer intakes in September, January and April, subject to availability. We manage our own waiting list, so if you would like to register your interest before your child turns 3, we will happily add them to our list. We will then get in touch with you the term before your child is due to begin in our nursery class.

Funding

All children are entitled to 15 hours of funded Nursery provision from the term AFTER their 3rd birthday. In addition, parents may be eligible for an additional 15 hours of funded Nursery provision.

Click on this link to check your eligibility for 30 hours funding.

Complete Wraparound care

We can offer provision for your child, 5 days per week from 7.30am until 6.00pm during term time. We are lucky enough to have our own before and after school club to provide complete wraparound provision. You can also use unused hours from your funded nursery provision to cover the cost of your child's wraparound care.

How do I apply for a nursery place?

If you would like to apply for a nursery place for your child please contact the school office on 01538 714796 or office@woodcroft.staffs.sch.uk. We will arrange for a welcome pack to be sent out to you which will include funding and registration forms, once your forms have been received our nursery staff will arrange a home visit as part of our induction process. During this visit, our staff will talk to you and make arrangements for your child to begin their bespoke transition into our nursery setting.

Useful links and information

The following links provide additional information.

Online application for 30 hour funded hours

Nursery information booklet

Nursery Process Map

Price List for Nursery and before and after school club if not using 15-30 hours funding

Registration and funding forms

Nursery sessions booking form

Parent Declaration for Early Education Funding (EEF)

Before and after school club booking form

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Come and visit us

Why not visit our nursery with your little one. We would be thrilled to meet and show you around. Please contact the school office on 01538 714796 or email to arrange a time to visit.

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We offer a variety of play spaces including role-play, sand, water, construction, small world, a cosy reading corner, maths area, mark making and phonics areas, funky fingers (to promote fine motor skills) and a creative area.