1. St Michael’s Nursery school Parent’s information evening

2. Tuesday 6 th October 7pm

3. Our Motto “We learn to play, we play to learn”

4. Welcome

5. Settling ! Children have all started nursery Children have all started nursery Everyone is getting accustomed to routines Everyone is getting accustomed to routines Happy children Happy children Happy parents Happy parents Happy teacher Happy teacher Importance of encouraging independence Importance of encouraging independence Labelling! Labelling!

6. Parents as partners Your attendance shows your support and the value you put into your child’s education. Thank you! Your attendance shows your support and the value you put into your child’s education. Thank you! You can help us, help your child with valuable information, if you have any developmental or speech and language concerns, please let us know. You can help us, help your child with valuable information, if you have any developmental or speech and language concerns, please let us know. Open door policy. Open door policy. Parental involvement in nursery life. Parental involvement in nursery life.

7. General information Labelling uniform Labelling uniform Healthy eating Healthy eating Dinners Dinners Check website Check website Check white board Check white board Individual pouches Individual pouches Regular head checks Regular head checks Attendance Attendance Extended services Extended services

8. Nursery Curriculum Comprised of 6 different but interconnected elements Comprised of 6 different but interconnected elements NC PSEAEMPDLL TWA

9. Personal,Social and emotional development A child’s emotional well being A child’s emotional well being Respect Respect Relationships Relationships Emotions Emotions Independence Independence Positive behaviour policy- GOLDEN RULES Positive behaviour policy- GOLDEN RULES

10. The arts Art and design Art and design Music Music Movement Movement Drama Drama Dance Dance

11. Early mathematical experiences NumberOrderShapeSizeQuantityTimePattern

12. Physical development Indoor and outdoor energetic play Indoor and outdoor energetic play Fine and large motor skills Fine and large motor skills

13. Language and literacy Listening Listening Communication Communication Awareness of text/books Awareness of text/books Pre writing Pre writing

14. The world around us Making sense of their world Making sense of their world Exploration of indoor and outdoor environments Exploration of indoor and outdoor environments Understanding of themselves, their families, immediate surroundings and wider world Understanding of themselves, their families, immediate surroundings and wider world

15. Play, talk, play, talk “Play that is well planned and pleasurable helps children to think, to increase their understanding and to improve their language competence. It allows children to be creative, to explore and to investigate ………such experience is important in catching and sustaining children’s interests and motivating their learning as individuals and in co-operation with others.” “Play that is well planned and pleasurable helps children to think, to increase their understanding and to improve their language competence. It allows children to be creative, to explore and to investigate ………such experience is important in catching and sustaining children’s interests and motivating their learning as individuals and in co-operation with others.” Rumbold report 1990 Rumbold report 1990

16. Planning our curriculum “It is only when the curriculum evolves from the needs of the children that it can be viewed as being effective in promoting learning” “It is only when the curriculum evolves from the needs of the children that it can be viewed as being effective in promoting learning” Nursery education guidelines 1989  Close observation and record keeping on a daily, weekly and monthly basis

17. Parents and carers get involved! Going home boxes. Going home boxes. From Monday 12th October doors open at 1.15pm daily for children in class with no extended services. From Monday 12th October doors open at 1.15pm daily for children in class with no extended services. Parents are invited to join their child for a short play session in the classroom. Parents are invited to join their child for a short play session in the classroom. A great opportunity to work alongside your child and see the value of play in action. A great opportunity to work alongside your child and see the value of play in action.

18. School development plan Target set as a result of the needs identified through reflection evaluation and audit. Target set as a result of the needs identified through reflection evaluation and audit. Outdoor play – major area of development over next few years. Outdoor play – major area of development over next few years. Any expertise? Suggestions? Help with funding/ fund raising? We need your help! Any expertise? Suggestions? Help with funding/ fund raising? We need your help!

19. Getting ready to go outside Children will go out first thing every morning regardless of weather. Children will go out first thing every morning regardless of weather. Parents should help their child into school coat, Wet gear and wellington boots before leaving. Parents should help their child into school coat, Wet gear and wellington boots before leaving. To ease congestion- will operate a staggered drop off: To ease congestion- will operate a staggered drop off: On week your child’s class has extended services your child should be dropped off at 8.4am. When you are on week with shorter days, drop off will be at 9.00am. This pattern reverses the following week and so on. On week your child’s class has extended services your child should be dropped off at 8.4am. When you are on week with shorter days, drop off will be at 9.00am. This pattern reverses the following week and so on.

20. Value of outdoor play Supports creativity and problem solving Supports creativity and problem solving Enhances cognitive abilities Enhances cognitive abilities Improves academic performance Improves academic performance Increased physical activity Increased physical activity Improves social relationships Improves social relationships Improves self discipline Improves self discipline Reduces stress- enhanced well being Reduces stress- enhanced well being

21. Current status £10,000 award secured from awards for all. Awaiting installation from EA. £10,000 award secured from awards for all. Awaiting installation from EA. Legacy-Muck kitchen, willow domes, fruit trees, vegetable patch, compost bays and outdoor wet gear= Ecoschool status! Legacy-Muck kitchen, willow domes, fruit trees, vegetable patch, compost bays and outdoor wet gear= Ecoschool status! Current bids of £5000 each to Challenge fund and Live here, love here. Current bids of £5000 each to Challenge fund and Live here, love here. Series of 6 visits to outdoor venues – lady Dixon, Falls park, Divis Mountain, Colin Allotments, Musgrave sensory Gardens. Series of 6 visits to outdoor venues – lady Dixon, Falls park, Divis Mountain, Colin Allotments, Musgrave sensory Gardens. Need your help! To come along as helpers and to subsidise bus costs- fund raising. Need your help! To come along as helpers and to subsidise bus costs- fund raising. Development of daffodil and wild flower gardens. Development of daffodil and wild flower gardens. Daily routine – outdoor play each morning and in afternoon. Help to get children suited and booted- what ever the weather! Daily routine – outdoor play each morning and in afternoon. Help to get children suited and booted- what ever the weather! Welly boots needed. Welly boots needed.

22. Enhancing the natural learning environment.

23. Creating exciting learning opportunities

24. No such thing as bad weather- just the wrong clothing!

25. Thank you for attending.Questions