Data Protection – Please see our policies page for privacy notices and relevant policies
Partnership with parents
We actively encourage parents to participate and look forward to developing a partnership with you while your child is at Freshfield.
You are the first and most important teacher of your child. You know more about your child’s development, relationships, strengths and difficulties than anyone does.
How can parents be involved in their child’s learning ?
We were awarded the Leading Parent Partnership Award May 2016
Leading Parent Partnership Award – report (please click to download)
Telling us about your child
Most importantly we invite you and your child to visit nursery during the first week in September before the nursery term begins. This is your opportunity to talk with your child’s Key Person.
We want to learn about your child. We will ask you to complete the “All About Me” booklet which forms the first part of planning for your child’s learning and development.
You will receive a date and time for this visit
Spending time in nursery
Parents are always welcome, also grandparents and carers, who would like to spend time in the nursery:-
- with their own child, or
- reading stories to small groups of children
- helping with art and craft
- helping children use the computer
- helping in our nursery garden by:-
- supporting play
- gardening with the children
- maintaining / painting equipment
- demonstrating special traditions and talking about festivals
We understand that for some parents getting into nursery during the day is not possible. We will always welcome phone calls from working parents to see how their child is getting on, we always suggest that if you have a half day off work why not come along!!
Attending parents meetings
We will be sharing your child’s progress with you at spotlight moments throughout the year. This simple chart will help you work out when your child’s spotlight(s) will be throughout their time at Freshfield. Once their spotlight is complete, we will be in touch with you to discuss their learning and development at Nursery. They will also have a final spotlight as they leave us to go to their next school.
Recording your child’s progress
Clearly you will want to know how your child is getting on and the staff are always willing to answer any individual questions.
At Freshfield we use Tapestry to share your child’s WOW moments and their special time in nature school each week. There will also be weekly bubble updates for both garden and nature bubble, about what they are learning and experiencing each week. We believe that gathering lots and lots of evidence of children’s learning is unnecessary. If we are busy writing down and photographing the moment, then we are not part of the moment. We should be in the moment with the child, interacting and forwarding their learning rather than being behind an iPad screen trying to get a good photograph. Having our spotlight meetings throughout the year gives us the opportunity to share all of the wonderful things we know about your child, as well as where they are with their development and how we are going to support them in progressing.
Transferring to Primary School
We maintain close links with all the primary schools in the Heatons area and most headteachers and reception teachers visit the nursery before the children transfer in the September following their 4th birthday.
Practicalities
Clothing
It is helpful if children’s clothing, especially sweatshirts and outer clothing are marked with your child’s name.
The children have outdoor play sessions every day and need suitable clothes for this.
Jewellery
Children should not wear jewellery in the nursery.
Toys
We realise that a special toy from home can help a new child settle. After this initial time it is better to discourage your child from bringing toys as they may get broken or lost and lead to upset.
Snacks
The children do not need to bring any snacks to school unless they would like to; feel free to add an extra snack to their lunchbox. We provide fresh fruit and a drink each morning and each afternoon (using money from school fund).
Absences from school
If your child is unable to attend nursery please telephone to let us know. In case of illness / infectious disease, the Local Authority issues special guidance on the required length of absence. Absences can be reported by telephone, email admin@freshfield.stockport.sch.uk or send a message via our Parentmail app.
Birthdays
We celebrate every child’s birthday by having a special snack time for the child’s group. He/she has a special cake to share with friends and blows out the candles!! We have a Birthday Box from which a present may be chosen to take home.
We find it is preferable for parents not to send in sweets etc. for birthdays.
