Welcome to Nursery

On this page, you will find Nursery staff contact details and useful early years information.

Learning Through Play

In the new EYFS there is greater emphasis on how children learn:

The Characteristics of Effective Learning and the prime and specific Areas of Learning and Development are all interconnected. The ways in which the child engages with other people and their environment – playing and exploring, active learning and creating and thinking critically – underpin learning and development across all areas and support the child to remain an effective and motivated learner. The prime areas begin to develop quickly in response to relationships and experiences, and run through and support learning in all other areas.  The prime areas continue to be fundamental throughout the EYFS.  The areas are: Personal, Social and Emotional Development, Physical Development and Communication and Language. The specific areas include essential skills and knowledge.  They grow out of the prime areas, and provide important contexts for learning.  These areas are Literacy, Mathematics, Understanding the World and Expressive Arts and Design.

What will my child need for Nursery / Pre-School?

Please ensure your child is dressed appropriately, including suitable footwear. Please make sure your child has a coat, water bottle and a lunch box/bag if having a home packed-lunch. We have a trolley located at the entrance to store drinks and lunches on. Coats can be hung on pegs. Your child will be allocated pegs on a daily basis, they need to look for their photo and hang their coat in the right space. 

If your child is still in nappies / pull ups, we ask you to provide these along with wipes, creams, nappy sacks and spare clothing / underwear. 

We will fully support you once you / your child is ready to use the potty / toilet. Nappies can be stored in a drawstring bag in our bathroom area. 

Some children have benefitted from bringing a small comforter in from home e.g. a teddy or a small blanket. We ask that dummies are not brought into school. 

Meet the Team  

Whilst at Nursery, your child will be supported by Mrs McGurk (Class Teacher),

Miss Hughes (Teaching Assistant), Miss Birkett (Teaching Assistant), Miss Hartley (Teaching Assistant), Mrs Turner (Teaching Assistant) and Miss Leonard (Teaching Assistant)

Mrs Collins is wearing two hats again this year so she will be our Teaching Assistant on a Monday and Tuesday and she will cover Mrs McGurk's PPA (planning, preparation and assessment) day on a Wednesday. 

Your child, once settled will be assigned a 'Key Worker', this will be the person supporting your child regularly during their sessions. 

I can be contacted on e.mcgurk@grosvenorpark.lancs.sch.uk

Government Funding

When does the 30 hours free childcare start? 

The increased offer will be rolled out in stages to allow childcare providers time to be able to implement the changes, making sure the places that are needed are available across the country when the offers are introduced.

• Eligible working parents of 2-year-olds are now able to access 15 hours childcare. Eligible working parents of 3- and 4-year-olds are also able to access 30 hours of government-funded childcare.
• From September 2025, support will reach 30 hours for eligible working parents with a child from 9-months-old up to school age.

These hours can be used over 38 weeks of the year during school term time, or up to 52 weeks if you use fewer than your total hours per week.

You can start using the entitlements from the term after you apply. These terms begin on 1 January, 1 April and 1 September.

Applications are now open for eligible working parents whose children will be 2 or older by the 31 August to receive 15 hours childcare, starting from September 2024.

And from 12 May, eligible working parents whose children will be aged between 9- and 23-months old on 31st August, can apply to receive 15 hours childcare starting from September 2024.

Session Times

Sessions run on Monday - Friday during term time. 

Nursery children can attend wrap around care from 7:45am until 5:45pm. Sessions times are as follows. 

7:45 am until 8:45am - Breakfast Club

8:45am until 11:45am - Morning Session

11:45am until 12:15pm - Lunchtime

12:15pm until 15:15pm - Afternoon Session 

15:15pm until 16:15pm - After School Club (early pick up)

15:15pm until 17:45pm - After School Club

*School lunches are not automatically free for Nursery. Dinners are charged at £2.50 unless you are entitled to the Pupil Premium (details available from the office)

*If your child would like a school lunch, you will be able to sign up for this each morning.

*If your child is having a packed lunch from home, please provide them with a healthy packed lunch. 

Useful Links and Information for Parents 

The DfE has published a new guide for parents – ‘What to expect in the Early Years Foundation Stage’ (formerly ‘What to expect when’) which guides parents through what to expect in their child’s development. It aligns with the new Development Matters 2021 to help parents find out more about their child’s development whilst they are in Nursery and Reception Class.

What to expect When

Useful Websites for additional learning at home.