At The District CE we have Nursery places for children aged 2-4 years, in our Willow room (2 year olds) and our Rowan Room (3-4 year olds). All parents and carers are entitled to 15 hours free nursery education per week for their child if aged 3-4 years old, (term time only).  2 year olds who meet the funded criteria can also receive 15 hours free funding per week.

To apply for a place in Nursery provision parents can apply on-line at: schooladmissions@sthelens.gov.uk

https://www.sthelens.gov.uk/schools-education/early-years/early-education-for-3-4-year-olds/

Some 3-4 year old children may be entitled to a 30 hours funded place if you meet the following criteria: You earn more than the equivalent of 16 hours at the national living wage or minimum wage per week: for example, £120 per week if you are 25 or older. There is no requirement to work a certain amount of hours per week – it is all about how much you earn. This means if you only work 10 hours a week but earn £12 per hour, you will meet the minimum earning threshold. Apprentices are also eligible as long as they earn the equivalent to 16 hours at the apprentice minimum wage. You earn less than £100,000 per year.

If you think you may be eligible for 30 hours please access the Childcare Choices website

Or contact the St Helens FEEE team on:
Telephone: 01744 676541
Email: earlyyearsfeee@sthelens.gov.uk
Web: https://www.sthelens.gov.uk/schools-education/early-years/early-education-for-2-year-olds/passport-for-2s/ 

Nursery provision

The Nursery (Rowan Room 3- 4 years) and Willow Room (2 years) have a purpose built indoor and outdoor learning environment.  The daily routine is organised into short sessions of small group focus activities and longer periods when the children can choose from the range of activities provided both indoors and outdoors. Some of the activities that your child may access include:

• Role play and dressing up
• Construction and small world, e.g. farm, dinosaurs, dolls house etc.
• Malleable materials (play dough, clay, etc.)
• Writing area
• Sand
• Water
• Table top activities, e.g. jigsaws, games, tasks to promote fine motor skills etc.
• Book area
• Making music

Children are able to move freely between the indoor and outdoor area to have the opportunity to participate in large physical play. It is important that they wear suitable clothing, as much of their learning will take place outdoors!

Reception provision

We have a 60 place Reception unit, with an extensive outdoor environment.  All children are allocated a key person to enable them to build close relationships and share any concerns or worries with one identified practitioner. The Reception unit is staffed with teachers and L3 and L2 learning support assistants. The children are taught in a range of group sizes depending on the activity they are involved in.  Each child has an allocated teacher who monitors their progress and development.  The Reception day is organised into time for both child initiated and adult led activities.  Children are directed to work in small groups, or one to one with an adult.  They also have opportunities to choose freely from the range of continuous provision areas on offer. The Early Years curriculum is underpinned by 4 themes and a number of principals relevant to Early Years practice.  The themes are:-

• A unique child
• Positive relationships
• Enabling environments
• Learning and development

The principals focus on children becoming independent, resilient and confident learners who develop positive relationships with others.  We support our children to develop these skills and attributes by providing a well organised, stimulating learning environment indoors and outdoors and by offering fully inclusive provision. Within the Early Years curriculum there are 7 areas of learning.  The 3 prime areas are:-

• Personal, social and emotional development
• Physical development
• Communication and language

The 4 specific areas:-

• Literacy
• Mathematics
• Understanding the world
• Expressive arts and design