Early Years Foundation Stage

How is the EYFS delivered and how can I help at home?

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum is delivered through a hands on approach to learning. Teaching and learning is at the heart of everything that we do. We will support your child on their learning journey and promote independence by providing a stimulating and nurturing learning environment.
The Nursery day develops over the year. It begins with a focus on settling into school life. Children take part in registration, focused group work sessions each day based around key areas of learning such as Phonics and mathematical development, and they have the opportunity to further develop their skills, knowledge and understanding through time spent accessing continuous and enhanced provision both indoors and outdoors. Children take part in weekly physical development sessions in the hall and visit the school library.

The Reception day also develops over the year. Children take part in daily Phonics, Maths and Literacy sessions, and they have the opportunity to further develop their skills, knowledge and understanding through time spent accessing continuous and enhanced provision both indoors and outdoors. Children take part in weekly physical development sessions in the hall, library visits and assemblies.

In both Nursery and Reception, we have an ethos of learning through play. Our staff support children during this time to help them acquire skills and knowledge that they need to become lifelong learners.

On Friday mornings, we have a Stay and Learn session in Reception where parents are invited to join us for 20 minutes. Some sessions will be focussed and teacher led. On other occasions you will be able to join your child in a play based activity.

On Tuesday morning and afternoon, we have similar Stay and Play sessions in Nursery.

How does Margaret McMillan Primary School support children with Special Educational Needs?

We have a Special Needs and Disability Co-Ordinator (SENDCO) in school who supports children who have additional needs. The SENDCO works closely with class teachers to ensure we are meeting the needs of every child. Children work best in different ways and we will ensure that learning is made relevant for every child in school.

What types of food and drink will be given to my child?

Children in Nursery and Reception are all provided with full fat pasteurised milk (until the beginning of the term in which they turn 5), and a piece of fruit or a vegetable free of charge each day. The fruit and vegetables provided over the course of the year are apples, pears, oranges, bananas, strawberries, carrots, sugar snap peas, baby cucumbers, pineapple, melon, dried mango, dried pineapple and raisins.

Children will have the opportunity to take part in a baking activity once each week. We will ask for a contribution of £10 for the academic year if your child is in Nursery, and £5 for the academic year if your child is in Reception. The children will bring what they have made home with them. Items that could be made are: buns, scones, savoury tarts, cheese straws etc. If your child has any allergies, please inform a member of staff.

Reception children stay in school for their lunch. All children may have a school dinner, which is provided free toy children from Reception to year 2, or you may pride your own packed lunch. We are able to cater for any dietary requirements. If your child has any dietary requirements, please inform a member of staff. Children who bring a packed lunch into school will have their lunch box stored in the classroom. (Please note that we do not have facilities to refrigerate packed lunches.)

Children may occasionally be given sweets, chocolate or party food as part of a class reward or a celebration e.g. Eid party or a birthday.

What policies and procedures are in place? What happens if my child goes missing or is not collected?

We have many policies and procedures at Margaret McMillan Primary School. Please ask if there is a specific policy that you are interested in; these are available on request.

A procedure that is specific to Nursery and Reception is our ‘going home’ procedure. Any person collecting a Nursery or Reception child needs to be at least 18 years old. We keep a record of the regular people whom you have authorised to collect your child. We do this by taking a photograph and writing down their names. You must provide the class teacher with a password should you need anyone else to collect your child, You may choose up to four people to put on our record. We usually suggest that these are mum, dad and two other people.

If your child in not collected from school, we will try to contact you on all of the telephone numbers that you have provided school with. It is important that you inform us if you change your telephone number. If we can’t get hold of you will we telephone social services.

If your child goes missing. we will alert members of staff and look for them. We will inform a member of the senior management team and contact you. If your child has not been found, we will telephone the police.

If your child goes missing at home time, after you have already collected them, we will inform the senior management team and help you to look for them. If your child can not be found, we will telephone the police.

Who are the members of staff looking after my child?

Below is a list of the members of staff who work in Nursery and Reception. If you need to contact school in an emergency, please call on the school telephone number: 01274 495934.

The head of foundation stage is Ms Khaliq

We have 2 teachers in Nursery. Mrs Rathor-Khan on Mon-Wed, and Mrs Tariq on Wed-Fri. They are supported by Early Years Practitioners, Miss Iqbal, and Miss Alam, and Teaching and Learning Partner is Miss Mahmood.

The teachers in Reception are Miss Fitzgerald in Saturn, Mrs Lindsay in Earth and Miss Irfan in Mars. They are supported by Early Years Practitioners Miss Khan, Mrs Shah and Miss Noreen. They are also supported by Teaching and Learning Partners Miss Nazli and Miss Abid.