Welcome to our Nursery 

Daisy Class

Norton in Hales CE Nursery is open to children aged from two years to four years old. The Nursery is expertly led by Assistant Teachers Mrs Mullinder and Mrs Bayley.

We understand that when deciding on a nursery for your child, there is a lot to consider. The step up to nursery can be a nerve-wracking time as well an exciting one, and it is vital that in partnership with parents that we get this right.

The truth is that every child is so unique.

Our Location

Norton-in-Hales is a picturesque village located in North Shropshire some 4 miles North East of Market Drayton. Archives show that our school was founded in 1630, and the newer Victorian school building, is situated in the beautiful rural setting of Norton in Hales village. Our school has access to the village tennis grass courts, a cricket pitch and crown green bowling lawn. We also have two Forest School sites that the school have kindly been access to throughout the year. We are extremely proud of our status as a Church of England Primary School and of our links with the Diocese of Lichfield and local Church St. Chad’s which dates back to the 12th Century.The village has won the Heart of England in Bloom competition in the village category several times and gone on to win at the national RHS Britain in Bloom level three times, culminating in being declared The RHS Britain in Bloom Champion of Champions in 2015 and in more recent years.

What to expect

Before your child is due to start, we will invite you and your child to visit us twice: once during the previous term, and then on the day before the first day of nursery. You will meet the teachers, participate in some activities, and get a feel for our school. You will be able to discuss any worries you may have and see how things work. On the first day of term, you are welcome to stay for a short while, and we will be in touch by telephone during that day to keep you informed as to how your child is doing. All the teachers will be aware of your child and be ready to engage and cherish them. These first few days can be an anxious time for parents, but, with encouragement and care, our children settle well. As with their learning, the settling arrangements for each child will be different and we tailor the process accordingly.

One of the principal features of our ‘settling-in’ plan involves your child having their own ‘Key Worker’ this approach is based on attachment theory. During this time the ‘Key Worker’ will work closely with you are your child. All of our Nursery children have their own daily diary which is passed on to everyone who looks after your child.

Our approach

The children follow the statutory framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). The EYFS curriculum is split into seven key areas of learning which are:

• Personal, Social and Emotional Development
• Communication and Language
• Physical Development
• Literacy
• Mathematics
• Understanding the World
• Expressive Arts and Design.

The EYFS curriculum also has three ‘Characteristics of Effective Learning’ which are to promote, critical thinking, active learning and playing and exploring. The seven stages of learning are complemented by a range of peripatetic lessons. These include Music, Art and Design and movement. Our Nursery children also have weekly Forest School lessons with our own Forest School Leader.  These programmes help the children prepare to make the transition into primary education by enabling them to experience a full day at school.

Our Nursery draws inspiration form a range of established pedagogies including Reggio Emilia which is taught alongside the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum. Our staff have high expectations for the learning and development. Teaching is of consistently high quality and responsive to the children’s needs.

Read Write Inc. Phonics for Nursery is for children in their last term of Nursery. It supports pre-school children’s literacy progress, including developing their language through story times and teaching phonics. It provides nursery teachers and other staff with the tools they need to ensure every child learns to read confidently, right from the start.

Admissions to Nursery

Nursery fees (2-4yr olds) are as follows:

Morning/ Afternoon Session: £13.50

Full day Session (Packed lunch provided or a cooked meal avaialble at a small additional cost): £27

We offer Nursery Places for 2 Year Olds

Applications for our Nursery can be made in advance of your child’s 2nd Birthday and in most cases your child will be able to start with us as soon as your child has turned 2.

Your child is entitled to 15 hours of funded nursery care each week for 38 weeks each year. Please check to see if they meet the eligibility criteria!

Before you apply

• Read the nursery pre-start booklet, which contains useful information about the application process, including how places will be allocated and other key information.
• Clarify any issues you are not sure about with the our school Administrator - Ms Mitchell

Nursery Applications are available throughout the year

• We have capacity to take 15 children for morning and afternoon sessions .
• We can offer fully funded, flexible places for children from the age of 2, please come in and see us or ring the office on 01630 653084
• We begin our day as the rest of the school from 8:35am until 12 noon (Morning session)
• Afternoon sessions begin at 12 noon until 3:00pm 
• We offer additional wrap around care from 7:30am- 8:35am and from 3:00pm-6:00pm. (Your child will always be supported by their Key Worker to ensure strong attachments are made in the early years. We require a days notice to ensure staffing can be organised.

Nursery Places for 3 Year Olds

Currently all 3 year old children are entitled to 15 hours free childcare. Some children may qualify for 30 hours free nursery entitlement. 

Children with particular circumstances, as defined in the Local Education Authority’s criteria may be entitled to 30 hrs at an earlier stage.

Application forms for Nursery are available from the school office. Parents are encouraged to contact the school at any time to arrange a visit or to request further information.

Financial support for parents 

• From April 2024, working parents of 2-year-olds will be able to access 15 hours childcare support.
• From September 2024, 15 hours childcare support will be extended to all children from the age of 9 months to 3-year-olds.
• From September 2025, working parents of children under the age of 5 will be entitled to 30 hours of childcare a week.
• Flexibility of this the offer  (depending on your provider) allows for these hours to 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.

Universal Credit

Furthermore, from 28 June 2023 eligible working parents claiming Universal Credit will be able to receive more financial help with their childcare costs, and additional financial support with upfront payments when moving into paid work or increasing their working hours.

30 Hours Free Childcare Eligibility Criteria   

• Parents expect to earn the equivalent to 16 hours at National Minimum or Living Wage over the coming three months.
• This equates to £120 a week (or c.£6,000 a year) for each parent over 25 years old or £112.80 a week (or c.£5,800 a year) for each parent between 21 and 24 years old and £56 a week for apprentices in their first year.
• This applies whether you are in paid employment, self-employed or on zero hours contract.
• The parent (and their partner where applicable) should be seeking the free childcare to enable them to work.
• Where one or both parents are on maternity, paternity, shared parental or adoption leave, or if they are on statutory sick leave.
• Where one parent meets the income criteria and the other is unable to work because they are disabled, have caring responsibilities or have been assessed as having limited capability to work.
• Where a parent is in a ‘start-up period’ (i.e. they are newly self-employed) they do not need to demonstrate that they meet the income criteria for 12 months.
• If one or both parents is a non-EEA national, the parent applying must have recourse to public funds.

 A parent will not meet the criteria if:  

• Either parent has an income of more than £100,000.
• If one or both parents is a non-EEA national and the parent applying does not have recourse to public funds.

Please visit the website below to apply:

https://www.gov.uk/apply-30-hours-free-childcare

Further information

For further information about upcoming changes to childcare support, visit the Childcare Choices Website

Meeting with your child's Key Worker