Welcome to the Pelican Room The Pelican Room is situated in a large downstairs room at the Nursery and is the base room for up to 24 children aged from 3 to 5 years. Staffing The ratio of staff to children is 1:8. The Senior Nursery Nurses are Mrs Emma Cooper and Miss Clare Impey. The Nursery Nurses are Mrs Dee Franklin, Miss Lizzie Allars and Miss Carla Jacobs. Emma gained her BTEC National Diploma in Nursery Nursing in 1997 after 2 years study at Cambridge Regional College. She has had a variety of work experience in Nurseries and schools. She has worked as a relief Nursery Nurse in a Day Nursery and worked as the Playleader at the Outpatients Creche in Addenbrookes Hospital. Emma joined the Nursery here at Babraham in January 1999 working full time in the Caterpillar Room and was then promoted to Senior Nursery Nurse in the Pelican Room in April 1999. In April 2005 Emma took maternity leave. She returned in November 2005 as permanent part time (morning) Senior Nursery Nurse. Clare joined the Nursery in June 1999 as a part-time Nursery Assistant and worked afternoons in the Pelican Room. Clare gained her Diploma in playgroup practice and has worked as a playgroup assistant and a playgroup leader for 4 years. Clare completed her NVQ Level 3 in Early Years and Education in November 2002 and was promoted to Nursery Nurse. In April 2005 Clare was once again promoted to ‘Special Educational needs (SENCO) co-ordinator. Clare then covered maternity leave as full time Senior Nursery Nurse in the Pelican room from April 2005 – November 2005. She was then promoted to permanent part time (afternoon) Senior Nursery Nurse in November 2005. Emma and Clare are directly responsible for all the children in the Pelican room and for the three staff and any students that may attend the Nursery for work experience. They also monitor all planning and supervision for the children’s activities linked to the Foundation stage curriculum. Dee joined the Nursery in November 2003 as a part-time Nursery Assistant in the morning. Dee was a childminder with 10 years experience, she has a level 3 in Childminding Practice and a Playwork Foundation Certificate. In 2005 Dee gained her NVQIII in Early Years care and Education promoting her to part-time Nursery Nurse. Lizzie joined the Nursery in January 2002 as a general assistant. She had gained past work experience in a local school. In 2005 Lizzie gained her NVQ level 3 in Early Years care and Education. She was promoted to full-time Roving Nursery Nurse working in all base rooms as cover and mornings in the Pelican room when the Pre-School group is running during the Spring and Summer terms. Carla joined the Nursery the Nursery in January 2006 as part time Nursery Assistant working in the afternoons in the Pelican room. She previously worked as a Service support technician in SABU at the Babraham Institute. The Pelican Room The Pelican Room is a large and airy room and overlooks the Nursery garden. It has two windows and a half-glazed door opening into the garden. This allows as much natural light as possible into the room. It is heated by two storage heaters protected by childguards. The majority of the room is carpeted apart from an area specifically designed for water, sand play and messy / creative activities. We encourage and promote the children to do their own individual artwork, which is then shown in attractive displays around the room and follow themes which last for approximately 3 months. As much of the equipment as possible is stored at the children’s level. This encourages independent selection of the resources they want and helps when tidying the activities away. All toy boxes have corresponding pictures and written labels on them to enable children to recognise the box they need. The room is divided into the following areas during free-play sessions: - book corner - constructional toy area - free-drawing - imaginative area - sand / water play and creative activities - fine motor - computer area The Pelican room is situated next to the children’s bathroom which contains 2 partitioned low level toilets and a low level urinal. There are 2 low level handbasins with a hand towel dispenser next to them. Children are encouraged to use the bathroom independently and are supervised when necessary. The group as a whole all go to the bathroom at designated times (see daily routine) and are always supervised by staff at these times. An intercom is in operation at all times to enable good communication throughout the Nursery. A ‘write-on / wipe-off’ board is situated inside the room where important information is recorded for parents. A parent notice board is situated outside the Pelican Room in the cloakroom, displaying information regarding the room’s topic, pre-school group and weekly planning for each room. Daily Routine A guide to the Pelican room routine is as follows:8.30 a.m. Nursery Nurses arrive and set up the room with a selection of toys and equipment (according to the pre-planned weeks activity sheet). 8.45 a.m. Nursery opens. Nursery Nurses greet the children and their parents / carers and discuss the previous night / breakfast and general well-being of the child. The children are encouraged to find their own names to show they are here today. The Nursery Nurses then settle the children into play. 9.30 a.m. Free play/Rolling snack – The Room is divided into area’s (see previous page) And children are able to access their milk and snack independently throughout the free play session. 10.20 a.m. The children assist the Nursery Nurses in tidying away 10.30 a.m. Children sit down and do the weather chart/storytime/songs. 10.40 a.m. Group activity session. 11.05 a.m. The children put on their outdoor clothing. 11.15 a.m. Outdoor play. 11.40 a.m. The children come inside, remove outdoor clothing and go to the toilet / wash hands ready for lunch. 12.00 p.m. Lunch time. Nursery Nurses have their lunch-breaks in shifts. 12.45 p.m. Full-time children go to the bathroom and then remove their shoes ready for resttime. 1.00 p.m. Part-time children are collected. Nursery Nurses set up toys and equipment for afternoon session. 1.30 p.m. Full-time children who are awake put their shoes on ready to begin p.m. free-play session. 2.00 p.m. Any sleeping children are woken. Children assist Nursery Nurses to tidy away ready for snack-time. 2.15 p.m. Bathroom time. 2.45 p.m. Group activity session. 3.05 p.m. Children put on suitable clothing for outdoor play. 3.15 p.m. Outdoor play 3.45 p.m. The children come inside and remove outdoor clothing and wash hands ready for tea. 4.00 p.m. Tea-time 4.50 p.m. Group story and singing session. 5.00 p.m. Group free play session. 5.30 p.m. The children assist the Nursery Nurses to tidy away the toys. Children choose books to look at before the parents arrive. 5.45 p.m. Nursery closes. (5.15 p.m. Fridays) Rest-time All full-time Pelican room children have a rest time after lunch. Each child has their own individual rest-mat and those children who need to sleep have their own individually labelled sets of sheets and blankets. There is soporific music playing in the background and the children are encouraged to rest quietly. If after half an hour they would like to get up, there are activities set out for them to play with. If they fall asleep they are woken up after about 1 hour. The children are supervised at all times. Parents need to provide four embroidered name tapes for bedding. Any parents who have specific wishes for their child to sleep, or not to sleep, are invited to discuss it with the staff. The laundry is washed on a weekly basis in the Nursery Washer/dryer. The rest-mats are cleaned daily with diluted Milton to ensure cleanliness is maintained. Eating The Nursery provides your child with food and drink for the day. All food is prepared and cooked on the premises by our full-time cook / caterer. We operate a ‘rolling snack’ where children are able to independently access their snack during the free play session. This comprises of a healthy snack and a cup of milk. At lunch-time, all the Nursery children sit together in small family groups. Staff serve up the meal to the children directly from the table and each child is encouraged to try a small portion of the meal. There is often enough left for ‘seconds’ for healthier appetites! If your child has any vegetarian, medical or cultural dietary needs please inform the Nursery in writing and our cook will be pleased to prepare a suitable alternative meal. Afternoon snack-time follows the same format as for the morning snack. The children have a cup of milk and a serving of snack. The whole Nursery sits together for tea in small family groups and any siblings have the option to sit together. Children have juice to drink at tea. At the end of the meal the children each have a disposable flannel (provided by Nursery) to clean their hands and faces with. A sample menu is attached. Clothing Parents are asked to dress their children in comfortable, easily removable and washable clothing. Children are encouraged to be as independent as possible with their toileting needs, so belts, braces and dungarees are not advisable – as they often lead to tears (and puddles) in the bathroom. They are also encouraged to do their own shoes and coats so please bear this in mind when buying them new ones. Please do not dress children in special clothing as we undertake many varied ‘messy’ activities! Clothing must be clearly named and the best way to do this is to use embroidered name-tapes. Staff cannot be expected to search for unnamed items of clothing. In winter, your child will need a coat, splash suit, hat, gloves and clearly named Wellington boots. In summer, your child will need a sunhat and clearly named bottle of sunblock. Parents are asked to provide a bag with a complete a change of clothing case of any accidents. in Children’s toys / comforts Children are welcome to bring their favourite toy or comforter to Nursery but parents/carers should be aware that there is a risk of them being lost. They should be kept in the home box in the Pelican room. We have a simple ‘rule of thumb’ – if the toy’s too big to fit in the box – it’s too big for Nursery! Illness If your child is unwell and is unable to cope with the normal Nursery day then please keep him/her at home. If your child has an infectious disease then it is very important that you inform the Nursery and that the child is excluded from attending according to Nursery Policy. Children will only be re-admitted to the Nursery after an illness at the discretion of the Nursery Manager. If your child becomes unwell during the day, one of the Parents/Carers will be contacted to arrange collection of the child as soon as possible. Medication Nursery is willing to administer medicine when necessary. You must complete a Medical Authorisation form each day your child needs to be given medicine. These are available from the Pelican Room. Parents must hand the medicine directly to a staff member so that it can be locked away securely in the medicine cabinet. During the summer, we spend as much time out in the sunshine as we can. We feel it is extremely important to protect their skin from the sun so we ask you to provide us with a sunhat and a clearly named bottle of suitable sunblock. You will be given an authorisation form to sign agreeing to its use and for permission to use Waspeeze spray in the event that your child is stung by a wasp or bee at Nursery. Accidents Unfortunately, occasional accidents do happen and these are recorded in an Accident Book. If your child is hurt or injured in any way during the day an entry will be made in the Accident Report Book and you will be asked to sign this book as parent/carer (you will also be issued with a copy of the accident report) A signature is required to acknowledging that you have been told about the accident. We may also contact you if we consider it necessary. If your child has an accident at home we ask that you let the Nursery Nurses know. They will ask you to complete a Home Accident/Injury form. The Nursery Nurses in the Pelican Room hold certificates in First Aid. Weekly activities and curriculum The Pelican Room staff plan suitable activities based on the current topic and linked to the foundation stage. These programmes of activity are organised to ensure that each child’s full potential is developed in the physical, psychological, emotional, social and cultural sense, ensuring that the child’s welfare as an individual and as a member of the group is paramount at all times. See sample Planning Sheets attached. Pre-School Group From each January the Pelican Room introduces a Pre-School group. The Senior Nursery Nurse and morning part-time Nursery Nurse plan and organise suitable activity timetables for a group of up to 14 children who will be entering compulsory education that September. (Please see example of Pre-School plan attached). We follow the six early learning goals: personal & social development, Language & Literacy, Maths, Knowledge and Understanding of the world, physical development and Creative development. The Pre-School group runs each morning from 8.45 – 2.00 in the Portacabin. Each eligible child will receive an equal number of weekly Pre-School sessions. These children will be involved in a variety of activities and pre-school skills to include listening, communicating, sharing, games to encourage taking turns, pre-reading and writing (i.e. number and letter recognition) and pencil and scissor control activities. It is our intention to help each child achieve all the skills necessary to make the transition to school easier and heighten their readiness and eagerness to learn. Before your child begins the Pre-School group, you will be given a letter timetabling which days he/she will be included in the group. We are part of the Nursery Education Funding Scheme General information Throughout the year the Nursery organises many functions and visitors for all the children and their families to attend and enjoy. You will be kept informed of any forthcoming events in the monthly Nursery newsletter. Group and Individual photographs are taken by Tempest Photography each year. Although under no obligation to do so, parents may order a set (or sets!) of photographs. The Nursery Nurses monitor your child’s development and progress very closely completing observations and a record of your child’s progress and twice a year the Nursery offers an individual fifteen minute consultation with parents. This is a good time to share your child’s achievements and raise with staff any problems you have concerning your child. These consultations usually take place in November and May and enable both parents/carers the opportunity to talk to the Nursery Nurses in an informal, relaxed manner. For the daily exchange of information it is encouraged the parents/carers arrive BEFORE CLOSING TIME if they want to hear about their child’s day. As you can appreciate, it is a long day for the Nursery Nurses and they like to leave promptly. Nursery closes at 5.45 p.m. Monday to Thursday and 5.15 p.m. on Fridays. A fine will be levied if you collect your child after these times - it will be £5 up to the first 10 minutes late and then £10 for every period of up to 5 minutes thereafter (as by the Nursery clock). We hope that you and your child will have a happy time in the Pelican room. If you have any concerns or problems then please share them with us - we are here to help. Check list of items needed for the Pelican room Bag with a full change of clothes Embroidered name tapes (for bedding) Whoshoe labels (order form available from office) Coat Hat Gloves Wellington boots Splash suit Sun hat Sunblock Routine for a morning in Pre-School and Pelican room Time 8.30–8.45 8.45–10.35 (Integrated group activity) OR 8.45–10.15 (whole group activity) 9.30–10.15 10.00-10.35 (Integrated group activity) OR 10.50-11.10 (whole group activity) 10.35-10.50 OR 10.35-10.50 10.50-11.10 OR 10.35-10.50 11.10-11.45 Activity Set up- Nursery Nurses set up toys and activities according to toy rota and planning Free play – Children freely move from activity to activity (See planning sheet) Adult led creative activity – Children are free to participate in creative activity when ready, other children are involved in free play Whole group activity – All children participate together eg. Music and movement. (See planning sheet) Nursery Nurse Person A and B Person A Person B To lead creative activity Rolling snack – The snack table is set up. Children are free to come Person A to the table to wash their hands and have their milk and snack when ready, other children are involved in free play Integrated adult led group activity – When held within free play Person B session, children are encouraged to participate in activity in small groups. Other children are involved in free play. (See planning sheet) OR Tidy up time – Children all help to tidy away the toys and activities OR Children independently go to the toilet Children help to take back toys to other base rooms Story time – Children all join together for story, singing, weatherboard and recall Garden time – Children all put on outdoor clothing and whole nursery joins together for outdoor play Person A and B Person A and B Person B Person A Person B Routine for an afternoon in the Pelican room Time 2.00-2.10 2.10-2.20 2.20-3.05 (integrated Group time) 2.20-3.05 2.30–3.05 3.05-3.40 3.40-3.50 3.50-4.40 4.40-5.15 (Integrated group time) 4.40-5.30 Activity Set up – Nursery Nurses set up toys and activities according to toy rota and planning Bathroom time – All children go to the bathroom Free play – Children freely move from activity to activity (See planning sheet) Rolling snack – The snack table is set up. Children are free to come to the table, to wash their hands and have their milk and snack when ready, other children are involved in free play Integrated group activity Garden time – Children put on outdoor clothing and the whole nursery joins together for outdoor play Bathroom time – All children go to the bathroom and wash hands for tea Tea time – The whole nursery joins together for tea time When held within free play session, children are encouraged to participate in activity in small groups. Other children are involved in free play. (See planning sheet) Free play – Children move freely from activity to activity 5.15-5.30 5.30-5.45 OR Whole group activity all children participate together eg. Music and movement (See planning sheet) Tidy up time – Children all help to tidy away the toys and activities. Children independently go to the toilet Children help to take toys to the other base rooms Story time – Children all join together for story, singing, weather board and recall Nursery Nurse Person A and B Person A Person A to rove Person B Person a and B Person A and B Person A Person A and B Person A and B Person A Short term plan Theme/topic/module: Journeys/letter j Week beginning: 12.06.06 Personal. Social and emotional development Communication, language and literacy Mathematics Knowledge and understanding of the world Physical development Creative development Monday Role play trainhat, control, walkie talkies, tickets etc. Tuesday Role play trainhat, controls, walkie talkies, tickets etc. Wednesday Role playfire engine – fire bag, ladder etc Gross motor City blocks town set World floor map, boats and vehicles maps etc. Fine motor Sand/water tray Weather puzzles Finger puppets Large construction blocks, hard hats, sand tools etc. Straws Soil, model, magic dinosaur bones, metal detector Number cards and clothes pegs- peg on for number Making train tickets, signs etc Water, shapes and fishing nets Imaginative play Maths table Creative Exploration Letter table Group time Story time Magnifying glasses and wild flowers, leaves etc Writing post cards Rocket role play using dice and number line Whatever nextJill Murphy Thursday Campsite- tent, fire, crockery, sleeping bag, metal detectors etc. Sports equipment Friday Campsite – tent, fire, crockery, sleeping bag, metal detectors etc Jamie and Jenny, puppet theatre and their books/diaries Puzzles Octons Mashed potato and people Ice cubes and Arctic animals Wild animals – plants, gravel, bark etc. Number stencils, paper and pens Tape measures, rulers etc Shape junk boxes and shape cards Math box Make shape rocket pictures, cut and stick Wooden tool, bench tools etc. Make shape rocket pictures, cut and stick Road/tube maps, travel brochures, pens, memos Car track in paint Exploration box – Holiday objects, photos Wool underground maps Corn flour, small jug of water, sized whisks Letter sponges, paint, paper Walk: Make a graph of vehicles (mark making) Playdough, letter cards Exploration box – Holiday objects, photos Room on a broom – Julia Donaldson Lettice the flying rabbit Writing post cards Walk to the park – draw map of things we saw on the way Round the world with teddy Edwards Paper,pens ‘j’ objects How can we get there? Obstacle course eg. Under, in etc. Are we there yet? Verna Allette Am Planning Sheet – No 1 Date: Learning intentions: Personal, social and emotional development: Mathematical development: Physical development: Day Monday Tuesday Sand tray Friday Writing area Buckets and spades Soil, hidden magnets and metal detectors Scissors and magazines Squirrels, diggers and men Leaves and bugs Stamps, inks and pens Shells Water and sink and float boat set Farm animal stencils Wednesday Thursday Messy play tray Communication, language and literacy: Knowledge and understanding of the world: Creative development: Hands and feet moulds Playmobil people, shaving foam Tracing paper and shape cards Sea creatures Rice and Chinese tea set Free drawing ----------------OHP and pens Hands on Construction Small world Puzzles ----------------Play dough, bakery set, recipe cards Peg people ----------------Clay and utensils Stickle bricks ----------------Peg boards Cats Dinosaurs Lasy ----------------Q-New Puppet theatre and puppets, movie maker Squirrels shape puzzles ----------------Play dough, small junk Magnets ----------------Clay, scales Poly M ----------------Link and learn Wooden dolls house and furniture Big blocks ----------------Lego Puzzles ----------------Mr Face Meccano ----------------Geometrix Role play area Creative Group activity Shop: Tills, money, food, baskets, trolleys, food etc. Shop (See above) Making large shop front sign I went shopping… Memory game using props Fruit and vegetable printing Large construction – Builders yard Shop (See above) Rubbing prints using coins and crayons Messy play using- oats, goop, wet sand, soap flakes etc. Digital camera Remote control car , car mat roll Shop (See above) Observational paintings of flowers Musical instrumentsRhythms Bob the builder duplo Shop (See above) Threading using wool and orange net bags Ball skills outside Pm Planning Sheet – No 1 Date: Day Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Sand tray Magnets and metal detectors Malleable table Clay and tools Writing area Colouring sheets and crayons Hands on Letter tiles -----------------Natural and sorting baskets Construction Mobilo Small world Wild animals Role play Shop: Tills, money, food baskets, trolleys, tabards/aprons. Fruit and veg. Shop (See above) Group activity Music and movement Tea set Play dough and cutters Zoo stencils and colouring pencils Floor puzzle ----------------Sound lotto game, tape recorder Octons Zoo duplo Sand Moulds Clay and scales Scissors and greetings cards Magnetic letters and whiteboard -----------------Fuzzy felts Large construction blocks Fish, sliks, boats Shop (See above) Drama: Reading the story of the three bears using props Sea animals Model magic and shells Thin brushes and palette paints Ducks bead run -----------------Puzzles Small lasy Tool kits, dressing up, hard hats, walkie talkies Shop (See above) Walk: Going on a number/letter hunt Pots and spoons Play dough and action cards Chalk boards and chalks Remote controlled cars -----------------Sorting animals and dishes Marble run Hospital duplo Shop (See above) Large group singing – number rhymes Cooking: Vegetable soup PELICAN ROOM W/C a.m. Monday PLANNING SHEET - MORNING Sand Messy play Group Work 10.40 - 11.05 Creative Construction Hands on Imagination Writing Table Dry sand with Happy sand set Coloured water with sea animals Playdough with scissors, shapes and cutters Butterfly Painting Lasy Puzzles Home corner Q-new Fuzzy felts Chinese tea set Tracing cards with thin felt tips Meccano Floor puzzles Home corner Straws Peg boards Dolls, tea set Dinosaur Duplo Tuesday Wet sand with cars and people Cereal bowls & spoons Parachute play with balls, dice Playdough with cutters, rolling pins Zoo Duplo Wednesday Thursday Dry sand with Heuristic play Sand with sand tools Funnels jugs cylinders Soil and plant pots Cooking: making sandwiches: children to spread - choose fillings Walk to river to have a picnic Bouncers Painting Poly M Puzzles Self-portrait with mirror Marble run Microscopes Playdough with straws, yoghurt pots Number stencils Home corner shop, till, money, food baskets Rubbing stencils with wax crayons Transport stamps wink ink pads Hospital Duplo Large blocks Floor puzzles Home corner Flexo Threading boards Dressing up, mirror Farm Duplo Friday Wet sand with shells, buckets and spades Soapy water with dolls, sponges Large group singing Sticking Lego Puzzles Home corner: collage Cogs and wheels Maxi Colorado Hairdressers, bottles, books insects Brio train set Easel out everyday Picture cards with choice of art medium PELICAN ROOM PLANNING SHEET – Pre-school Letter for the week: B W/C Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Number for the week: 3 Language and Literacy Maths Knowledge Creative Construction Personal and Social Group Letter B Observational drawing. Do every day. Do number time. Number 3 Microscopes and nature table Sewing Big blocks Playdoh with tea set Making puppets Small Lasy Reading The Three Bears story using props worksheet Computer Compare bear worksheet Magnets with various objects Sewing Lasy Making puppets Flexo Cars, mats, garage and Playmobil people Sorting compare bears into sizes Threading beads Computer Water with funnels and jugs Observational painting of my teddy Poly M See personal and social Shape sorters Computer Scales with wet and dry pasta. Sand with sieves, buckets, shovels and rakes. Food tasting Dinosaur Duplo Sweet and sour Magic bricks Making sandwiches for teddy bears picnic. Children to bring in own teddies. Playdough with cutters, rolling pins. Feely bag Zoo Duplo Drama – dressing up and acting out story of Goldilocks and The Three bears See personal and Social Sound lotto Picture cards Large books Newsbooks Number peg people Friday Colour for the week: Red Theme for the week: The Three Bears Shape for the week: Square Tracing cards Shape dominoes Computer Lasy cogs and wheels Q-new Small Lego Computer Drama – dressing up and acting out story of Goldilocks and The Three Bears. Make sandwiches Musical instruments