Welcome to Little Owls

We now have a newer, more up-to-day website, please click on:

http://www.thelittleowlsnursery.co.uk/news/

Many thanks!

We are a small non-profit making nursery, and believe that good care and good early education cannot be separated.  Development and learning needs are best met within the security of a warm and simulating environment where trusting relationships have been built.  In this supportive atmosphere, children are resourceful and imaginative.  When encouraged, they will develop confidence in their own ideas and make them reality.

Your child is an individual.  We believe in maintaining a high staff ratio so that we can give individual attention and support to each child's learning.

This will encourage the development of self-confidence, independence and enjoyment in learning.  In this way he or she will be able to maximise the opportunities later on at primary school.

We also encourage children to value each other as individuals.  Our policy is to use practices which value differences of gender, race, culture and language.

If you wish to apply for your child(ren) to attend the nursery, please contact us or simply download and complete the following form:

Admission Form (40.5KB)


How do we do this?

The Nursery

Little Owls is pleasantly situated in the extensive grounds of Broseley C of E Primary School. We operate as a self-contained unit having our own facilities for work and play, but also enjoying the benefits of being part of an educational campus.  Your child will be able to observe the daily routine of school life, further easing the transition from nursery to a school of your choice.

Little Owls operates the High Scope style of teaching, offering a wide and varied range of activities both within the building and using the extensive space outside.  The High Scope approach encourages the child to plan, act and reflect on what he/she does and helps the child to develop self-confidence, independence and a positive attitude to learning.  The child has unrestricted access to the nursery's resources in order to promote this child-led approach.

As well as child-led activities, we also work from ideas using early science and technology.  This involves children working on practical experiments where learning takes place from what is happening in front of them.  We aim to introduce our children to the wealth of stories, plays and poems that are also used as springboards for further exploration.  Early writing and reading skills are encouraged, and are incorporated into the children's work.

In this way the Nursery seeks to enable the child to meet the Desirable Learning Outcomes during the Foundation Stage, thereby providing the foundation for later achievements.  The Ofsted inspection in 1999, 2004 and recent 2007 confirmed our activities promote children's learning in each of the six key areas.

From the 2012 Ofsted inspection report - "Overall the quality of the provision is good. Children are happy and are making good progress in their learning and development. The nursery promotes an inclusive, healthy and generally safe environment where the individual needs and interests of the children are met. This ensures that the uniqueness of each child is fully recognised. Children benefit from the effective partnership with parents and other providers of the Early Years Foundation Stage. Managers and staff reflect on their practice and are committed to continuous improvement."

The six key learning areas are:
- Personal, Social and Emotional Development
- Communication Language and Literacy
- Maths and Logic
- Knowledge and Understanding of the World
- Physical Development
- Creative Development

Under 3's four key areas are:   
- Strong child
- Healthy child
- Competent learner
- Skilful Communicator

And staff follow "The Early Years Foundation Stage"

Our play provision includes:
Inside
painting, collage, printing, modelling clay, model making, woodwork, water play, computers,
working kitchen, building bricks, construction toys, train sets, farm and zoo animals, dolls house,
dressing up, puzzles, board games, books, music and story cassettes, radio and television programmes.

Outside
playground, tricycles, swing carts, hoops, beanbags, ball games, sand pit, climbing frame, slide

Through our facilities we aim to provide a rich environment to ensure the widest range of experiences for each child.  The outside area is landscaped to reflect our conviction that the external play space is a vital component of the overall nursery environment.  We believe it is desirable for children to go outside at least once a day unless the weather is totally prohibitive.  The garden includes a covered area for play on wet days, and a paved area for riding tricycles in muddy conditions.  Whatever the weather children are encouraged to consider the garden as an extension to the Nursery to use in their plans and leaning activities.

Our Staff

High quality, dedicated staff are here to care for your child.  Our early year's teacher ensures that the Nursery curriculum is not only broad and interesting, but provides plenty of FUN!  Together with our team of NVQ nursery nurses, our teacher provides a consistent, caring environment for all children.  This is enhanced by our very favourable staff: child ratio.  All our staff have been trained in First Aid.

Us

Little Owls is managed by a voluntary committee of parents who are elected annually by the families using the Nursery.  We are a registered charity and operate as a non-profit-making organisation under the auspices of the pre-school Learning Alliance.  We hope to be accessible to you and to encourage maximum dialogue between you, us and the staff.  Children and parents are entitled to expect courtesy and prompt, careful attention to their needs and wishes.  Our intention is to work in partnership with parents and the community generally, and suggestions on how to improve the Nursery are welcome at any time.

Starting at the Nursery

Children can start at the Nursery at any time after the age of two, if they are not potty trained please send them in pull-ups. From experience, we recommend that a child attends for at least two half-day sessions a week, so that continuity in relationships and learning can be established.  Parents are always welcome to look round the Nursery with their child, visits of one hour are recommended.  Please telephone our teacher to arrange a convenient time.

After the registration form has been completed and returned to the Nursery, your child will be placed on a waiting list and you will be notified when sessions have been allocated.  It is important to return the registration form as soon as possible.  It is the policy of the Nursery to give priority to children requiring full-time places.

Once your child is enrolled, a close liaison between parents and staff members is encouraged to discuss each child's individual needs.  Records will be kept of your child's progress and achievements.  These will be kept strictly confidential, accessible only to the child's parents, the Nursery staff and the Chair of the management committee.  When your child leaves the Nursery, the records will be passed on to you to keep, a record is also sent to the primary school they will be attending.

The Nursery Day

A typical nursery day may include the following activities:

"Plan-Do-Review" time - The children plan their own activities, act upon these ideas and review the work they have achieved.

Circle time - The coming together of children and staff to show the work they have done, to exchange news and sing together.

Workshop - Groups of three or four children with one staff member, working on ideas from children and staff.

Visits and visitors - We value our links with the community and take children on regular visits to the local library and shops, and to the church and other local schools.  We also have many visitors ranging from the lollipop lady to beekeepers!

The daily timetable is kept as flexible as possible to allow the children's ideas and interests to be developed and incorporated into the activities of the Nursery.

The Nitty Gritty...

Hours of Opening

The Nursery is open from 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday.  Within these times, a wide variety of sessions are available (see separate Terms and Conditions).  The Nursery is open 48 weeks of the year, closing only for Christmas week, Easter week (including Good Friday) Whit week and August bank holiday week and all other Bank Holidays.  During August we operate Holiday Club where the Nursery has a relaxed playtime and holiday feel and the paddling pool is very popular!

Lunches

Although we do not provide school lunches we try to promote a healthy eating plan so ask that you provide your child with a well-balanced packed lunch.

 
Registration

If you wish your child to attend the Mount Nursery, please read carefully the Terms and Conditions, complete the registration form and return it as soon as possible to the Nursery.  We cannot reserve places, but you will be placed on our waiting list and every effort will be made to offer you the sessions you require.