The Mead Nursery

Here at The Mead Infant and Nursery School we are passionate about early years education. We understand how important a good start is, laying the foundations to future learning and well-being. As you enter our Nursery environments, you will experience a nurturing atmosphere mixed with the excitement of learning. It is clear to see that our children are happy, excited and independent learners who are ‘Proud to belong’ to the Mead family.

Our Nursery Setting

Enabling environments 

Our Nursery learning environment is spacious and welcoming. Play is at the heart of our learning, where children can use the child led set up of continuous provision which is carefully designed to meet the needs and interests of the children. The children are encouraged to make decisions about their learning, where the adults skilfully support and challenge learning and the development of key skills and knowledge.     

Children have access to the continuous provision set up, inside and outside throughout the day, where a safe and predictable environment awaits their ideas and creativity. This is thoughtfully combined with a range of explicit teaching, planned adult led learning and positive interactions. 

These environments provide: 

• exciting and engaging resources and environments, both indoors and outdoors, that reflect the children and their interests. 

• meaningful learning experiences through play and targeted support. 

• encouragement for children to take risks, try new things, and explore with confidence.  

Learning and Development 

Learning happens in many ways during a child’s time in Nursery.  

Explicit teaching of foundational knowledge, understanding and skills is carefully explored through: 

• Small group activities and circle times 

• Whole class inputs 

• Adult led activities 

• Purposefully planned play experiences in continuous provision 

Implicit learning is explored though 

• Child initiated play 

• Adult interactions 

• The environment 

• Repetition and routines 

 

Characteristics of Effective Teaching and Learning 

Seven areas of Learning and Development 

Prime Areas of Learning 
These areas are especially important for your child's overall development and lay the foundation for future learning: 

• Personal, Social and Emotional Development (PSED): 
  Developing self-regulation, independence, and positive relationships with others. 

• Communication and Language (CL): 
  Building listening skills, understanding, and the ability to express ideas clearly. 

• Physical Development (PD): 
  Enhancing both gross motor skills (such as coordination and movement) and fine motor skills (like holding a pencil or using tools). 

Specific Areas of Learning 
These areas build on and strengthen the prime areas, helping children to apply their skills in more focused ways: 

• Literacy: 
  Developing comprehension, early phonic and reading skills, and a love of stories and language. 

• Mathematics: 
  Understanding numbers and learning to recognise patterns and relationships. 

• Understanding the World: 
  Exploring the past and present, learning about different people, cultures, and communities, and investigating the natural world. 

• Expressive Arts and Design: 
  Encouraging creativity through art, music, movement, and imaginative play. 

 

Transition from home 

The first step in finding out about your child is you!  We understand that each child is unique and will have different interests, needs and home life. We offer several ways to gain a good understanding of your child and to develop positive relationships with you and your child before they start with us. 

During the summer term before your child starts Nursery we ask you to complete an ‘One page profile’. This will provide us with key information so that we can start preparing for your child to settle and be happy. 

Stay and play sessions in small groups are offered to enable your child to familiarise themselves with the Nursery environment and adults, with the comfort of a familiar adult accompanying them. 

Closer to the time of starting we offer home visits and class visits to ensure time is given for face-to-face conversations about your child and how we can help them settle. This gives us a chance to meet your child and start positive relationships with a familiar adult nearby.  

Our Nursery Team 

Positive relationships 

As a bridge from home to Nursery, we ensure each child has a consistent relationship with a key worker who will be responsible for ensuring a smooth transition from home. These relationships are key to a positive start at school, where the child feels that they belong. Our caring Nursery team is led by an experienced teacher, ensuring that high quality learning and experiences with sensitive responses to individual children are delivered to each child. As a team we are driven by how children learn and maximising their time with us so that they can reach their potential every day.  

Structure of our Nursery classes 

15 hour nursery places 

Our 15 hour nursery places are offered in the mornings, Monday to Friday, term time only. Session times are from 8.50am - 12pm. 

These 15 hour places are fully funded as all 3 and 4 years in England currently receive 15 hours of government funded early education (for up to 38 weeks a year). This is a universal offer and is available to all children regardless of their family circumstances. 

30 hour nursery places 

Our 30 hour nursery places are offered for 6 hours per day, Monday to Friday, term time only. Session times are from 8.50am- 3pm. Children are expected to bring a packed lunch from home each day.  

These places are fully funded for eligible working parents using the government’s 30 hours funded childcare.  This is an extended offer and is only available to families who meet the government’s eligibility criteria. 

For families not eligible for full 30 hours funding, we offer the opportunity to pay for the additional 15 hours each week (on top of the universal 15 hours funding).  This can be paid by childcare vouchers or by direct payment on account and is payable half termly in advance.  The charge from September 2024 onwards is £21 per day (£7 per hour). 

Please note priority is given to families eligible for the full 30 hours funded childcare.  Please click here for our Nursery Admissions Policy

We aim to provide an engaging and stimulating, inclusive curriculum that excites our children and is reflective of their interests and experiences.  Developing the whole child is at the heart of our ethos and our curriculum ensures our children become happy successful lifelong learners.