High Five

Research consistently tells us that good early years education forms the basis of every child’s future success at school and beyond. Little wonder that parents strive to get this crucial stage of their child’s development right, says Susan Springate.

Chloe Keys, Deputy Headteacher at Trinity St Mary’s C of E Primary School in Balham, who has welcomed two-year-olds to the school in its new setting for the past two years, proclaims: “Early Years is the foundation of all other learning. A child will develop their love of learning, their questioning and their curiosity about the world around them at this age. Research shows that those children who get a solid foundation stage education should continue to improve as they move through the rest of their school career.”

An ever-growing number of women are going back to work early on in their child’s infancy, so the demand for nursery and day-care places is at a premium.

Added to this are the recent reports that many council-run nursery schools could close if the government fails to safeguard funding beyond 2020. Many families in the area rely on private nurseries, but should the shrinking number of providers become a reality, it could have an impact on the whole early years community.

Professionals in the sector however, are advising parents to stay calm. There have been no nursery closures in Wandsworth so far. In fact, a couple of new nurseries have opened in Battersea and Tooting, and most are confident they can continue to provide high-quality places for all, despite the high demand. Some are planning on expanding to meet the need; Noah’s Ark Nursery is proactively looking for a site for another nursery, according to Principal Mrs Baldwin, who has also added more afternoon sessions in response to parental demand. Elsewhere, bilingual École du Parc has introduced after-school care so that parents can pick their children up either at 5pm after they have done drama, cookery or science, or after tea at 6pm, and Trinity St Mary’s offers after-school enrichment clubs.

So how do you go about preparing for this first step onto the educational ladder? As with most big moments in life, it’s best to be well prepared and well versed in the options open to you.

What are the options?

Nursery schools – offer education for children aged from two-and-a-half to five. They are registered with Ofsted to provide childcare and are usually open part-time. Your child’s first 15 hours a week are free. Private nurseries are also able to provide free nursery places if they are registered with both Ofsted and the local council.

Pre-school playgroups – offer places for small groups of children aged from two-and-a-half to five to learn and play together.

Day nurseries – offer childcare for babies under one up to children of five, and are always registered with Ofsted. Usually open all year round from 8am to 6pm. For three and four-year-olds, they follow the same Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum as nursery schools.

Independent schools – some provide education for children aged from three before moving into the Reception in the year in which they turn four, and then up to 11. Schools must be registered with the Department of Education and are usually open part-time, in keeping with school terms. The first 15 hours a week are often free.

Childminders – offer paid-for childcare for more than two hours a day, usually in their home but sometimes in yours, and always registered with Ofsted.

How to choose a nursery or pre-school?

“My advice would be to visit a number of nurseries when you know a little bit more about your child, so you can be confident with your decision,” says Sarah Sanger, Principal of Woodentops Nursery. It’s good to arrive with a few questions up your sleeve, which will help you to be mindful of not just the environment that welcomes you, but also to discover what goes on behind the scenes as well as day-to-day for the children.

“As a new parent, you often don’t have a clue,” says Eva Toth, Co-Head in charge of admissions at bilingual nurseries L’École du Parc. “Make sure the ratio is right (legally 1:4 under three years and 1:8 over three years) and there is good interaction going on between children and staff – and that there isn’t a child left crying on the carpet!” Ultimately “go with your gut feeling,” advises Rozzy Hyslop, Principal of Marmalade Schools. “You’ve got to like the head and the school’s ethos and how they communicate with you.”

Settling in – Most nurseries have settling-in sessions to support the children – and their parents – with this next crucial step in their development. The Kindergartens for example, offers home visits, half-hour music sessions and a welcome party before starting, to ease the settling-in period and to begin the crucial parent partnership.”We ask parents to walk their child past the school so it becomes a familiar building, to share stories on the subject of starting nursery, to pop in beforehand so they can see the classroom and once they start, they will be greeted by the same teacher,” explains Vice Principal Joanne Allen.

Butterfly Pre-school Head Charlotte Butterfill advises parents to talk about the forthcoming nursery start in a positive way. ”Explain that they’re going to have fun,” she says.

“My advice to parents is to give yourself enough time between settling in your child and going back to work,” says Sarah Sanger, of Woodentops Nursery. “Ideally give yourself one to two weeks after your child has settled before you go back to work full-time, so it is not too stressful for either of you.”

Separation anxiety – This is a normal part of a child’s development and nothing to fear or to try to avoid. Talk to your child about how it can be hard for us all, but that you’ll see each other soon enough and they’re going to have a lot of fun in the meantime. Don’t loiter as you drop-off. It’s best to have a quick kiss, hug and goodbye and then walk away.

Thirsty to Learn – Once settled, your child will discover a whole new exciting world of making friends and enjoying activities from cooking and den building to yoga and ballet, and even weekly trips to forest school at Woodentops, who also have a creative arts studio, where a teacher comes in to do special projects with the children.

“Learning through play forms the basis of what we do at nursery,” says Sarah Sanger. And because each child is unique, nurseries will find the one activity that inspires each child, explains Charlotte Butterfill. “It could be music or building bricks,” she says. “All of their learning is free play so they don’t realise they’re learning but there is an art to achieving that.”

As the anxiety around school places increases, parents are understandably anxious that their child will be ready for entrance tests for prep and independent schools, as well as the new Reception Baseline Assessment due to be introduced in September 2020.

At Parkgate Nursery they combine the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum alongside the Montessori method of teaching. “Children will work 1:1 with teachers or in small groups alongside child-initiated learning, developing independence as they choose from a range of activities across the seven areas of learning,” explains Registrar Helen Bradley.

“Independence at this stage is probably the best skill you can give your child,” says Eva Toth. “It is not all about phonics and handwriting but much more about being able to put on your coat, go to the loo and feed yourself.”

Marmalade School’s Rozzy Hyslop says that parents can help beforehand by teaching their children the concept of independence. “Offer them achievable challenges like going to find their shoes and socialise them by doing things in groups. Children who have never left their parents will have a problem at nursery.”

“For us it is about making sure children love coming to nursery every day,” adds Woodentops’ Sarah Sanger. “If they love coming to nursery they are probably going to love going to school. We just want to create this magical experience for them.”

WHAT AM I ENTITLED TO?

Free nursery education
All families in England are entitled to 570 hours free childcare or early education per year, which is usually taken as 15 hours a week for 38 weeks; but you can choose to take fewer hours over more weeks.

Working parents of three to four-year-olds, where both parents are earning less than £100,000 a year, are also eligible for a further 15 hours – ie a total of 30 hours – and in addition, there is the Tax-Free Childcare account, whereby the government will pay £2 for every £8 you pay your childcare provider. Find out what your family is entitled to at childcarechoices.gov.uk.

Free education nursery providers
Those offering free nursery education for three to four-year-olds include maintained nursery schools, primary school nursery classes and some private nurseries (including École du Parc and Young England Kindergarten) who offer the 15 or 30 free hours outlined above. Check with individual private nurseries.

Maintained nurseries are council-run, usually open 9am to 3.15pm and free to all parents/carers. Many provide before and after school childcare too but generally do not offer nursery places for two-year-olds. Both public and private nursery schools must be registered with Ofsted and undergo regular inspections, although maintained nurseries have to undergo a more rigorous inspection – just the same as primary and secondary schools – whereas private nurseries receive an Early Years inspection.

When to apply
The closing date for applications for nursery places in a maintained primary school for entrance in September 2019 was February 2019. Each year follows a similar timeframe and planning ahead is essential. Visit childcarechoices.co.uk or your local borough’s website for further details.

WHAT IS THE EARLY YEARS FOUNDATION STAGE?

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is how the government and early years professionals describe the time in your child’s life between birth and five years old. This important stage helps your child get ready for school and prepares them for future learning.

Nurseries, pre-schools, reception classes and childminders registered to deliver the EYFS must follow a legal document, the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework, developed with a number of early years staff and parents.

The EYFS Framework sets out:

The legal welfare requirements that all those registered to look after children must follow in order to keep your child safe and promote their welfare.

The seven areas of learning and development to guide professionals’ engagement with your child’s play and activities as they learn new skills and knowledge.

Assessments that will tell you about your child’s progress through the EYFS.

The Early Learning Goals – the expected levels your child should reach at age five, usually the end of the reception year.

There are two stages (at age two and age five) when the professionals caring for your child must give you written details on their progress.

For more information about the Early Years Foundation Stage visit www.foundationyears.org.uk