Opening Hours

Information

A Guide to the Early Years Foundation Stage

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is the period of education from birth to five years, the last year being called the Reception year. The EYFS has four themes expressing principles underpinning effective practice in the care, development and learning of young children.

These themes are: 

A Unique Child – Every child is a competent learner from birth who can be resilient, capable and confident.

Positive Relationships – Children learn to be strong and independent from a base of loving and secure relationships with parents and teachers.

Enabling Environments – The environment plays a key role in supporting and extending children’s development and learning.

Learning and Development – Children develop and learn in ways and at different rates and all learning and development are equally important and inter-connected.

Bright Beginnings Montessori School uses the EYFS to ensure that parents can be confident that their child will receive a quality experience that supports their development and learning. We follow this curriculum in parallel with our Montessori educational system. Montessori

Methods are used throughout all areas of development.

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The EYFS has seven areas of learning:

Personal, Social and Emotional Development – Developing confidence and independence whilst learning to concentrate and enjoy sharing as part of a group.

Communication and Language – Communicating with one another and developing skills in talking, listening and understanding.

Physical Development – Improving control and co-ordination of their bodies whilst learning to move and handle equipment. 

Literacy – Developing skills in reading and writing. 

Mathematics – Using numbers, quantity, measurement, shape and space. 

Understanding of the World – Investigating and beginning to understand things, places and things around them, including different cultures and beliefs. Also to become familiar with technology and how it works.

Expressive arts and design – Exploring media and materials by using colour, shape, sound, texture and movement and develop their imagination.

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During the time at Bright Beginnings Montessori School, the teachers are continually assessing the children’s development and progress. On leaving the school children’s records will be passed on to the child’s new full time school in order to aid a smooth transition.

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The Aim of Bright Beginnings Montessori School

Our aim is for the children to have the opportunity to learn through the Montessori Method. To have new experiences and to develop individual skills at their own pace in a supportive environment where they are positively encouraged, valued and respected; and for the children to be happy in our care.

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The Curriculum

The Early Years Foundation Stage is a single quality framework for all children from birth to the age of five. It is rich in play and involvement in daily routines. Children will have plenty of chances to learn through care routines, fun with physical movement, play for the senses; let’s pretend, books and stories, music and rhymes, heuristic play with natural and household objects and outdoor play and experiences. The “Early Learning Goals” are what most children will achieve at the end of the reception year and are set by the Department for Education and Skills. Here at Bright Beginnings we aim to follow a fun and exciting curriculum with themes throughout the term that the children can relate to and are interested in.

Key Workers and Child Records

Each child is allocated a key worker who is responsible for continuously observing and recording development in all areas. Periodically they will make notes and collect examples of work to enter into the child’s online tapestry journal. 

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Settling in and Parental Involvement

We want children to feel safe and happy in the absence of their parents, to recognise other adults as a source of authority, help and friendship and to be able to share with their parents afterwards the new learning

experiences enjoyed in the nursery.

We invite new children to an unaccompanied introductory visit prior to starting. We are pleased to receive all parental enquiries concerning children particularly in the early stages of settling in. We are more than happy for children to bring their comforters with them, dummies, blankets, teddies etc.

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Providing a Healthy Diet

Children receive a morning snack and afternoon snack with milk or water to drink. A snack table is set up for the session and the children are able to help themselves to a snack and a drink. For the children that stay for lunch we offer a hot meal which can be ordered weekly at a cost of £2 per day. If you do not wish your child to have a hot meal please provide your child a packed lunch. Please NO NUTS as some staff and children may be allergic to these. We also offer a light tea at 4:15pm at the cost of £1.50 per day.

Clothes / belongings

It is suggested that children wear a t-shirt available through the school at £8 each. Please provide a pair of slippers/pumps for your child to change into on arrival at school. It is helpful for the children to be dressed in comfortable, washable and easily manageable clothes as we do a lot of creative and physical activities.

Please keep personal non-essential items e.g. toys and books from home to a minimum. Each child will need to bring a spare set of clothes and a suitable outdoor coat. Children that are still in nappies please can nappies, wipes and nappy bags be available in the child’s bag. Also please ensure that these are clearly labelled.

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Pre School Sessions

The school is divided into three terms. Autumn, Spring and Summer. The pre school is open 8am – 5pm, Monday through to Friday all year round, closing for 2 weeks over the Christmas period. Sessions are made up of 3 hours or more and you are welcome to choose any days and times. Bright beginnings are very flexible and can offer days and hours to suit your family needs. 

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Uniform available to buy

Bright Beginnings t-shirts are available to purchase at a cost of £8. Jumpers are also available to buy at a cost of £12.

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Early Years Entitlement               

4 year olds and 3 years olds (following the term in which they turn 3) are entitled to EYFE for up to 15 hours per week for up to 38 weeks per year or 11 hours per week all year round. The school claims the EYFE on your behalf.

Please choose your days, times and how many hours you would like on each of these day.

2 Year old funding is also available for eligible families.

30 hours of funding is available to working parents.

Funded hours can be claimed between 9am and 4pm

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Baby Room

Staff to child ratio will be 1-3. A safe and caring environment for your little ones to be looked after in. Fully qualified and first aid trained staff. For more information contact Bright Beginnings. 

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Daily Routine:

AM

8:00 – 9:00 Breakfast club offering cereal and toast

9:00 - 9:45 Welcome / Free play / Montessori Activities

9:45 – 10:00 Registration / Circle time / Letter of the week

10:00 Bathroom run

10:00 – 11:40 Montessori Activities / Free Play / Snack time / Outside Play – Free flow

11:40 – 12:00 Story Time / Song Time / Good bye Song for children going home  / Toilet and wash hands ready for lunch

PM        

12:00 - 12:45 Lunch and quiet time

12:45 Bathroom Run / Clean Teeth

12:50 – 1:00 Registration / Circle time / Letter of the week

1:00 – 2:40 Montessori Activities / Free Play / Snack Time / Outside play – Free flow

2:40 Bathroom Run

2:45 – 3:00 Story Time / Song Time / Goodbye Song / Deregistration for children going home

3:00 – 6:00 Free play / Light tea and drink offered at 4:30pm

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If you would like a registration form, please contact Bright Beginnings and one will be sent to you via post or email. Alternatively you may collect a form from our reception. If you would like to come and have a look around our pre school, please use our contact form to arrange a visit. 

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Price list

Price List Sep 24 - Aug 25

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0-1 Year old’s non-funded children   

£8 per hour (Minimum of 3 hours per day)

1-2 Year old’s non-funded children        

£7.50 per hour (Minimum of 3 hours per day)

2-3 Year old’s non-funded children        

£7.00 per hour (Minimum of 3 hours per day)

3+ year old non-funded children

£5.50 per hour (Minimum of 3 hours per day)                  

3, 4 year funded children statutory funded hours can be claimed between 9-4

15 hours free entitlement per week term time.

11 hours free entitlement per week all year round

£5.50 per hour after

Working Parents funded children 30 hours funded hours can be claimed between 9-4

30 hours free entitlement per week term time

22 hours free entitlement all year round

Hourly rate based on age per extra hours

Hot Meals

Hot meals £2.00 per day     Packed lunch  £1.50 per day  

Please get in touch with any questions. We’re always happy to help.