Heron Hill Nursery
Hello and welcome!
Our Nursery is based in a separate building with its own outside play area. It is an environment which is safe and secure, providing a setting which is warm, friendly and attractive for children who are away from home for the first time. Children aged 3 years are admitted to part time places in Nursery during term time and we focus exclusively on them, addressing each child’s individual development and cultural needs, catering for them appropriately. |
How it works
In practice our aims are:
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Snack Time
We have snack during every session. This is a time when we can talk about sharing food and taking turns. Snacks will usually consist of fruit. The school provides milk through the ‘Cool Milk’ company which is free for all under-5 year olds. You will be invited to register your child and they will then receive a carton of semi-skimmed milk every day, which is delivered fresh and chilled to the classroom. If your child is not registered for milk, they will be offered a drink of water or can use their own water bottles.
Please provide your child with a named sports-type bottle containing only water that they can drink from during session times.
Communication and illness
Please inform us as soon as possible if your child is not going to be in school for any reason. If your child is suffering from anything that is likely to affect them during the day, then please let us know when you arrive at school. If your child has been absent from school with sickness and/or diarrhoea they need to be kept at home for at least 24 hours following the last bout of ill health to avoid infecting others. If there is an outbreak of a particularly infectious bug, we will extend the exclusion period to 48 hours, which is the Cumbria County Council preferred exclusion time.The school phone number is 01539 721276.
Session Times (three hours each)
Due to the large numbers of parents and children arriving and departing at the main school at the start and end of each day, it is unreasonable to expect all Nursery children to arrive at the same time. Although we have set times for the start and end of each session, we suggest that the first 15 minutes of each session is a flexible time during which children should be expected to arrive and leave.
Morning session Afternoon session
8.45 am-9.00 am (arrive) 12.30pm-12.45pm (arrive)
11.30 am-11.45 am (collect) 3.15 pm-3.30pm (collect)
We have snack during every session. This is a time when we can talk about sharing food and taking turns. Snacks will usually consist of fruit. The school provides milk through the ‘Cool Milk’ company which is free for all under-5 year olds. You will be invited to register your child and they will then receive a carton of semi-skimmed milk every day, which is delivered fresh and chilled to the classroom. If your child is not registered for milk, they will be offered a drink of water or can use their own water bottles.
Please provide your child with a named sports-type bottle containing only water that they can drink from during session times.
Communication and illness
Please inform us as soon as possible if your child is not going to be in school for any reason. If your child is suffering from anything that is likely to affect them during the day, then please let us know when you arrive at school. If your child has been absent from school with sickness and/or diarrhoea they need to be kept at home for at least 24 hours following the last bout of ill health to avoid infecting others. If there is an outbreak of a particularly infectious bug, we will extend the exclusion period to 48 hours, which is the Cumbria County Council preferred exclusion time.The school phone number is 01539 721276.
Session Times (three hours each)
Due to the large numbers of parents and children arriving and departing at the main school at the start and end of each day, it is unreasonable to expect all Nursery children to arrive at the same time. Although we have set times for the start and end of each session, we suggest that the first 15 minutes of each session is a flexible time during which children should be expected to arrive and leave.
Morning session Afternoon session
8.45 am-9.00 am (arrive) 12.30pm-12.45pm (arrive)
11.30 am-11.45 am (collect) 3.15 pm-3.30pm (collect)

Lunch Club
We operate a lunch club from 11.45 am until 12.30 pm at a cost of £3.00. Children can bring a packed lunch or alternatively, you can order a hot school meal (we have a 3 week menu rotation) at a cost of £2.10.
Additional Sessions
In addition to your free entitlement of 15 hours Nursery Grant, you may wish to pay for extra morning or afternoon sessions. Your entitlement of 15 hours can only be used as 5 mornings or 5 afternoon sessions in line with school policy. Please ask a member of staff for a booking form.
The cost for an extra morning or afternoon session is £12.00.
We operate a lunch club from 11.45 am until 12.30 pm at a cost of £3.00. Children can bring a packed lunch or alternatively, you can order a hot school meal (we have a 3 week menu rotation) at a cost of £2.10.
Additional Sessions
In addition to your free entitlement of 15 hours Nursery Grant, you may wish to pay for extra morning or afternoon sessions. Your entitlement of 15 hours can only be used as 5 mornings or 5 afternoon sessions in line with school policy. Please ask a member of staff for a booking form.
The cost for an extra morning or afternoon session is £12.00.

Curriculum
The Early Years Foundation Stage framework is organised into 7 areas of learning. It is designed to meet the diverse needs of all children through a series of stages leading to the Early Learning Goals.
These areas are:
One experience or activity may provide a child with opportunities to develop a number of competencies, skills and concepts across several areas of learning.
The curriculum provides opportunities for teaching and learning through planned purposeful play and supported child initiated activities both indoors and outdoors.
We offer a relevant curriculum to provide children with a wide range of practical first hand experiences and opportunities to develop their knowledge skills and understanding. We believe that these activities should be enjoyable and purposeful.
Briefly our curriculum comprises:
Autumn term:
Ourselves, Harvest/Autumn, Little Red Hen
People who help us, Bonfire night, Christmas
Spring term:
Fairy tales, Shape
Transport, Easter/Spring time.
Summer term:
Growth and Change, Gardening and Planting,
Farm, Holidays, Olympics
Extended School
We are keen to provide before and after school care for your children should you require it. A breakfast club is held in the main school each morning from 7.30 am-8.45 am at a cost of £3.95 per session (for the first child, £3.35 for additional children).
An after school club runs from 3.15 pm until 5.45 pm and costs £6.50 per child per session (£5.75 for additional children). The breakfast and after school clubs are run by the Beck Out of School Club which also provides half day and whole day holiday clubs. Contact Anne Newby on 07765 023934 for more information.
In conclusion we look for the development of well-adjusted, happy children who are eager to meet new experiences. We can achieve this if we work together with confidence and understanding.
Please feel free to visit the school to talk to the Headteacher, Head of Department or the Nursery staff if you have anything that you wish to discuss.
You are always welcome!
The Early Years Foundation Stage framework is organised into 7 areas of learning. It is designed to meet the diverse needs of all children through a series of stages leading to the Early Learning Goals.
These areas are:
- Communication and Language
- Physical Development
- Personal, Social and Emotional Development
- Literacy
- Mathematics
- Understanding the World
- Expressive Arts and Design
One experience or activity may provide a child with opportunities to develop a number of competencies, skills and concepts across several areas of learning.
The curriculum provides opportunities for teaching and learning through planned purposeful play and supported child initiated activities both indoors and outdoors.
We offer a relevant curriculum to provide children with a wide range of practical first hand experiences and opportunities to develop their knowledge skills and understanding. We believe that these activities should be enjoyable and purposeful.
Briefly our curriculum comprises:
Autumn term:
Ourselves, Harvest/Autumn, Little Red Hen
People who help us, Bonfire night, Christmas
Spring term:
Fairy tales, Shape
Transport, Easter/Spring time.
Summer term:
Growth and Change, Gardening and Planting,
Farm, Holidays, Olympics
Extended School
We are keen to provide before and after school care for your children should you require it. A breakfast club is held in the main school each morning from 7.30 am-8.45 am at a cost of £3.95 per session (for the first child, £3.35 for additional children).
An after school club runs from 3.15 pm until 5.45 pm and costs £6.50 per child per session (£5.75 for additional children). The breakfast and after school clubs are run by the Beck Out of School Club which also provides half day and whole day holiday clubs. Contact Anne Newby on 07765 023934 for more information.
In conclusion we look for the development of well-adjusted, happy children who are eager to meet new experiences. We can achieve this if we work together with confidence and understanding.
Please feel free to visit the school to talk to the Headteacher, Head of Department or the Nursery staff if you have anything that you wish to discuss.
You are always welcome!