At St Oswald's Primary School we believe that every child’s journey is unique. Our curriculum is designed to be flexible, allowing us to follow and support the individual interests of our pupils while ensuring they are perfectly prepared for the transition into Year 1.

Meet the Early Years Team

Our team is composed of passionate, fully qualified practitioners who are dedicated to nurturing your child's potential. We work closely together to ensure every child’s individual needs are met. 

Role	Name
EYFS Lead & Teacher	Mrs J Hipkins	I enjoy maths and history but most of all, I love making stories come to life!
Nursery Manager	Mrs J Harris	I like to explore the outside, I especially enjoy making magic potions in the mud kitchen.
Teaching Assistant	Mrs S Edwards	I enjoy being in nature, growing flowers and vegetables and helping others.
Teaching Assistant	Mrs B Barnes	I love to keep active and stay healthy. Running, dancing and dressing up are my favourite things to do.
EYFS Class Teacher (Thurs/Fri)	Mrs Brinton	I enjoy STEM challenges such as building car tracks, solving problems with construction, craft and shapes.

Before children start at St Oswald's CE Primary School and Nursery, we make transition our priority.

Our induction process includes an invitation for parents and children to tour the nursery and meet our team. We also conduct home visits for all new starters; meeting children in their own environment helps our team build an early bond with your child, ensuring they feel secure and ready to learn from day one.

We offer 1:1 parents meetings and an cohort induction meeting before your child starts with us in Reception to share important information with their new class teacher and continue to build a strong partnership with you.  

In Autumn and Spring terms you will be invited to further workshops to support home-school partnerships - see below for dates and details!

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Our Learning Environment

We provide a calm and welcoming atmosphere where children have the tools to lead their own learning. Our spaces are designed to encourage risk-taking and creativity in a broad and balanced curriculum.

How We Teach

We combine a love of discovery with a structured approach to learning. Our curriculum is built on:

• Focused Learning: We use clear, purposeful learning intentions to ensure we help your child reach their full potential.
• Thematic Planning: Our "objective-led" approach means that while children are enjoying a fun theme or topic, they are systematically gaining the core skills required for Key Stage 1.
• In-the-Moment Learning: Our classrooms are language-rich environments. Our expert staff capture "teachable moments" as they happen, providing instant feedback and immediate next steps to stretch your child’s thinking.

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Our Three School Rules

We introduce three simple rules that help our youngest learners develop the character and emotional intelligence they need to thrive.

Be Ready

We support children as they learn to listen actively and respond appropriately to others. Being "ready" means being engaged, curious, and prepared to take part in our school community.

Be Respectful

We encourage children to show kindness to people, places, and things. In our setting, this means practicing good manners, being polite, and valuing honesty in everything we do.

Be Safe

We teach children how to look after their bodies and minds. This includes supporting healthy eating habits and effective self-care, as well as helping children develop "self-regulation"—the ability to understand their emotions and manage their own behaviour.

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Preparing for Year 1

By the end of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), we use our professional judgement to assess each child’s development against the Early Learning Goals. This holistic view ensures that when your child moves into Year 1, they do so with the "firm foundations" they need for a successful and happy school career.

 

Next workshop:  'Fun Foundations' 

We will be sharing the importance of communication, physical coordination, and executive function. Think of these as the brain’s "air traffic control system" that allows children to focus, follow instructions, and manage their emotions. By mastering these core skills—such as listening attentively, developing a strong pencil grip, and understanding numbers to 10—your child gains the essential mental tools and independence needed to navigate the more complex challenges of Year 1 and beyond.

Call our office on (01562) 751056 to book your place!

If there is a workshop you would like me to consider, please let me know and I'd be happy to oblige. 

This year we are running:

Ready Steady Read - October 2025 - a workshop for parents on how to support reading development in the early years

Fun Foundations - NOW TAKING BOOKINGS for FRIDAY 6th 2-3pm - A workshop for parents on how we support essential foundational skills in the early years, such as number sense, self-regulation, executive function, oracy and pre-writing and how you can continue to support at home.

New Beginnings - Summer - A workshop for parents looking at transitions and children's next steps to progress their foundational skills, including phonics in year one.

Forest School

Every Thursday at 1:30pm until 3:10pm

Children love to get stuck in with digging, bug hunting, den building and cooking in the mud kitchen.  Parents are asked to bring children to school in the morning ready for forest school and bring waterproofs and wellies in a bag - so leave your school uniforms at home.

PE

Our PE days are every Friday morning.  Children will get changed at school so make sure they have their kit ready.  It is best to name all items - even pumps!  We support all children to do this as independently as possible and celebrate their successes (this might be why their top is back-to-front sometimes).  

Unique You!

Every Friday at 1:15pm

Each week one child will be selected to take home our 'unique-you box' and bring it back on Friday ready for small class celebration of being unique.  We would like children to carefully consider items that they would like to share with the class to reflect their unique characteristics, likes, dislikes, interests and skills.    These could be photographs, certificates or items that are meaningful to the children.  Children are encouraged to share what they have brought in and to talk about what make them 'them!'.  The class are always very keen to ask questions and have their turn!

Outside gates open at 8:35am

Classroom doors open at 8:40am

Register 08:45am

Doors close at 08:45am

Children arriving after 08:45am should enter via the main school office.

Nursery Classroom

Children should enter via the nursery doors at 8:45am.

For half days in Nursery, our morning sessions finish at 11:45am and afternoon sessions open at 12:15pm.  Children being collected and dropped off at these times should do so at the main office.

Healthy Eating

School-Approved Healthy Snacks

For morning break or as a lunchbox extra, we encourage low-sugar, nutritious snacks:

• Fresh Fruit: Apple slices, easy-peel satsumas, or a handful of berries.
• Veggie Crunch: Sugar snap peas, cherry tomatoes, or celery sticks.
• Savoury Options: Plain rice cakes, wholegrain crackers, or cereal bar.
• Healthy Swaps: Try a slice of malt loaf or a fruit scone instead of cakes or biscuits. 

Important Safety Reminders

• Nut-Free Zone: To safeguard children with severe allergies, please do not include nuts or nut-based products (like peanut butter) in any snacks or lunches.
• Items to Avoid: To keep our school a healthy environment, we ask that you do not send in fizzy drinks, sweets, chocolate bars, or high-salt snacks like crisps.