WELCOME
Jo Humphreys Head of Early Years
Emily Roberts Deputy Nursery Manager
A very warm welcome to the Nursery at King Edward VI Preparatory School. All our children experience a breadth of opportunities, both indoors and out, and are encouraged to make the most of their talents and abilities.
In the Nursery, we provide children with a warm and friendly environment where the children feel safe and settled to play, learn and explore. We really value each child’s interests and questions and utilise these to support their development. Our stimulating and challenging provision instills a love of learning and enables the children to progress in all areas of the EYFS curriculum; ensuring they have a solid foundation on which to build their future learning.
I hope you find the following information useful. Further details can be found on our websitehttps://prep.kes.school/
Please do contact our Nursery team should you need any further information nursery@kes-prep.school
NURSERY TEAM
The Nursery team are really looking forward to welcoming your family to KES Prep and getting to know your child.
Each child will be allocated a ‘key person’ who will work closely with you and your child. Your child will be supported by our whole team whilst at Nursery, however the key person will ensure that your child establishes secure relationships, and their Nursery experience is shaped to meet their individual needs. We work very closely as a team, and upon settling with their key person, your child will form secure relationships with the other adults within the Nursery. In addition to the Nursery staff, your child will interact with the wider team within the Early Years department, as well as our specialist teachers.
We operate an open-door policy, so please feel free to speak to us at drop-off or pick-up. If you would like to discuss something at greater length, please contact us to make an appointment. We encourage you to always share any concerns or worries you have with us.
THE CURRICULUM IN NURSERY
The Early Years curriculum is rich, engaging, exciting and challenging. We believe that children learn best through play and purposeful first-hand experiences, so we give them plenty of opportunities to learn in this way. Children are encouraged to discover, question and relish their learning, in order to gain a deeper understanding in all areas of the curriculum. The Early Years curriculum is divided into seven areas:
• Communication and Language
• Physical Development
• Personal, Social and Emotional Development
• Literacy
• Mathematics
• Understanding the World
• Expressive Arts and Design
We value the importance of teaching the children knowledge, but also recognise the importance of enabling the children to develop skills. These will support them throughout their education and beyond. The skills on our KES Prep Learning Wheel are embedded in our everyday provision. Along with promoting a growth mindset, your child will be acquiring lifelong skills and knowledge whilst enjoying rich and varied provision.
Our children become more powerful learners through our 5c’s approach, which concentrates on learning dispositions. The 5c’s are thoughtfully woven into every aspect of life at KES Prep. The 5c’s are: Collaborative, Curious, Creative, Considered and Committed.
LEARNING IN THE NURSERY
The children learn through a mixture of adult-led and child-led sessions. Children learn best when they are highly engaged and motivated. We utilise the children’s interests, schemas and questions to develop their learning, as well as exposing them to new interests and opportunities for discovery.
Our curriculum is also enriched through visits, special days and experiences. Events such as “Languages and Culture Day”, “Sports Day” and “Nursery Rhyme week” provide inspiration and develop skills such as collaboration and communication.
At KES Prep we encourage our children to be ready, aware and kind.
Our facilities offer a wide range of exciting indoor and outdoor learning areas. All our rooms lead out to a covered outdoor area, and this then leads onto a large garden. At the bottom of the garden is Little Meadow, our nature area. Many of our children choose to learn outside, so there are as many opportunities to learn and discover outdoors, as there are in. Beyond the Early Years space is a sports hall, farm, and Forest School area, all of which our Nursery children will access. Our Preschool children also benefit from access to our swimming pool during the summer term. The children benefit from a broad curriculum which includes Yoga, Sing and Sign, Performing Arts, Sports, Farm School and Forest School.
DAILY ROUTINE
The Nursery is located within the Nursery and Early Years building. The core Nursery day is from 08:30 until 16:30 Monday to Friday. During term time wraparound care is available from 07:45 until 17:30 Monday to Friday subject to booking and availability. Outside of term time wrap around care is available between 16.30 until 17.30.
07:45 - 08:30 Breakfast in the Nursery (booking required* - available term time only)
08:30 - 09:00 Arrival at the Early Years front door
09:00 Registration
If you arrive at school later than registration, we ask that you register your child at Reception in Highwood House. If you need to collect your child during the school day, please go via Reception to collect them.
09:00 - 11:45 Morning session
11:45 -12:30 Lunch in the Dining Room
12:30 Morning session ends - children collected from Early Years front door
12:30 - 16:30
Afternoon session - children attending afternoon session to arrive at the Early Years front door at 12:30
16:30 Home time - collection from the Early Years front door
16:30 - 17:30 Tea (booking required* )
*nursery@kes-prep.school
Please check the terms and conditions so you are aware of the charges that apply for wraparound care and in reference to the late collection fee.
Sleep and rest routines at Nursery
Young children may still require sleep and rest periods during their Nursery day, and we recognise the importance of this in aiding development. We will liaise with you to identify the routine of each child, and the Nursery team will make every effort to mirror the routines set by parents/carers, including agreed sleep limits. Children will be provided with a clean sleep mat for each sleep, and a fresh set of bedding at the beginning of the week which will be labelled and stored separately.
FAQS & USEFUL INFORMATION
Who provides my child’s nappies whilst they are at Nursery?
We will provide disposable nappies, wipes and sudocrem for your child whilst at Nursery. We ask that if your child has a sensitivity to certain wipes or nappies, you provide a suitable brand for their use at Nursery, and likewise if your child requires a nappy cream other than sudocrem. We welcome the use of reusable nappies.
What happens when my child is toilet/potty training?
We work with families to identify the right time to begin toilet training and will support your child with this whilst at Nursery. Both our toddler and preschool room have access to child sized toilets, and potties. Understandably, young children can become distracted by all the fun things we are doing at Nursery, resulting in more accidents; therefore, we politely request that you provide plenty of extra clothes, and if possible, some spare footwear.
Will my child have snacks at Nursery?
Yes – learning and growing uses a lot of energy. During term time we offer our Nursery children both a morning and afternoon snack. Our morning snack is offered with a cup of milk, or water if preferred. During term time lunch is provided by our catering team in the dining room. In the school holidays you are required to provide food for your child. If they are staying all day this would be a morning and afternoon snack as well as their lunch.
If they are staying after 16.30 they will also require tea. Please remember we are a nut free school.
When will my child be offered a drink?
We ask that all children bring a labelled bottle filled with water to each Nursery session they attend. They will be able to access this freely throughout the day and will be given frequent reminders too.
How will I know how my child’s day has been?
You will receive a verbal handover at the end of each day. We aim for this to be delivered by your key person; however, this may not always be possible in instances such as tea club or when our team have holiday. They will, however, share key information with the person delivering the handover to you that day. Additionally, you will receive updates via Tapestry, including what they have eaten, when they have slept and when they have had their nappies changed. If during the day your child becomes unwell, suffers a bump to the head, or has become unsettled, we will call to update you.
Can my child bring personal items to Nursery?
We want our children to achieve high levels of wellbeing at Nursery, and for some children, this will mean having access to a comfort item. We welcome you bringing these to Nursery and will encourage healthy use of comforters in the setting. Other items such as favourite toys should not be brought to Nursery. If your
child brings a comforter, please ensure it is clearly labelled.
What should my child bring to Nursery?
To ensure your child is equipped to participate fully in our Nursery day, we ask that in addition to uniform items, you provide:
• Spare clothes including underwear and socks
• Suncream during the summer months
• Gloves and hats in the winter months (We recommend mittens, or waterproof gloves)
• Comforters if applicable
• A water bottle that your child is able to use independently
• Welly socks
• Wellies
Please ensure all items are labelled clearly
Can Nursery staff babysit?
To safeguard our staff and all the children in our care our staff are not permitted to babysit.
What if someone else needs to collect my child?
You are required to email the office at office@kes-prep.school with the name of the person you wish to collect your child. They
will then need to bring in photograph ID such as a Passport or Driving Licence to the school office prior to collecting your child.
Can my child receive childcare funding?
Please refer to the terms and conditions for further funding information. More informations can also be found at
ASSESSMENT
Your child’s progress will be continually monitored throughout the year. This is done through informal, day to day observations.
When your child is aged between two and three, we will review their progress and provide you with a short written summary of your child’s development in the prime areas of learning.
In the Autumn, and Summer Terms, you will have the opportunity to attend a Parents’ Evening to discuss your child’s progress.
You will also receive a full report detailing your child’s progress at the end of the Summer Term. Any children that have just joined our Nursery will receive a settling in report at this time.
If individual learning needs are identified we will be supported by the Head of Learning Support. The Head of Learning Support will liaise closely with you and the Nursery team to ensure that all children are given the support required and the opportunity to succeed.
WAYS TO HELP AT HOME
You can support your child by following their interests and learning alongside them. Model being an enthusiastic learner and relish in the joy of discovering new things together, revisiting familiar ideas and concepts and introducing new ones.
Reading with your child is vital. Research shows it is the single most important thing you can do to help your child as they learn and develop. It is best to read little and often, so try to put some time aside every day.
Think of ways to make reading fun - you want your child to learn how pleasurable books can be. Books are not just about reading the words; they can also present new ideas and topics to discuss together. Young children benefit from repetition so don’t shy away from sharing family favourites again and again.
Children make sense of things when they have a purpose and can see the practical application. Therefore, it is important to show how we use skills such as maths in our everyday lives and involve your child in this. Identifying problems and solving them
together can help your child develop their mathematical skills.
For example:
• choose and prepare food together - ask questions about the food, describe what is happening, give options.
• when you take your child shopping, talk about different quantities, shapes, and sizes of objects.
• spot numbers and quantities when you are out and about e.g. counting the number of birds you can see, spotting numbers on houses and road signs
• complete puzzles, build train tracks and stack blocks to develop understanding of mathematical concepts including shape, space and measure
Finally, encourage your child to develop independent skills. This may be tasks such as taking their shoes and socks off and beginning to learn how to put them back on, being able to put on their own jacket (we find the Montessori coat flip works well for this) or washing their own hands with soap. Of course, all children will learn self-care skills at different rates, and
supporting them with this is embedded
MEDICAL
If your child is unwell and needs to stay at home, please fill in the absence request form on the Parent Portal: https://my.stroudkes.org.uk/login
All members of our Nursery team are paediatric first aid trained and will take responsibility for any day to day medical requirements. School nurses are available during term time (8.30-4.30pm) and will attend to your child as required. If necessary, they will contact you to discuss the best course of action.
Medicines, including anti-histamine, paracetamol and ibuprofen preparations, will only be administered to children when there is permission to do so.
If your child requires medication whilst at Nursery, their medicine should be given to one of the Nursery team. A short-term medical needs administration of medication form must be completed.
Any prescribed medication needs to be sent in its original packaging with prescription label.
If your child is prescribed antibiotics, please ensure they have their first dose at home, depending on the reason for antibiotics they may need to have 24hours of the course before returning to school. Please discuss with Matron, the Nursery Manager, or the Deputy Nursery Manager before your child comes into school.
If your child has sickness or diarrhoea, they must be 48 hours clear of the last symptoms before returning to school. Children who are unwell and have a high temperature (>38 degrees), should stay at home, and avoid contact with other people, where they can, to reduce the spread of infection. They can return to school when they no longer have a high temperature, and they are well enough to attend.
KES Prep Nursery is Allergy Aware and caters for children with a wide range of medical needs, including, but not limited to, nut and peanut, egg, wheat, dairy allergies and gluten intolerance (Coeliac). We also cater for a wide range of cultural dietary requirements. Parents are requested to attach an ingredient label on all food brought on site that may be shared or sold for charity events. This is also required if you bring in food for celebrations e.g. birthdays. Please hand any food over to a member of the Nursery team. Foodstuffs containing nuts should not be brought on site to reduce the risk of cross-contamination.
Water bottles Birthdays Sun Protection Holiday Requests
Your child is allowed to drink water whenever they require throughout the day and we ask that your child brings a reusable plastic water bottle to school everyday. These should only contain water and be clearly named.
Birthdays are important days for the children and we enjoy sharing these special days with them.
Children are welcome to bring in cakes for their birthday. These items must have an ingredient label attached as we have children with life threatening allergies, in accordance with our allergy awareness policy.
These must be passed to a member of the Nursery team. They may be enjoyed at snack time or given to you at the end of the day, to be eaten at home.
On sunny days, ‘once a day’ sunscreen should be applied at home prior to coming to school.
However we also ask that you send in a named bottle of sunscreen so that it can be re-applied later on in the day, especially after swimming.
We ask that sunscreen products containing any nut oil are not sent into school.
Children should bring in their school hats.
Requests for absence should be made through the Parent Portal.
COMMUNICATION
KES Prep Nursery is a vibrant setting, with lots happening every week. We share our exciting news stories in the following media:
The KES Prep Bulletin
A round up of all information and news is emailed to parents every Friday evening, replacing individual letters. This also contains essential information about the following week and upcoming events.
Tapestry
We also use an online learning journal and will send you observations about your child via this. You will be sent an email explaining this further, along with a link to follow.
News Stories & Social Media
News stories as they happen for you to share with your friends and family can be accessed on our website or social media channels.
https://stroud.kes.school/67/latest-news
PARENT PORTAL
The KES Prep Parent Portal provides direct information about your child and the school.
Inside this secure area, parents can access information about the school, such as the calendar, menu, as well as child specific information.
Parents’ evenings are booked through this system. Please report your child as absent from school or request a leave of absence on the home page.
The Portal can be found at https://my.stroud-kes.org. uk/login. When joining the school, you will be sent the link to register and the details to log in for the first time.
KES PREP ASSOCIATION (KPA)
Every parent automatically becomes a member of the KES Prep Association (KPA). Our aim is to organise social events for the children, families and staff to help build the strong community and friendships that make KES Prep such a special place. All the funds we raise from events such as the Christmas Fayre, Prosecco Party and Easter Egg Hunt are used to fund projects for the benefit of the children.
If you are interested in helping the KPA, please join the KPA Volunteers group on Classlist, or email us on thessacommittee@gmail.com if you would like more information about joining the committee
KES PREP CHRISTMAS FAYRE 2025
INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS INSPECTION REPORT
We are delighted to share our Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) school inspection report with you. This is the culmination of five years of hard work from the staff team, building on the success of the last report in November 2019. ISI inspections now look to determine whether schools meet the standards in five key areas:
• Leadership And Management, And Governance
• Quality Of Education, Training And Recreation
• Pupil’s Physical And Mental Health And Emotional Wellbeing
• Pupil’s Social And Economic Education And Contribution To Society
• Safeguarding
A copy of the full inspection report can be found on our website:
https://prep.kes.school/67/latest-news/post/40/celebrating-our-latest-isi-report
All of our school policies can be found on the KES Prep School website:
https://stroud.kes.school/402/policies
NURSERY UNIFORM
Nursery Uniform – ages 2-3 and 3-4
Please note that core uniform items of polo shirt and fleece are all that is required for children aged 2-3, with full Nursery uniform for pre-school (age 3-4). Additionally, 2- 3 year olds must also provide a splashsuit, wellies and welly socks, a sunhat/woolly hat and gloves, navy joggers or shorts and a plastic water bottle.
KES Prep school coat
KES Prep all-in-one splashsuit
KES Prep polo shirt
KES Prep Nursery fleece
*Navy joggers
*Navy shorts
*Indoor and outdoor trainers
*Wellies and welly socks
*Swimwear – trunks/swimsuit/all-in-one
*Plastic water bottle
KES Prep bookbag
*Small rucksack for swimming kit and spare clothes
*Summer hat
*Woolly hat and gloves
All KES Prep Branded items are to be purchased from Stevensons. Various sizes available in store and on the website.
All items of clothing must be clearly labelled with the child’s name.
* These items do not need to be purchased from Stevensons.
UNIFORM SUPPLIER: STEVENSONS
All KES Prep Branded items are to be purchased from Stevensons. You can order from Stevensons in the following ways:
1. Order online at www.stevensons.co.uk
To register, enter ‘King Edward VI Preparatory School’, select and follow instructions.
2. Shop in store.
For expert fitting advice and a range of other school essentials’ visit our Bournemouth branch; open 9.00am-5.30pm Monday-Friday and 9am-5pm on Saturdays.
148-150 Seabourne Road, Bournemouth, BH5 2JA
T: 01202 425192
E: bournemouthbranch@stevensons.co.uk
3. Telephone orders
Call Customer Services Department on 01727 853262 and choose option 1.
Available 9.00am-5.30pm Monday-Friday and 9.00am-5pm on Saturdays. Items will be posted to your home address.
Please direct any queries regarding uniform to: nearlynewuniform@stroud-kes.org.uk
Nearly new uniform items can be viewed or purchased at https://stroudschool.square.site