Nursery and Pre-School at Phoenix

 

Nursery at Phoenix Primary School

Phoenix Nursery is located within the school grounds of Phoenix Primary School. We pride ourselves on the outstanding education that we are able to offer children in the Bermondsey area.  The staff in the nursery are dedicated to the children and families that they teach.  Each child is unique and at Phoenix we ensure that the children’s interests are developed through their play and quality interactions with caring members of staff.  Daily activities are planned to extend children’s vocabulary, mathematical understanding and early literacy skills.

Part of our School Community

As the nursery is attached to the school, children share the same site and some of the same facilities, it is an excellent way to make starting school easier.  Children who attend our nursery go on to thrive in Reception as they are familiar with the school, teaching styles, learning environments and the daily routines, which makes transition to Reception easier for them.  Our aim is to empower our youngest children, laying down the foundations for the future and to instil a lifelong love of learning.

Attending Phoenix Nursery does not provide automatic entry into Reception. Southwark Council’s school admissions team will provide for the admission of children into the reception year group in the September following their fourth birthday. You must apply for a primary school place by completing an online application at: www.southwark.gov.uk/schooladmissions.

Indoor Learning Environment

The nursery classroom is large, bright and bustling with colourful displays and designated learning areas to excite all of the children.  Our fantastic learning environment provides children with a wealth of different experiences.  Indoors, children have the opportunity to develop their creativity through exploring a wide range of art or design materials and through role-play.  The book corner is equipped with soft furnishings and is a comfy space for children to feel safe, relax and enjoy a story with adults or their friends.  Indoor plants support positive mental health and sense of well-being. Active learning, critical thinking and enjoyment are fundamental for children to play and learn.  We bring nature into children’s play, whether this be natural resources at the playdough station, logs or plants throughout our environment.

 

Outdoor Learning

Outdoor play is imperative, and we allow children to flow between indoors and outdoors, seeing the environment holistically and not as two separate play spaces.  The Nursery has its own large private garden separated from the older children in the school.  The outdoor area has been expertly designed to make the most of the space; providing many features including a large digging area, natural sensory plants and a climbing area, creating a haven in which children are encouraged to explore and learn.  Pupils have the opportunity to participate in hands on exploration of sand, water and connect with nature.

Curriculum

The intent of our curriculum is to ensure that the whole child develops and achieves their full potential.  Children will leave nursery with increased resilience and they will be confident and excited to enter reception.  Children’s learning and welfare are the main priority, ensuring that teaching is differentiated appropriately to meet all the learners’ needs, providing appropriate challenge.  The curriculum is structured to provide opportunities for child initiated and adult directed activities.  Adult led activities can be 1:1, in small groups or whole class. We promote children to learn something new and apply this learned skill in ways that are independently chosen.

The curriculum is planned to be broad, engaging and exciting. Communication and Language is at the heart of the curriculum as early language skills have an enormous impact on children’s ability to access and express their learning in later years.  The topics that have been selected cover a broad range of vocabulary and enhance children’s understanding of the world around them, giving them the cultural capital that they need to be successful in the rest of their education.  The curriculum is progressive, starting with vocabulary linked to the children themselves, their immediate family and personal experiences.  Throughout Nursery, the topics promote a range of different language and experience.

Each EYFS topic has an overarching prime area of learning focus: personal, social and emotional development, communication and language or physical development.  Vocabulary and facts that children learn are directly related to the theme. Units are structured around core texts, with the ‘Book of the Week’ at the heart of every activity.  Through this, the children learn a vast variety of language and specific nuances of language from fiction, poetry and non-fiction texts.  At the beginning of the week, there is a ‘hook’ to fully engage and interest the children; the children are then immersed in the text, through planned adult focus activities and independent enhanced provision within the indoor and outdoor environments.  Planned adult directed activities include drama and talk to support understanding of the text and to develop vocabulary, language and ideas for writing. It is through this wonderful book-based curriculum that the children develop a love of reading.

Nursery Topics

Autumn 1	Autumn 2	Spring 1	Spring 2	Summer 1	Summer 2
All About Me	Bears in the Forest	Traditional Tales	Farming	Jungles and Rainforests	Water

 

Full Time Nursery

We offer full time places for all pupils in Nursery.  We invest in children’s early education as we believe that providing the best start to children’s education will best prepare children as they progress through the rest of our school.  Taking part in different activities, spending time with different children and adults and visiting different places helps their confidence to grow and build a foundation which prepares them for life in the outside world.

Healthy School Meals

Free healthy meals will be provided for any nursery pupil to enjoy at school during term time. All meals are freshly prepared on site. The catering company ISS Education cooks delicious, wholesome meals using quality local produce and British ingredients. Children are offered a fully inclusive two course meal each day, in line with national nutritional standards. These ensure children are provided with a healthy, balanced meal which includes a variety of food containing all the nutrients growing children need. ISS Education believes in and supports the ethos that developing a healthy diet and good eating habits early on will lay the foundations for future health; healthy minds require quality diets to thrive.

 

APPLICATION FOR ADMISSION:

For admissions, please read our admission policy in the link below, complete the application form (Nursery Interest Form) and send it to admissions@phoenix.southwark.sch.uk

Mayflower Nursery Admissions Policy

Nursery Interest Form (Application Form)

 

Our Contact Address is:

Marlborough Grove,

LONDON

SE1 5JT

Telephone: 0207 231 8622