Pre-school (Acorns)

Acorns (our Pre-School class)

Our pre-school (Acorns class) is an important part of our school. Acorns provides a relaxed and friendly setting in which young children can play and learn. It is widely recognised that children learn best when they feel happy, secure and are suitably challenged and we aim to provide this through a play-based curriculum with both child and adult-initiated activities and exploration. We provide an environment where children can learn through their play and while we offer adult-led activities and group time the focus is still on play and discovery as the children can learn at their own pace.

At the bottom of this page, you will find a short informative document which include key information to help your child settle into Acorns.

 

 

 

 

We prioritise 3-4 year old places, but we do accept 2 year-old funded places for those that are able to access it, if places are available.

 

 

The previous pre-school merged with Charlton Primary School in January 2022 and is situated on the grounds of the primary school. It has its own building and entrance with its own playground and garden, directly accessible from our playroom, enabling all children to access a secure outdoor environment at any time of the day.

Our pre-school class has the same ethos as the main school and shares our values – Be Happy, Be Kind, Be Responsible – which run throughout. We believe that quality Early Years education is essential to enhance children’s learning and development and offer a caring, happy, secure and stimulating learning environment. We organise our sessions so that children can choose from, and work at a range of activities.

The children are also helped and encouraged to take part in adult-led activities in small and large groups to introduce them to new experiences and help them to learn to work with others.

We follow the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework and support your child to master the skills they need in the earliest stages of their development.

 

Developing the Characteristics of Learning are a key aspect of our provision:

Playing and exploring

Active Learning

Creating and Thinking Critically

Exploring, questioning and experimenting opportunities are abundant in our well-resourced classroom and outdoor learning space

 

The areas of learning are:

Prime Areas

· communication and language

· physical development

· personal, social and emotional development

 

Specific skills

· literacy

· mathematics

· understanding the world

· expressive arts and design

 

About us

Charlton Primary School is a publicly funded school within the Vale Academy Trust. Our Pre-School class (Acorns) admits children aged between two and four years old. The admission number is 26 full time equivalent places.

 

• A part-time place consists of 15 hours per week and this is fully funded for all 3 - 4 year olds
• Places are offered for 38 weeks per year

 

Typically, we offer places as a combination of sessions to make up 15 hours.  Depending on availability, some 30 hour places may be available.

 

 

What should my child wear?

Uniform is not compulsory in our pre-school class. Ultimately, we request that children are dressed in comfortable, sensible clothing, ready for a day of creativity and exploration! Children should have trainers for indoors and be provided with wellies for outside (these need to be available every day). 

Nursery Education Funding

Children are usually eligible for the funding in the term after they turn 3 years old.

For admissions information please contact - acornsadmissions@charlton.vale-academy.org

 

Useful information

A link to a useful guide to getting letter sounds and pronunciation correct is here.

Two recommended sites for helping parents to develop their child's communication and language skills are the BBC's Tiny Happy People and the Government's Hungry Little Mind