Our Nursery offers a nurturing, stimulating and carefully planned environment where children can learn, explore and grow with confidence. Rooted in the principles of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), our provision focuses on developing the whole child through a balance of structured teaching and purposeful play.
A Strong Start to School Life
The early years are a crucial stage in a child’s development. In our Nursery, we aim to:
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Build confidence and independence
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Develop early communication and language skills
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Foster curiosity and a love of learning
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Support social and emotional development
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Lay strong foundations in early reading, writing and mathematics
Our experienced Early Years staff create a warm, welcoming atmosphere where every child feels valued and supported. Through high-quality interactions and carefully planned activities, children are encouraged to explore their interests, take risks in their learning and develop resilience.
Learning Through Play
Play is central to everything we do. Our indoor and outdoor environments are designed to inspire creativity, imagination and problem-solving. Children benefit from:
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A well-resourced nursery indoor environment
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Access to outdoor learning opportunities
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Opportunities for creative arts, role play and investigation
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Early phonics and number activities woven naturally into daily routines
Preparing for Reception and Beyond
Our Nursery provides a smooth transition into Reception, helping children become familiar with school routines, expectations and learning behaviours. By the time they move on, they are confident, independent learners who are ready for the next stage of their educational journey.
We look forward to welcoming families into our new Nursery and working in partnership to give every child the very best start.
When can your child start nursery?
All children will be eligible to apply for a funded place at Nursery to start the term after they are three years old.
Please see the Nursery Fees tab below for more information on funding.
| A child born on or between: | Will become eligible from: |
|---|---|
| 1 January – 31 March | Start of the Summer Term (after Easter Holidays) |
| 1 April – 31 August | Start of the Autumn Term (September) |
| 1 September – 31 December | Start of the Spring Term (January) |
To discuss our Nursery provision, or to arrange a personal tour please ring on 01298 23589 or email nursery@ann.srscmat.co.uk and we’ll be back in touch as soon as possible.
Learning
Nursery Fees
From September 2025 our Nursery sessions on offer, and charges are as shown below:
| Session | Times | Cost (Funded) | Cost (Un-funded) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Optional Fledgling Breakfast Club | 8.30am - 8.45am | N/A | £6 |
| Morning session only | 8.45am - 11.45am 8.30am soft start | £0 | £22 |
| Afternoon session only | 12.30am - 3.30pm | £0 | £22 |
| Full Day | 8.45am - 3.30pm 8.30am soft start | £0 | £44 |
| After School Club (pre-booked) | 3.15pm - 6.00pm | N/A | Before 4.30: £6 After 4.30pm: £12 |
How do I claim a funded place at nursery?
We understand that Childcare Funding can be very complicated but please understand that we totally support the current Government Funding opportunities for young children to begin their life journey in education. There are a number of possible streams of funding to access and a good way to explore options is to visit the Government’s website at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/
Please use the following link to access Derbyshire County Council’s Families Information Service page where you will be able to find further information and apply for your funding https://www.derbyshire.gov.uk/education/early-years-childcare/early-years-and-childcare.aspx
In order for us to claim your funded place, the relevant forms for you to complete will be provided and should be returned to the School Office as soon as possible.
How will I pay / be invoiced?
You will be invoiced at the start of every month and make payment via the Parent Portal app.
Nursery Opening Times
The nursery will be open in line with the rest of the school. The term dates for the 2026/27 academic year are as follow;
| Term | First Day of Term | Last Day of Term |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thursday 4th September | Friday 24th October |
| 2 | Monday 3rd November | Friday 19th December |
| 3 | Monday 5th January | Friday 13th February |
| 4 | Monday 23rd February | Friday 27th March |
| 5 | Monday 13th April | Friday 22nd May |
| 6 | Monday 1st June | Thursday 23rd July |
Plus bank holiday Monday 5th May
Inset Days – School Closed to Pupils
Thursday 4th and Friday 5th September
Monday 23rd February
Monday 1st June
Thursday 23rd July
Lunch and Snacks
Snacks
All Nursery children will be offered FREE fruit and milk every day.
Lunch
Children staying for lunch eat together with their peers, fully supported by our staff team.
- Options: Your child can enjoy a school meal or bring a packed lunch from home.
- Nut-Free Policy: Please ensure packed lunches contain healthy choices and no nuts, as we are a strict No Nut School.
- Dietary Needs: We will provide forms for you to notify us of any specific dietary requirements or allergies.
You will be provided with forms to inform staff members of any particular dietary requirements or allergies your child may have.
Uniform
Uniform & Daily Kit
- Daily Uniform: A yellow polo shirt alongside a Nursery jumper or cardigan. There are no official requirements for trousers, skirts, or shorts.
- Daily Essentials: Please send your child with a small bag containing a complete change of clothes.
- Seasonal Items:
- Colder Months: A waterproof coat, hat, and gloves.
- Warmer Months: A sun hat and a clearly labelled bottle of sun cream.
Special Activities (information on days is sent on dojo)
- Forest School (twice a week): Children require a waterproof all-in-one suit and a pair of wellies. Wellies should be left at school.
- PE Days (twice a week): Please dress your child in comfortable activewear, preferably leggings, jogging bottoms, or shorts.
How to Purchase School Uniform
We currently use our local provider for all our branded uniform items as follows:
What will happen on my child's first day?
On your child’s first day you will be greeted by our EYFS team and they will help your child to settle into their new environment.
What should I do if my child will be absent from Nursery?
If your child is absent from Nursery you must telephone the school on the first day of the absence before 9.00 am on 01298 23589.
We especially ask parents to keep children at home if they are too unwell or if they have any kind of infectious illness.
If a child becomes ill at school, you will be contacted by telephone.
Full fees will be charged for any absence.
What is the notice period if my child unfortunately needs to transfer to a different Nursery?
In the unfortunate situation, that your child needs to leave our Nursery, we require one calendar months’ notice in writing. Full charges will apply for the months’ notice period.
How does nursery communicate with parents?
We use an electronic communication app called Class Dojo for the majority of our communication with parents.
You will be provided with an invitation to access this prior to your child starting at Nursery
Any questions?
If you have any further questions at all please contact Mrs Simpson, School Office Manager for anything related to the administration or payments, or Mrs Frewer for all other queries.
They can be contacted by telephoning the school on 01298 23589 or by emailing nursery@ann.srscmat.co.uk
Class Teacher
Mrs Frewer
Teaching Assistants
Mrs Lodge
