Nursery
Welcome to our Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) pages. We are delighted to share information about our Nursery and Reception classes and the exciting learning experiences that support our youngest children as they begin their educational journey.
The Early Years Foundation Stage is a crucial stage in a child's development, covering children from birth to five years old. It provides the foundations for future learning, helping children develop the skills, confidence, and curiosity they need to become happy, successful learners.
At our school, we follow the EYFS Framework, which sets the standards for learning, development, and care for children in their early years. The framework is designed to support children in becoming independent, resilient, and confident individuals through a balance of adult-led activities and child-initiated play.
The EYFS Framework is organised into seven areas of learning and development:
Prime Areas
- Communication and Language
- Physical Development
- Personal, Social and Emotional Development
Specific Areas
- Literacy
- Mathematics
- Understanding the World
- Expressive Arts and Design
These areas work together to support children's overall development and help them build the knowledge and skills needed for their future education.
We are an intentionally inclusive setting where every child is valued, respected, and warmly welcomed by our caring, nurturing, and knowledgeable staff. We are committed to ensuring that all children feel safe, happy, and supported as they begin their learning journey with us.
Our beautiful learning environment provides a warm, safe, and homely atmosphere where children can thrive. Children's independence and language development are at the heart of everything we do. Through carefully planned experiences, meaningful interactions, and high-quality play opportunities, we encourage children to become confident communicators, curious learners, and resilient individuals.
Our outdoor learning area is a truly special part of our EYFS provision. Children have access to this exciting environment throughout the year, whatever the weather, providing endless opportunities to explore, investigate, and learn through play. The outdoor area plays a vital role in developing children's physical skills, social interactions, confidence, creativity, and problem-solving abilities.
Our EYFS curriculum is carefully planned to provide engaging, meaningful, and challenging experiences that inspire children to explore, discover, and develop a lifelong love of learning. We value every child as a unique individual and work closely with families to ensure that all children feel safe, happy, and supported throughout their time in Early Years.
We believe that parents and carers are children's first and most important educators. By working together in partnership, we can create strong foundations that enable every child to flourish and reach their full potential.
We hope these pages provide a useful insight into life in our EYFS setting and the wonderful learning opportunities our children enjoy every day. We look forward to sharing your child's learning journey with you.
Reception Curriculum
In Reception, our curriculum provides a carefully planned balance of adult-led teaching and child-initiated learning, ensuring that children develop the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed for future success. Each day includes focused learning sessions in Literacy, Mathematics, Understanding the World, and daily phonics teaching through our chosen phonics programme. These adult-led sessions introduce new concepts, develop key skills, and provide opportunities for children to apply their learning in meaningful contexts. Alongside this, children engage in high-quality continuous provision where they can explore, investigate, create, and consolidate their learning through play. Our learning environment extends seamlessly between the indoor and outdoor classrooms, allowing children to access a rich range of experiences that support all areas of the EYFS curriculum. Through purposeful interactions, carefully planned enhancements, and skilled adult support, children are encouraged to become independent, resilient, and motivated learners. Throughout the year, we work towards the Early Learning Goals (ELGs), ensuring that children make strong progress across all areas of learning. By the end of Reception, children are well prepared for the transition into Year 1, having developed the academic foundations, independence, communication skills, and positive learning behaviours needed to successfully begin the National Curriculum.
Nursery Curriculum
In Nursery, our curriculum is designed to provide children with a strong foundation for learning through a nurturing, play-based approach that reflects the needs and interests of our youngest learners. We carefully balance adult-led experiences with child-initiated exploration, recognising that young children learn best through meaningful play, hands-on experiences, and positive relationships. Daily routines help children feel secure, develop independence, and build confidence as they learn to manage their personal needs, follow simple instructions, and become part of the school community.
Each day includes opportunities to develop communication and language skills through stories, songs, rhymes, conversations, and group activities. Children are introduced to early mathematical concepts through practical experiences such as counting, sorting, matching, and exploring patterns. They also enjoy a wide range of activities that develop their understanding of the world, creativity, physical development, and personal, social, and emotional skills. Children take part in daily phonics sessions which focus on developing listening skills, sound discrimination, rhythm and rhyme, and early sound awareness, providing the foundations for future reading and writing.
Our indoor and outdoor learning environments are carefully planned to inspire curiosity, imagination, and exploration. Children have daily access to both areas, allowing them to learn through active play, investigation, and discovery. Skilled practitioners support and extend children's learning through high-quality interactions, modelling language, encouraging problem-solving, and following children's interests.
Throughout their time in Nursery, children develop the confidence, independence, and foundational skills needed to prepare them for Reception. The focus is on fostering a love of learning, developing communication and social skills, building positive relationships, and creating strong foundations across all areas of development, ensuring children are ready for the next stage of their EYFS journey.
Nursery Hours and Funding
To apply for a place at our Nursery please follow the attached link
Apply for a maintained nursery place - Stockport Council
We offer both 15 and 30Hours Free Childcare depending on what your family are entitled to.
30 hours are 5 full school days per week 9am to 3pm Monday to Friday.
Once you have been formally offered a 15 hours place by the local authority, send in your offer email or letter plus your verification code for either 15 hours or 30 hours to admin@st-georges.stockport.sch.uk
For the 15-hour sessions, we offer parents to choose a block of sessions for their child of 2.5 days per week
Mondays and Tuesdays (9-3) and Wednesdays (9-12)
Or
Wednesday (12-3) and Thursdays and Fridays (9-3)
Top Up
If you are not entitled to free extended hours on top of the 15 universal hours, we can offer “Top Up” services. Please contact admin@st-georges.stockport.sch.uk for further information and prices.
Evidence Me – Assessment in EYFS
In our Nursery and Reception classes, we use Evidence Me to capture and share special moments from your child's learning journey throughout the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).
Evidence Me allows us to record children's achievements, experiences, and progress through photographs, observations, videos, and examples of their work. These snapshots provide a wonderful insight into the learning that takes place every day and help us celebrate each child's unique development.
Through the app, parents and carers can view observations, achievements, and key milestones, giving you a window into your child's experiences at school. We believe that strong partnerships between home and school are essential in supporting children's learning and development.
We highly value the observations and contributions made by parents and carers. Children learn and achieve so much outside of school, and sharing these special moments helps us build a fuller picture of your child's interests, strengths, and accomplishments. Whether it is learning a new skill, enjoying a family experience, showing independence at home, or celebrating a personal achievement, we encourage you to upload your own observations through Evidence Me.
By working together and sharing children's successes both at home and at school, we can support every child to thrive and make the most of their EYFS journey.
Thank you for being an important part of your child's learning adventure.
Phonics - RWI
At our school, we use Read Write Inc. (RWI) to help children develop strong reading, writing, and phonics skills. This structured and engaging programme gives children the building blocks they need to become confident, fluent readers and writers.
Through daily phonics lessons, children learn to recognise sounds, blend them together to read words, and use their growing knowledge to support their writing. Lessons are carefully matched to each child's stage of learning, ensuring that every child can progress at a pace that is right for them.
We believe that reading is one of the most important skills a child can develop, and we value the partnership between school and home in supporting this journey. Parents and carers can help by:
- Listening to their child read regularly.
- Practising sounds and words sent home from school.
- Sharing stories together and talking about books.
- Encouraging a love of reading through a variety of texts.
Read Write Inc. is designed to build confidence, develop independence, and foster a lifelong enjoyment of reading. We are proud to work alongside families to help every child achieve their full potential.
If you would like to find out more about Read Write Inc. or how you can support your child at home, please speak to your child's teacher.
Attach
10 things to think about when you read to your child
Understanding how phonics works for parents
How Read Write Inc. Phonics works - a parent/carer’s guide
How to help your child to learn the Read Write Inc. Phonics sounds
Read Write Inc. sound blending tutorial using phonics flashcards
Phonics: How to pronounce pure sounds | Oxford Owl
Before and After School Club
Children in Nursery and Reception are very much welcome to attend our before and after school club.
The Before and After school Club exists to provide high quality out-of-school hours childcare for our parents. It provides a range of stimulating and creative activities in a safe environment. The club will be run by staff from the school, and led by the managers Mrs R Mirza and Mrs D Bennett. The administrator for the club is Mrs R Voss.
The breakfast club operates Monday – Friday from 7.45am – until the start of the school day during term time.
The after school club operates from Monday – Friday from the end of the school day – 5.45pm during term time.
Telephone during the school day 8.30am - 4.00pm - 0161 480 8657, option 3
After 4.00pm in emergencies only - 07960 047046
basc@st-georges.stockport.sch.uk
Tax-Free Childcare: What Tax-Free Childcare is - GOV.UK
If you get Tax-Free Childcare, you’ll set up an online childcare account for your child. For every £8 you pay into this account, the government will pay in £2 to use to pay your provider.
Universal Credit childcare costs - GOV.UK
If you pay for childcare while you go to work, Universal Credit can pay some of your childcare costs.
Uniform
Please send your child to school in a warm coat and a pair of sensible velcro shoes. A pair of wellies that which can be kept in school so that the children have suitable footwear when playing outside on rainy/snowy days. In warmer weathers please make sure your child brings a sun hat and suncream is applied before coming to school.
Please make sure your child’s name is in everything they bring to school.
It is important that your child has a named bag which they can leave in school that has a full set of spare clothes in (including socks and underwear) This is because we enjoy lots of messy/wet play and your child may need to get changed before they come home.
Children are to come into school every day wearing their school uniform
Boys
Black or grey trousers/shorts
White/red polo t-shirt
Red school jumper (please note this does not have to have the school logo embroidered on)
Black school shoes
Girls
Grey/black skirt/pinafore/trousers
Red/white summer gingham dress
White/red polo t-shirt
Red school jumper/cardigan (please note this does not have to have the school logo embroidered on)
Red/grey/black tights or socks
Black school shoes