Welcome to Horton Mill Primary school to all our new families.
Starting Nursery is a very exciting and important time for yourself and your child. We have put together this page to answer regularly asked questions. If you have something else you would like to ask please contact us at info@hortonmill.oldham.sch.uk
Who will be my child’s class teacher and teaching assistant?
Mrs Bush Mrs Munir
When will my child start Nursery?
During the next few weeks you will receive a letter informing you of the day your child will start Nursery. To help your child to settle more quickly we are going to do a staggered entry. This means your child will come for a one hour visit on their first day. We will increase this time depending on how your child settles. We will be working with you closely, to try to make sure they settle happily into a full session, as soon as possible.
What will my child’s learning areas look like?
A video tour of the Nursery Outdoor Area
Does my child have to wear a uniform everyday?
The children do wear a school uniform. All children wear a white polo shirt, school jumper and black or grey jogging pants.
When the children are ready they wear pumps for PE in the hall. 
Please make sure you write your child’s name on all items of clothing they wear to school.
Please ensure your child comes to school with a warm coat and sensible shoes.
In cold weather, please send your child with a hat and gloves.
In hot weather, please send them with a hat, a cap or protection for the head.
For safety purposes, please ensure your child is not wearing any jewelry.
On their birthday they can come to school in their own clothes.
Where do I drop off and pick up my child?
Your child will need to be picked up and dropped off at the Nursery door by one parent. Please follow the markings painted on the ground.
What times are the Nursery sessions?
Morning session – 8.30 am until 11.30 am
Afternoon session – 12.15 pm until 3.15 pm
In the interest of child safety we ask that a known adult brings and collects your child at the beginning and at the end of each session. If another adult is collecting your child please inform the Nursery staff beforehand. As a safety precaution, the Nursery gate is locked at all times throughout the day.
Will my child be given snacks and drinks during the school day?
Our Nursery is taking part in the fruit and vegetable scheme, which means that your child will be given a piece of fruit or vegetable each session.
Please send a bottle of water with your child’s name on each day. They will be able to drink the water when they are thirsty.
Please do not send juice or fizzy pop.
What will my child learn?
We ensure that the curriculum we offer meets the needs of the developing child. We use the Early Years Outcomes as a guide to inform the curriculum. This focuses on helping them to develop the skills in the three prime areas and four specific areas of learning both indoors and outdoors.
Prime Areas:
Personal, Social and Emotional Development
Physical Development
Communication and Language
Specific Areas:
Literacy
Mathematics
Understanding the World
Expressive Arts and Design
How will they be taught?
Your child will receive a daily Listening and Maths session.
We also use a challenge curriculum where we ask questions and then do activities to help answer them.
Each week your child will bring home a Newsletter which will tell you what we are doing in Nursery and give ideas of activities that you can do with your child at home.
They will have adult led activities inside and outdoors.
They will also take part in child chosen activities inside and outdoors.
Where possible we try to give them first hand experiences.
They will also take part in lots of exciting activities.
In Nursery we run a weekly Woodland school during the Autumn and Summer terms in our schools Woodland Area.
I am worried my child may get upset.
Children vary greatly in their response to Nursery. Both you and your child may feel anxious for a while. This is quite common and natural and we are always on hand to support you and your child.
How can I be involved?
We see parent involvement as essential. At the moment, due to Covid 19 restrictions, we can no longer invite parents into Nursery at the begining of the session or run our half termly parent events. However, we hope to do this again as soon as it it appropriate to do so. We aim to upload photographs of your child or video links to the stories or songs we are sharing to Google classroom each week. If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to speak to a member of the Nursery team at the beginning or end of the session.
There will be a parents meeting in Autumn and Spring and you will receive a report of your child’s progress in Summer.
How can I help my child to be ready for school?
Starting Nursery can feel a very big change for your child. Helping them feel ready will help them to settle more quickly. Talking about starting Nursery in a positive way, attending transition meetings and visits and helping your child become more independent will all help to make this transition easier. Please see the links below for ideas of ways to help develop the skills your child will need.
Skills that would help my child to be school ready
https://www.bbc.co.uk/tiny-happy-people/activities/zjh8hbk