Nursery
Ashmead Nursery has been awarded the Early Years Quality Assurance Standard in Communication & Language and Literacy. As a setting we have been able to effectively demonstrate how we create a language rich environment enabling the children in our provision to develop their confidence and skills in expressing themselves. As a staff we understand the importance of communication skills as they can have a life-long impact on a child’s development and future life chances.
Ashmead Nursery offers a caring, exciting and engaging childcare environment for children aged 2 to 4yrs. We are able to offer the following sessions:
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8:45 to 11.45 am Monday to Friday (morning session)
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12.15 to 3.15 pm Monday to Friday (afternoon session)
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The sessions offered are term time only.
We have a small number of places for government funded 2 year old children; all other children will be eligible to start Nursery the term after they turn three. We offer the government funded sessions of 15hrs a week for these children too.
Depending on your circumstances you may qualify for 30 hours funding which would enable your child to attend full days (a lunch cover fee may be payable). The hours your child could attend are 8.45 - 2.45pm / 9.15-3.15pm (no lunch cover fee payable) or 8.45 - 3.15 pm (a lunch cover fee is payable; contact the school office for more details)
Email: nursery@ashmeadschool.org.uk
Telephone: 01296 468437
To check your eligibility and for more information on the options available to you please check the Government website: https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/
Admissions
We are now accepting admissions for our Nursery. Places are limited and fill up fast so get in touch as soon as possible to secure your child's place on our waiting list.
If you would like to register your child for our Nursery, please complete a registration form and return it to either the Nursery or school office, in person or by email to office@ashmeadschool.org.uk. Registration forms can be collected from the school office, Nursery or found below.
Ashmead Nursery registration form
Ashmead Nursery Admissions Policy 2023/24
Curriculum
We offer a wide and varied curriculum based around the 7 Areas of Learning linked to the Early Years Foundation Stage.
The three Prime Areas of learning are Personal, Social and Emotional development, Communication and Language and Physical Development. The four Specific Areas of learning that run alongside the Prime Areas are Literacy, Mathematics, Understanding of the World and Expressive Arts and Design.
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Autumn Term 2025-26
Theme: Ourselves
A big welcome back to all the children who were with us last year and welcome to those who have joined us. We look forward to what I am sure will be a lovely half term.
Thank you! We are really grateful for all your support in helping us to settle your child into life at Ashmead Nursery. This half term, the children will get used to all the new faces they will see, both adults and children, and they will develop their understanding of the nursery’s routine. Our topic this half term will be Ourselves. As part of this, we will be looking at what we look like, who is in our family and how old we are. We shall also be looking at ourselves and printing with our hands and talking about our family.
Tapestry: Please make sure you are able to access Tapestry, as your child’s Key Worker will be
putting on lots of photos for you to see. You will also have lots of information sent to you on Nursery News and Acorns Information. If you have not already done so, please can you add a family photo to Tapestry so your child can share it with their key group. Those children who have had photos uploaded have really like looking at them during session time.
If you are not able to access your child’s Tapestry journal please let a member of staff know.
When you collect your child, their Key Worker will be able to tell you how they have got on that day. However, if you need a longer conversation, please arrange a separate time to talk to them.
Let the adult at the door know if you would like your child’s key worker to call you or leave a note on Tapestry. During the session we are busy working with the children so please do call after 3.15pm or email nursery@ashmeadschool.org.uk.
As you can probably tell, lots of the children have enjoyed painting in the past few weeks. We try our best to make sure they do not get paint on their clothes and we do buy washable paint. The paint manufacturers recommend you wash clothes on a COLD wash to remove the paint. We have found that pre-treating with washing up liquid also helps. Also, at nursery we have a large outside area which the children are encouraged to access throughout the session, whatever the weather. Please remember as the weather gets colder to provide a labelled coat. Your child will not catch a cold from playing outside, if you think they are too unwell to play outside then please do not send them in.
Concerns: If you have any concerns or worries about your child, please do not hesitate to speak to their Key Adult or another member of staff. We are always available to help and can make an appointment for a longer telephone chat if needed.
Bags: Please remember to put a change of clothes, including socks or nappies, in
yourchild’s bag. We have lots of bags, jumpers and coats that look the same. Please ensure all items brought into nursery are clearly labelled, including your child’s bag. We do not provide nappies and will ask you to collect your child if they need changing and there is no nappy or wipes in their bag.
Please do not put any food items or drinks in your child’s bag. We provide a snack and milk or water for the children and have a number of children with allergies who may be affected by food or drink brought in from home.
Absences: If your child will be absent from nursery, please try to inform us by 9.30am. If we don’t hear from you, we will get in touch to confirm the reason for their absence. Please remember that if your child has been sick or has had diarrhoea, do not send them in for 48 hours after they were last ill.
Contact details: Please make sure collection lists are up to date to prevent delays when other people collect your child. Remember to inform us if you have moved or changed your phone number. It is essential we have the correct information so we can contact you quickly if an emergency occurs.
Requests: If you have any old cereal boxes or clean yogurt pots or cartons we would love to have them for junk modelling.
We would also appreciate any conkers or autumnal leaves you find, as the children love playing, sorting and sticking with them. Thank you!
Autumn Term 24-25 Theme: Ourselves & Celebrations
We started the academic year off by exploring our new environment! We welcomed back some children who were with us last year, and we welcomed all those who joined us. Over the term, the main focus is to get to know each other. There will be lots of new faces that they will begin to recognise and the children will soon develop their understanding of Nursery's routines. With our topic being Ourselves, we will learn what we look like, who is in our family and how old we are. We will also look at ourselves and print with our hands whilst talking about our family.
We have all really enjoyed the first few weeks at Nursery! You could probably tell how much your children have enjoyed painting. We do our best to make sure paint does not get on their clothes and we buy and use washable paints. Any paint on clothes requires a cold wash with a pre-treatment before washing.
Our next theme was Celebrations. We loved learning about Diwali, and Priti showed the children 
photographs and she explained why Diwali is celebrated. We also looked at other celebrations like Bonfire Night. We made lots of colourful firework pictures in chalk and using paints. We are also looking forward to learning about the Christmas story, and begin to learn a simple Nativity performance for the parents!
Over the year, we will be using Tapestry to keep you updated with your child's progress and development. Please make sure you have access to this (if you need support, please let a member of staff know).
At the end of each day, your child's Key Worker will be able to tell you how they got on that day. If you would like a longer conversation about Nursery or your child, please arrange a separate time to meet. Your child's key worker can call you or leave a note on Tapestry. Alternatively, you can phone after 3:15pm or email us at nursery@ashmeadschool.org.uk
News and Useful websites
Newsletter Autumn First Half 2024
Helping your child at home - Rhymes for letter formation - Read Write Inc.pdf
What to expect in the new EYFS 2021
- Hungry Little Minds - Simple, fun activities for kids, from newborn to five
- ICAN - Information on your child's language development
- Nursery rhymes
- The National Literacy Trust - Activities to try with your child at home
- PACEY - Getting ready to start school
- CBBC - 7 tips to help prepare for primary school
- Supporting Speech sounds - SALT guidance to support the development of speech sounds
Environment
We have a large outside area which the children are encouraged to access throughout the session, whatever the weather! Please remember, as the weather gets colder and wetter, please provide a named coat.
We have lots of bags at Nursery, so please ensure your child's bag is named. Your child will need a change of clothes including socks in their bag. They do not need food or drinks in their bags as this may affect children with allergies. We provide a snack and milk or water for the children.
Please ensure your park safely and walk to the Nursery using the footpath provided. Please do not walk through the main staff car park.
Click here to see Nursery Photos
Our environment and staff interaction ensures the children develop to the best of their ability in these key areas of learning. We strive to ensure that at all times we offer a curriculum that is exciting and fun and one that will reflect the school's ethos of learning through experience.
We work hard to make sure our Nursery environment is an exciting and engaging place for our children to be. We make certain there are many opportunities for the development of children's language and communication skills alongside the development of their natural curiosity, inquisitiveness and imagination. If you have any old cereal boxes or clean yoghurt pots/cartons, we would love to have them for junk modelling.
