NEXT STEPS Early Years Ages 3-5

Why the Gatehouse?

With use of the whole school facilities and mature staff who understand and appreciate the needs of two year olds through their own time and experience as parents, the children simply could not be better provided for or looked after. Our outstanding Early Years provision also won the 'Best Early Years in School' category at the 2024 Nursery World Awards.

How to apply

Learning Through Discovery

Settling in to the Gatehouse

The social and emotional development of your child is of the utmost importance to us so settling him or her into the nursery routine is our first priority. Prior to starting in the Gatehouse your child will be invited in for a minimum of two settling in sessions to help familiarise them with their new surroundings, friends and practitioners.

Learning & Curriculum

Learning through discovery is the key focus of the Gatehouse Nursery. The use of space, resources and activities are designed so that your child will stumble from one learning opportunity to another without even realising that they are learning.

Age appropriate activities and experiences encourage the development and confidence of the youngest members of our school community within a safe and nurturing environment. Learning opportunities take place both indoors and outdoors where maximum use is made of the 16 acres of greenery which make up the grounds of Gateways.

Pupils are taught according to the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Curriculum, which focuses broadly on three prime areas of learning:

  1.  Personal, emotional and social development
  2.  Communication and language
  3.  Physical skills

These three areas are given high priority in the Gatehouse. Sharing, taking turns, forming friendships and becoming independent are fostered and developed. Extending vocabulary, listening and attention skills are promoted through playful activities and interactions. Challenging physical opportunities are offered to encourage and develop skills.

Progress Reviews and working with parents

We are committed to promoting parent partnerships in order to embrace opportunities for practitioners and parents to work together to promote learning and development. Staff are available on a daily basis to talk with you about your child and a progress review is sent home each term. Once your child has settled into the nursery staff will undertake a Progress Check at Age Two according to the learning and development requirements of the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage which state that:

“When a child is aged between two and three, practitioners must review their progress, and provide parents and/or carers with a short written summary of their child’s development in the prime areas. This progress check must identify the child’s strengths, and any areas where the child’s progress is less than expected” (Section 2.3, 2014).

This report is shared with parents.

Award winning provision

Our excellent Early Years provision has been recognised at the 2024 Nursery World Awards where we were awarded the ‘Best in School’.

A Day in the life of ...

Isabella in Nursery

08:30am

Daddy drops me off at the Gatehouse Nursery where I am greeted with a big smile and a warm welcome by my Key Practitioner, Mrs Roth. I hang up my coat and bag. Mrs Roth helps me if I ask her to.

9:50am

This is outdoor fun time. We use our paintbrushes to make magic marks on the ground. We also enjoy playing on the tricycles, digging in the sand tray, splashing in the water tray and playing football.

11:30am

My favourite time of day - lunch time! We put our aprons on and sit at the table with our friends. To help us remember good manners we sing a little song.

12:00pm

After lunch, we carry out calm activities whilst our friends have a little sleep. Colour sorting, matching and jigsaw puzzles keep our minds and hands busy until our friends wake up.

2:00pm

It is time to have some more fun and explore our nursery and the school grounds, we often go outside for a walk but today we are sowing some beans. We have been learning about Jack and the Beanstalk and hope our beans grow just as tall as Jack’s did!

5:30pm

We have story time before daddy comes to pick me up. Mrs Drake always tells him what I have done, what I have eaten and how good I have been!

What's happening in the Gatehouse Nursery?

LATEST NEWS

1st October 2024

Nursery World Award winners...

We are delighted to announce that Gateways have been awarded the ‘Best in School’ for our Early Years provision at the prestigious 2024 Nursery World Awards. Having been Nursery World Award finalists...

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5th July 2024

Cherryvine – Summer 24

Below is a link to our Summer term issue of Cherryvine. In this issue, we focus on ‘success’, our outdoor education offering, as well as a round up of this term’s trips...

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8th April 2024

Cherryvine – Spring 24

Below is a link to our Spring term issue of Cherryvine.  In this issue, we focus on Early Years as well as a round up of this term’s trips and events which...

Read more