If you are looking for a nursery place for your 3/4 year old, please call us on 01485 518344.
Welcome to Docking Nursery!
At Docking, you are assured of a warm welcome for your child and family. Our environment is warm, welcoming and nurturing and we work hard to provide your child with opportunities to explore, create, discover and learn. Through this, they will gain independence and take risks and in turn, will grow into resilient learners.
Overview
Docking Nursery provides care and education for 3-4 year olds. It is led by a qualified teacher, Ms Cooper, four days per week, and Mrs Wines (our SENDCo) one day per week. Throughout the year, our children have Forest School for one day per week, which is an excellent offer - supporting our pupils with their physical development, social and emotional well-being, cognitive development, self-esteem and confidence.
In our EYFS unit, also known as the Curlews class, Nursery and Reception learn alongside each other. This helps our older children to further develop their personal and social skills as they help and support the younger members of the class. It ensures the younger children are able to settle into their Nursery year more quickly as they have excellent role models to learn from. It also ensures a seamless transition from Nursery to Reception for our youngest children.
Our day is structured so the children are able to receive a balance between discrete teaching of skills and independent learning opportunities where they can really apply, challenge and question their new skills and knowledge. The children’s learning can take place as a whole class, in small groups, individually with an adult where appropriate and independently and is underpinned by The Early Years Framework 2021. Within the framework seven areas of learning and development are outlined. All the areas of learning and development are equally as important and inter-connected.
The areas are spilt into the prime areas and the specific areas, the prime areas are of importance as they are used to build a foundation for igniting a child’s curiosity and enthusiasm for learning, forming relationships and thriving. The
The Prime areas are:
- Communication and Language
- Physical Development
- Personal, Social and Emotional Development
The specific areas further strengthen the learning of the prime areas; these areas are:
- Literacy
- Mathematics
- Understanding the World
- Expressive arts and design
Admissions
We currently offer both 15 hours and 30 hours funded places for Nursery children, we usually offer the morning routine for the 15 hours funded places which runs from 8.45am to 11.45am but there can be some flexibility around the 15 hour places, so please do speak to a member of staff if you have any questions regarding this on 01485 518344 or email office@docking.norfolk.sch.uk
The minimum number of hours we offer is 15 per child. This is to ensure full coverage of the EYFS curriculum and that children receive their full educational entitlement.
Parents should check their eligibility online at the Childcare Choices website: http://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk and they will then be directed to the digital childcare service to apply. They will be given an eligibility code. The code should be entered onto a form available from the school and returned to the office so that relevant checks can be made. This form will include consent for school to carry out the eligibility check.
Nursery
A child can attend the Curlews class as part of their Nursery year at school (the year before their Reception year) the term after they have turned 3. For example:
If your child turned 3 in August, they could start in September.
If your child turned 3 in November, they could start in January.
Admissions for Nursery 2025/26 - Your child was born between 1 September 2021 and 31 August 2022
Admissions for Nursery 2026/27 - Your child was born between 1 September 2022 and 31 August 2023
Reception
A child can attend the Curlews class as their Reception year the year they will turn 5, for example:
If your child was born between 1 September 2020 and 31 August 2021, they are due to start school in reception class in the school year starting September 2025.
If your child was born between 1 September 2021 and 31 August 2022, they are due to start school in reception class in the school year starting September 2026.
