Welcome To Mini Morgans
Morgan’s Vale and Woodfalls Primary School and Pre School have always worked closely together to ensure that children make a good transition from Pre School into Primary School. The Pre School and School are now working more formally together in a partnership. It has increasingly made good sense to do so, especially as new laws governing the education of 0-5 year old children came into effect in September 2008.
Children aged 3-4 at Pre School and children aged 4-5 at school are in the same Key Stage (called Foundation Stage) and so their learning is organised in the same way. This changes when children move into Year 1 at school as they move into what is called Key Stage 1. It is therefore a huge advantage to have 3-4 and 4-5 year olds learning together in the same learning environment and this is at the heart of the new Mini Morgans Foundation Stage Unit.
Mini Morgans Foundation Stage Unit (Children aged 3-4 & 4-5)
What will your child be doing?
The Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum is at the centre of the Unit where the children ‘Learn through play’, practitioners observe and then plan further activities based on the children’s knowledge and personal interests.
During a session children will enjoy literacy based activities (such as singing rhymes, stories and phonics games) number based play and games. Children will have snack time as well as free play.
The Unit offers a wide range of learning experiences for the children including being involved in the whole school calendar where appropriate.
Where will your child be?
Mini Morgans FSU is accommodated in the main school building. This offers the children a wider range of facilities such as direct access to a purpose built classroom, a large playing field, regular (at least twice a week) use of the school hall and daily access to the new outdoor learning environment which is in the pencil area outside the unit room.
The outdoor learning environment has recently been extended to enable children to have an opportunity in which to explore, learn and then use and apply skills; it allows them to choose which resources to use and access the equipment. This continuous provision supports the children in developing all areas of the early years curriculum.
The imaginative play equipment is designed around a narrow boat. It provides an area for the children to role play in a cabin, enough seating for an outdoor whole classroom and an awning for shelter from the sun. In front of the narrow boat there is a stage with a sand and water tray built in each side of the stage. Both have lids that can be stood on, this enables the staged area to be bigger, the narrow boats outdoor seating area provides space for audiences to watch performances!
Rubber ‘wetpour’ surfacing allows children to ‘scoot’ around on their knees without getting grazes. It is also brightly coloured in keeping with a canal and grassy bank theme.
Who will be with your child?
The Unit is staffed by the school’s Early Years Co-ordinator, Verity Jaffray and Lynne Yardley, this offers both groups of children familiarity and continuity. The children begin their day at 9am, the 4-5 year old children continue their morning until midday, the 3-4 year old children finish at 11.30am.
When 4-5 year old children enter the Reception year group at school there is flexibility regarding when your child is ready to stay for lunch and the afternoons. Any decision is always based on the readiness of the child and made in discussion with the parent.
What should your child wear?
We would like the children to wear comfortable clothes in which they can move around and feel relaxed in. For practical reasons and to encourage their sense of belonging there is a Mini Morgans polo shirt available through the school’s uniform shop. This is optional and is simply a purple or green polo shirt with a Mini Morgans badge embroidered on it to be worn with other clothes suitable for potentially ‘messy’ activities. School aged Mini Morgans wear the usual school uniform.
Key Information
Staff
Early Years Co-ordinator: Mrs Verity Jaffray
3-4 Year olds Key Workers: Mrs Lynne Yardley, Mrs Rebecca Chalk
Nursery Key Workers: Mrs Wendy Hayes, Ms Vicky Bond
Headteacher: Mr Graham Nagel-Smith
Address
Mini Morgans Nursery and Foundation Stage Unit
Morgan’s Vale and Woodfalls Primary School
Morgan’s Vale Road
Redlynch Salisbury
SP5 2HU
Tel: 01725 510740
Email: minimorgans@morgansvalewoodfalls.wilts.sch.uk
Sessions
Mini Morgans is open for the following sessions. If there is a demand for additional afternoon sessions these may be offered – please let us know if these would be of interest to you.
Mini Morgans Nursery
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday 9 – 12pm
Mini Morgans Foundation Stage Unit
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 8.45 - 12pm
Wednesday 12 - 3pm or 1 - 3pm
Monday Lunch club 12 - 1pm
Wednesday Lunch club 12 - 1pm
Thursday Lunch club 12 - 1pm
Twiglets Toddler Group
Tuesday 9 – 11.30am
On the second Tuesday of every month the Health Visitor runs a session from 11.45 - 12.45 in the Nursery Building for more information please call 01725 511459.
