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FLYING START SHAFTESBURY
What Ofsted said about us:
“Children thoroughly enjoy a wide range of interesting and challenging activities. Enthusiastic and experienced staff encourage children to think for themselves and try out ideas, which helps them to become creative, independent learners.
Children make good progress in their learning. Caring and attentive staff form close relationships with the children and meet their individual needs well. Children are safe, happy and confident.
The management team and staff work closely with other professionals involved in the children’s care and learning. This helps them to provide targeted additional support to children with specific, identified needs, so they achieve well.”
A flying start to life long learning.
At Flying Start Nurseries we provide excellent early experiences to help our children build a secure foundation for learning and development.
We are sensitive to children’s individuality and ensure the activities they undertake are suited to the stage of development they have reached. Through skilled observations by experienced and highly qualified practitioners we understand each child’s capabilities and ensure that we understand their individual interests to ensure that they enjoy learning.
We aim to provide flexible, high quality childcare and education which meets children’s and parent’s needs. For babies we ensure continuity of care year-round with the emphasis on emotional warmth and security. Young toddlers develop the social skills of turn-taking and sharing while learning through play and undertake creative activities on a daily basis. Our pre-school children follow Flying Start’s well planned educational sessions to encourage confidence and an enthusiasm for learning. We also welcome older primary age children at our holiday clubs during the school holidays and offer both breakfast and afterschool clubs for children who attend The Abbey School in Shaftesbury.
A People’s Place
If this is not the place where tears are understood,
where do I go to cry?
If this is not a place where my spirits can take wing,
where do I go to fly?
If this is not a place where my questions can be asked,
where do I go to seek?
If this is not a place where my feelings can be heard,
where do I go to speak?
If this is not a place where you’ll accept me as I am,
where can I go to be?
If this is not a place where I can try to learn and grow,
where can I just be me?
(Crocker cited DfCSF, 2008, p.59)
A People’s Place
If this is not the place where tears are understood,
where do I go to cry?
If this is not a place where my spirits can take wing,
where do I go to fly?
If this is not a place where my questions can be asked,
where do I go to seek?
If this is not a place where my feelings can be heard,
where do I go to speak?
If this is not a place where you’ll accept me as I am,
where can I go to be?
If this is not a place where I can try to learn and grow,
where can I just be me?
(Crocker cited DfCSF, 2008, p.59)
PLAY SPACES
Flying Start Nursery and Preschool, in Shaftesbury is divided into four main play spaces.
Pre-school Educational Play Sessions
for children aged 3.5 to 5 years old
Pre-school children are curious, inquisitive and keen to learn. Flying Start Preschool sessions are designed to encourage the children to acquire the skills and knowledge they will use at school, using a varied and interesting programme of activities. From the term after their third birthday until they go to school, all Dorset children are entitled to 15 hours a week of ‘free’ funded nursery education or 30 free hours a week for working families. Flying Start’s pre-school sessions help to develop confidence in communication and a positive attitude towards learning.
The Willows Creative Play Sessions
for children aged around 2.5 to 3.5 years old
In specialised creative sessions with a high level of adult involvement, the children learn to share, co-operate and enjoy a structured introduction to learning through play and creativity. The emphasis is on the social skills of turn-taking and sharing, and on language and communication development. Physical and cognitive skills are promoted through play activities using many messy, creative materials such as clay, paint and sand. We aim to provide a loving and friendly atmosphere where the children feel secure enough to explore new learning experiences and make friends, supported by highly experienced nursery practitioners.
Treetop Room Sensory Play Sessions
Toddlers from 18 months to around 3 years old
Our sessions for toddlers at Flying Start involve lots of opportunities for active play to develop physical skills and coordination. In the Treetop Room we nurture our young toddlers independence and learning through storytelling, puppets, circle times, singing, dancing and on a daily basis they indulge in some messy play to encourage use of their senses. With one adult to every three children under two or one adult to every four children over two, staff are able to build superb relationships with the children. Through providing lots of opportunities for talking and a calm relaxed atmosphere staff establish a communication rich environment for these busy little ones!
Tiddlywinks – Baby Sensory Play Sessions
for Babies from birth to 2 years old
Babies are cared for in groups of less than six children with each staff member looking after three or fewer babies. Well supported creative and sensory play sessions encourage each baby’s physical and cognitive development. Babies are offered lots of opportunities to communicate through songs, rhymes and music. We also encourage our babies to interact with the older toddlers and preschool children providing them with a real sense of security and belonging. The babies often enjoy lots of walks around the town and local places of beauty. Staff liaise closely with parents to promote excellent partnerships between home and nursery.
Our Curriculum
Our educational curriculum (The Early Years Foundation Stage, 2012) covers the following seven areas of learning:
The Three Prime Areas
Personal, Social and Emotional Development
Making relationships
Self-confidence and self-awareness
Managing feelings and behaviour
Physical Development
Moving and handling
Health and self-care
Communication and Language
Listening and attention
The Four Specific areas
Literacy
Reading
Writing
Mathematics
Numbers
Shape, space and measure
Understanding the World
People and communities
The world
Technology
Expressive Arts and Design
Exploring and using media and materials
Being imaginative
Speaking and Understanding
Useful Links
- Foundation Years
- Ofsted
- Famly
- Dorset Family Information Service
- Dorset Childcare Funding for 2 year olds
- Childcare Choices – Support for parents with childcare costs
- Tax-Free Childcare information for parents
Flying Start Nursery & Pre-school, Holiday Club & The Bell St Breakfast and After-school Club
Flying Start Nurseries and The Bell Street Breakfast and After-school Club are trading styles of Elestar Services Ltd a company.
Directors Elsa R. Morrison BA (Hon’s) and Nihara Murugupillai BA (Hon’s)