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The Bolitho School
Infant and Nursery Departments
It is our aim “to provide a stimulating and caring environment where all children feel safe and secure, knowing that they are loved and valued for themselves, to develop their potential for a rounded education in the broadest sense”.
Our nursery caters for children from the age of three months upwards, progressing from day care to part time nursery school as it becomes appropriate for each child’s development. The children can then progress on through the school beginning in the Infant Department, which takes them to the end of Key Stage One.
A group of two to three year olds playing together.
The Early Nursery
There are different rooms for the different age groups, ensuring a safe environment, with the right amount of stimulation appropriate to the development of the children. However, there are also some parts of each day where the children are integrated across the age groups to enrich both the socialising skills and the educative process. The rooms are light and airy with lively displays of the children’s work, showing the creative and educational content of their activities.
The friendly, tranquil and caring atmosphere created by the dedicated staff give both the children and their parents the confidence to enjoy the times they spend apart.
 | The “baby room” where the under twelve month olds spend most of the time has the full requirements for their needs. We keep detailed records of their day for their parents to take home each time they collect them. This way they know what their children have done, who they did it with and when they did it! It is important that we work in partnership with each other. |
Meal times are a social occasion, which both staff and children enjoy. High chairs are used for the very young while the slightly older children sit round a low table. The meals are prepared freshly each day in our own kitchens and most needs can be catered for.
The day care rooms where the children from one to two and a half years play and eat and sleep are also fully equipped for the needs of these children. They have the opportunities to create, cut and stick, paint and be involved in many different activities suitable to the stage they have reached.
They are encouraged to enjoy stories and share jigsaws, as well as play freely with the many toys and resources available to them.
There are many opportunities for imaginative play in and around the playhouse using different resources and turning them into items we would not have thought of!!
 | These little ones are enjoying a story with Dennise, while snuggled up in the playhouse. |
Sticking activities and painting for example are regularly undertaken and are taken home or displayed around the rooms. Sand and water play add further variety while the children enjoy experimenting with modelling mediums like Playdough.
The staff and the children all enjoy cooking and consequently any opportunity to “make and bake” is taken, with exciting smells and the treat of tasting to look forward to!
This kitchen area is used for meal times and for all “messy” activities!
The displays on the wall behind the children in their highchairs are examples of their work.
The Foundation Stage
When the children are fairly reliable for using the toilet they move on to the next stage of their development into the first of two buildings, where they can meet and explore many challenges.
 | There are two groups in the mornings so that the older children can explore the areas of learning in more detail while the younger ones develop at a level more suited to their stage of development. |
| There is good interaction between the classes and also with the Reception class of the school, where the children mix to learn the Letterland songs and hear the stories about these busy characters who play such an important part in our lives.The Pre-Reception class are present in the mornings only and experience a balanced curriculum in line with the Early Learning Goals. They link into the topic work being studied by the Infants and are able to take advantage of joining in the discussions with their visitors as well as having some visitors of their own.The rest of the Infant school work a full day from 8:45am until 3:25pm, with a break for morning play, and a lunch and playtime break at the middle of the day. We begin every morning with assembly, which focuses the children’s attention. Once a week we are joined at this assembly by the little ones from two and a half years upwards. |  |
Educational Provision for the Foundation Stage in line with Dfee Policy and the Early Learning Goals.
Educational Programmes and Activities: children follow a suitable programme for their age and ability, including language development through Letterland. Interaction with the Reception Class is an important dimension to rapid progress. The children experience some of the topic work, linking into the appropriate aspects of each term’s topic being undertaken by the Infant Department.
 | Opportunities for role-play development are provided with the dressing-up box. The house and shop facilities are available at “free-play” times.Days of the week, months of the year, the seasons and weather patterns form a basis for science and sequencing. Counting and number recognition are built into everyday activities and include the basic language needed to develop numeracy.The children are encouraged to use the computers in their classrooms at many times during each day. |
| One of the major advantages for the children and the staff is the access to the facilities of the main school. The gymnasium for example is available for the nursery at various times where the children can experience small apparatus, and free and structured “movement to music” sessions.Outside there are both playgrounds and a large grassed area which has a play structure and many outdoor play toys to encourage adventurous and imaginative play.Social development takes place through interaction with peers in games, sand play, puzzles and group activities, including the children’s co-operation in art and craft tasks.An average session is likely to include a structured activity, free play, story time and many group activities. During the course of the week most of the activities outlined will be covered. |  |
Key Stage One
All the Infants, including the Reception Class, share the expertise and facilities of the main school, and have Music, French and P.E. lessons each week with the specialist teachers.
 | It is our aim to develop the children’s skills and abilities to a level suitable to a literate Seven year old. In the year (2001) we attained 100% Level Two and above in the reading tests at Key Stage One, with 43% reaching Level Three.Reading has to be given a priority both for learning and for pleasure, but emphasis must also be given to speaking and listening skills and to writing.We encourage the presentation of their work to be neat with joined and flowing handwriting at an early stage.We use the Longman’s Mathematics scheme and aim to provide an environment where children can explore mathematical ideas, make discoveries and extend their existing knowledge. This gives us a broad basis for the number programme while consolidating and enriching the skills the children are acquiring by using a wide range of mathematical equipment both in, and out of, the classroom. Our Topic work programme caters for Science, History and Geography with a two year rolling programme of six topics covering the required elements of the national curriculum.The topics are Ourselves, Machines, Homes and Habitats, Food, Materials, and Sound, Colour and Light.We also study the Seasons as an ongoing topic throughout the year, as and when appropriate. |
| Reception, Year One, and Year Two pupils, and staff, are here together with our rabbit, Blizzard, who lives in the Infant School. |  |
Statement of Policies
Admissions policy: children with siblings who already attend our early nursery will be given priority; as will those with brothers or sisters in the school. All other applications will be considered on an equal basis.
Entry into the Reception Class for those who are continuing their formal education at The Bolitho School will follow the school policy, ie. entry in the September or January of the academic year in which the child reaches the age of five.
Discipline Policy: The children are encouraged from the beginning to understand right from wrong with gentle explanations and a firm consistency. We expect them to say sorry to their peers when they hurt them and to show kindness and consideration to each other. Any serious misdemeanour is discussed with the parents as soon as possible after the incident, to ensure a united front. We expect full support from all parents in this matter.
Equal Opportunities Policy: The school has a policy of welcoming and admitting all children irrespective of race, religion or gender, and a balanced curriculum is experienced by all.
Special Educational Needs Policy: SEN provision would be discussed with the parents and with the relevant body involved in the diagnosis of the child’s problem. An action plan would then be produced and implemented for the child with regular up dates.
Health and Safety Policy: The Governors of the Bolitho School recognise their responsibility as an employer to provide a safe and healthy environment for the teaching and the non-teaching staff, the pupils, and all other people who come onto the premises. All reasonably practical steps, within their powers, will be taken to fulfil this responsibility.
It is the intention of the Governors that for health and safety purposes the school will, where possible, work within the structure and framework of Cornwall County Council, and will apply instructions and advice issued by the Education Department as if the school were a maintained school.
The Bursar is responsible to the Governors for ensuring that an effective Health and safety Policy operates within The Bolitho School.
The Bolitho Nursery Settling in Policy: Parents and carers who wish to stay with their baby or young child when they first start at our Nursery, are always made welcome. They are ensured that there is a key person they can talk with, to discuss how their baby or child is settling in, and they will be able to share expert knowledge of their baby or child with any member of staff.
Some children get upset or angry at times during this settling in period but this is understandable and all children are allowed to express their feelings. If a parent or carer would prefer to, they can introduce their child gradually, perhaps starting with an hour increasing to the hours that will be required.
If your child or baby wishes to bring an item or comforter from home, which is very special to them, this is strongly advised. If a child becomes too upset we would not hesitate to contact the parent or carer.
Time and space is always given to children to allow them to focus on activities to experience and develop their own interests.
Fees Structure for The Bolitho Early Nursery
| Children Up To 2 Years | Children Over 2 Years | ||
| Hourly Rate | £3.40 | £3.15 | |
| Full Day (to include Lunch) | £27.00 | £25.12 | |
| Weekly Rate (to include lunches) | £125.00 | £115.00 | |
| Breakfast/Tea | £1.00 for all ages | ||
| Lunch | £1.50 for all ages | ||
The Bolitho Nursery is available for children from three months to four and a half years. Sessions normally start at 8:00am and finish at 5:45pm.
There is a reduction of 10% in the fees of a second child while both are attending either the Nursery or the main school.
Fees should be paid weekly or monthly. Please make cheques payable to The Bolitho School.
Baby milk, nappies and any special foods must be provided by the parents. The Housemother or Deputy must be informed of children being collected by someone unknown to staff.
Children must be collected promptly at the end of a session. If a parent exceeds the appointed time, the extra time plus 30 minutes will be added on to the fee.
To enable us to plan our staff rota, we ask for one week’s notice if your child will not be attending the Nursery. If NO NOTICE IS GIVEN, a charge of half the session will be due. During periods of sickness or holidays a Retainer fee of £2.00 per session will be made providing 24 hours notice has been given. Without 24 hours notice a Retainer fee of £5.00 will be made for the first session and £2.00 per session thereafter.
In the event of sickness, a telephone call between 8.00am and 9.00am should be made to Penzance (01736) 332677 or 363271.
Staff
Infant Department
Mrs Helen Curnow, Head of Department and Reception/Year 1
Mrs Michaela Pender, Year 2
Miss Emma Harrington, Part-Time Year 1
Mrs Therese Moran, Classroom Assistant
Mrs Claire Waldie, Nursery Assistant
Miss Emma Cox, Pre-Reception Group
Nursery
Mrs Dennise Curtis, Housemother/Nursery Nurse
Miss Sarah Hole, Deputy/Nursery Nurse
Nursery Unit
Sarah Hole, Nursery Nurse
Sarah Bailey, Nursery Nurse
Vanessa Linscott, Nursery Nurse
Doreen Blewett, Nursery Carer
Sue Cripps, Nursery Carer
Yvonne Williams, Nursery Carer
Grant Somers, Nursery Carer
Stephanie Weaver, Nursery Carer
June Stevens, Nursery Carer
Toddler Unit
Emma Matthews, Nursery Nurse
Rachel Eddy, Nursery Nurse
Kathryn Laity, Nursery Nurse
Sophie Edwards, Nursery Nurse
Rachel Murley, Nursery Nurse
Zoe Davey, Nursery Nurse
Stacey Newby, Nursery Carer
Janet Pearce, Nursery Carer
Elizabeth Hewett, Nursery Carer
Margaret Johns, Nursery Carer
Marlene Davey, Nursery Carer
Sam Hampton, Nursery Carer
Baby Unit
Kelly Lawrence, Nursery Nurse
Lucinda Wherry, Nursery Nurse
Tina Howis, Nursery Carer
Administration
Mrs Sandra Heywood, Nursery Administrator