We hope you enjoy exploring our page and finding out about our wonderful 2–3 year-old Cubs Nursery. Please see our main EYFS page for further information on the curriculum and the EYFS statutory guidance we follow. 

Our nursery is equipped specifically to meet the needs of 2-3 year olds. The environment is so inspiring that children often cry because they don't want to leave ! We have 16 places in the morning and afternoon and four highly qualified teaching assistants (one of whom holds a CACHE Level 4 Certificate in Early Years and is currently completing a level 5 Advanced Practitioner qualification). There is one member of staff for every four children.

The staff in our Cubs Nursery are:

Mrs Haddon - Nursery Manager (Senior Practitioner)

Mrs Woodfine - Deputy Manager (Teaching Assistant)

Miss Foster - (Teaching Assistant) ECAT Leader

Miss Haggerty - (Teaching Assistant)

The nursery is also supported by Mrs Bailey - Bears  Nursery Teacher and Miss S Foster (EYFS Leader).

Our nursery team feel passionately about supporting parents. They offer guidance on all aspects of child development and give regular advice on dummy use, toilet training, behaviour management and sleep routines. Parents have reported that the nursery staff and provision has transformed their lives.  We offer weekly story sacks, fine motor packs, number sacks and book swaps to support home learning. We work with each child and their family to build a partnership where children can flourish and reach their full potential, ready for the next phase of education.

Parents are invited to an induction meeting and to a 'Stay and Play' session where they can meet their child's key worker and discuss their child's individual needs. This helps to ensure the children have the best possible start in our nursery.

We use an app called DoJo where parents can communicate directly with staff, view their child's learning journey, keep up to date with all the events in nursery, see the wonderful experiences and access lots of ideas about how to help their child at home.

All children complete a comprehensive baseline assessment which identifies any areas where children may need extra support. Staff complete a 2 Year Developmental report which is shared with parents and health visitors in the term after they start nursery. The children's progress with foundational skills is also closely tracked in order to ensure every child makes the best possible progress and is well-prepared for their next stage in learning.

Makaton is used with any child that needs support with their speech and language development and the weekly Makaton sign is shared on DoJo. Children also receive Every Child a Talker (ECAT) intervention from our trained teaching assistant. All staff are highly skilled at supporting children's communication and oracy skills through high-quality interactions. 

Children who need support with their gross motor development receive Every Child a Mover (ECAM) intervention. 

Children take part in daily phonics, sound awareness, reading and singing sessions which follow the principles from the Little Wandle Scheme. Staff also follow the guidance from the White Rose Maths scheme. Through exploration and using concrete manipulatives children begin to develop their skills and understanding through exploring sorting, matching, quantities, shapes, numbers and counting. 

There are endless opportunities for children to learn through play inside and outside, and develop their social and emotional, speaking, listening and physical skills. 

Our day in the Cubs Nursery:

We split into two groups to have our snack and brush our teeth or join in with some activities, songs or games on the carpet. We always enjoy a story at the end of the session.

Nursery times:

Morning sessions: 8.30am to 11.30am

The main doors will be open between 8.30am and 9am and open again at 11.15am for collection.

Afternoon sessions: 12.15pm to 3.15pm

The main doors will be open between 12.15pm and 12.45pm  and open again at 3pm for collection.

If you have any queries or wish to speak with a member of the team, you are welcome to telephone school on 01159302064, the best time is after 3.15pm. Alternatively, we have a nursery email address, nursery@cotmanhay-inf.derbyshire.sch.uk which you can use at any time. We also respond to all messages through class dojo so please feel free to contact us any way you feel works best for you. 

Smile4Life

We are part of the Smile4Life project and encourage children to brush their teeth every day. Staff are fully trained by health professionals. This project aims to promote good oral hygiene routines from an early age and has been shown to improve children's dental health.

All of our children are currently taking part and they each have an individual toothbrush in the nursery. As part of the nursery routine, the children brush their teeth daily.