Nursery

Children are welcomed into our state-of-the-art Nursery School in Hertfordshire in the term that they turn three (Pre-Nursery Entry) or the term after their third birthday.  Here, every child is valued for their unique qualities and encouraged to be themselves in a stimulating, happy and safe environment supported by our highly experienced and caring team.  Working in small groups, we teach the key skills needed to further the children's progress and development, delivering a personalised learning experience for each child according to their interests and rate of development. 

Nursery pupils are an integral part of our buzzing and thriving Pre-Prep; enjoying use of the school's woodland setting and extensive facilities as well as taking part in a range of enriching workshops and whole school events.  At the end of the year they enjoy a smooth transition into Reception and the familiar main Pre-Prep building to continue their Heath Mount journey.

The Heath Mount Nursery Pre-Nursery Programme runs alongside our Nursery programme and promotes learning through play, alongside some structured/planned activities designed to help develop skills and knowledge. We plan for a strong foundation for children’s development in the three prime areas of learning, communication and language, personal, social and emotional development and physical development. We respond to children’s needs through secure routines and positive interactions. 

The Rising Threes have their own classroom, the Blueberry room complete with different play areas and resources to explore.  All children have access to the Nursery classrooms in the Nursery block in addition to the garden playground and the Three Bears forest school area.  

Please click on this link to read our Nursery Parent Handbook.

Flexible Sessions

Children attend Nursery for a minimum of five sessions a week (although Rising Threes may have a more flexible timetable to suit their needs).  Morning sessions run from 8.45am-12.30pm each day including lunch, with drop-off from 8.20am. Afternoon sessions run 12.30pm until 4.00pm. Families can opt for five full days a week and further Wraparound Care is also available.

A Child Centred Approach

From the very start, we encourage children to be investigators and make the most of the beautiful bright indoor and outdoor space.  Teachers adopt a child-centred ethos to learning and development that allows our youngest pupils to follow their interests and be active thinkers and learners. They begin to collaborate and communicate with friends and think for themselves.

During this first year, we encourage children to develop their independence, as they make decisions and choices when playing and learning. Whether they are singing in French, or drumming along to a tune as part of a music lesson, we aim to nurture their natural curiosity and spark their desire to learn.

Learning Through Play

Happy children love to learn, and we strive to make every day a fun journey of discovery!  Nursery pupils enjoy their own dedicated playground area complete with ropes course, sandpit, mud kitchen, outdoor painting areas and a 'water wall'.  They can construct with bricks and crates in the 'big build' area, create sounds in the outdoor music station, act in our role play area and feed our resident guinea pigs and fish.  

Forest School

Our Nursery pupils spend a huge amount of time enjoying the fresh air and playing outdoors.  They particularly enjoy their timetabled visits to Forest School within our Nursery School grounds, where they learn about the natural world with our own Forest Ranger.  The benefits of Forest School support all other aspects of the curriculum; from developing fine and gross motor skills to increasing confidence, resilience and improving language development.  

Nutrition

Our snacks and lunches are carefully planned to give the children a nutritional, balanced diet during their school day with an emphasis on fresh, seasonal ingredients.  The children enjoy the opportunity to try a variety of foods from different cultures throughout the year thanks to our special tasting tables and themed lunches.  

Award-Winning Provision

The Early Years team has been awarded the Herts for Learning Early Years Gold Standard Award in recognition of our outstanding provision.

 

We have been very impressed by the caring and attentive staff and fabulous facilities on offer.  It has been a wonderful and gentle introduction to school life. 
Serena, Nursery Parent

We really appreciate the effort that all the Nursery staff go to, not only to build a relationship with the children, but with the parents and extended family too. Emma, Nursery Parent