Life at The Blue Coat School begins in our private Pre-Prep Nursery. We welcome children in the September following their third birthday. In Nursery, your child will be taught by a qualified teacher in a class of 20, supported by an early years teaching assistant. In addition, they will receive specialist teaching from the Pre-Prep Music Teacher and Forest School accredited outdoor teaching staff.
Children can start with part-time hours initially before moving to full-time in preparation for Reception. After school care is available for Nursery children until 5.45pm daily, as well as a holiday club for children under 4 during set weeks in the Easter and Summer Holidays.Â
Children can arrive at School between 8am and 8.30am.Â
Sessions such as Literacy, Mathematics, PE or outdoor learning begin at 8.40am.
Lunch begins at 11.50am in the dedicated Nursery Dining Room.
In the afternoon, children may visit Forest School or have other sessions such as music, art or outdoor learning.
School finishes at 3.30pm. Aftercare is available until 5.45pm.
In Nursery, children will enjoy spacious classrooms equipped with a wide range of activities to develop their learning. They have a dedicated play area outside their classroom. Children will also make use of the Pre-Prep Gym for PE, Forest School and the Pre-Prep Music Room.Â
In the Early Years Foundation Stage, learning is predominantly through play and exploration in the classroom, the playground and Forest School with a focus on supporting the children with their spoken language, personal and physical development.Â
You will also be invited to workshops to understand how we teach literacy and mathematics and spend time in your child’s classroom.Â
The School day finishes at 3.30pm for Pre-Prep, however, for busy and working parents, there is after school care available until 5.45pm. There are a range of clubs for Nursery children to join in with, including Music Makers, Create Club and Gymnastics. Or children can play in our dedicated Aftercare space, fully equipped with fun toys, games and books. Children staying in Aftercare will receive sandwiches, fruit and a drink when they arrive.Â
We believe it is essential to come and visit The Blue Coat School, to enter through the gates and experience our wonderful campus, meet the staff and begin to imagine your child here. Places fill up very quickly, therefore, you will need to register your child as soon as possible after birth, we recommend within the first month of birth. We cannot take registrations for unborn children.Â