Trimdon Grange Infant and Nursery School

Foundation Stage (awaiting update)

The Early Years Unit has three large rooms, each room being divided up into special learning bays for particular areas of the curriculum.  It is shared by Nursery and Reception children.  A cosy group room is used for whole class teaching and doubles up as a Lending Library where parents and children may borrow educational toys, games, videos and books.  There is also a nursery yard and a delightful garden for outdoor learning.  Nursery children have access to the school hall for supervised activities.
 

Some views of the Early Years Unit
 

Our Staff

We have four full-time members of staff in the unit for a maximum of 40 children - two experienced teachers and two Higher Level Teaching Assistants. We also welcome police-checked volunteers, two of whom come twice a week. We play host to teaching and nursery nursing students from the local colleges and universities on a regular basis.

Our Pedagogy

Our setting is influenced by the pre-schools of Reggio Emila in Northern Italy and the Forest Schools. Hence there is an emphasis on a gallery-like environment with care taken to display work to the very best advantage. Visitors comment on the use we make of natural materials, lighting and mirrors to enhance our setting. We try to let pupils take the lead in the curriculum with many learning projects initiated by children and extensive use made of still and digital images to record their endeavours. In our most recent OFSTED inspection the curriculum was described as "outstanding".