Nursery Starters 2023-24

Welcome to the Aspire Academy Trust.

Aspire is a vibrant, highly successful and widely recognised Trust determined to raise standards of educational achievement to the very highest levels. We don’t just aim for our children to achieve what is average or expected, but for them to excel both academically and in character.

We live in a global economy that requires our children to be prepared to think both critically and creatively, solve complex problems, and to communicate well. Mastery of the basics: reading, writing, maths and technology is our core purpose, and this sits firmly alongside ensuring our children have well-developed social and emotional skills. Aspire academies have a strong emphasis on the sport, arts and social, moral spiritual and cultural education.

Our 36 schools/academies and 22 nurseries are all an integral part of their local communities and have a real sense of identity. We value the contribution each of our communities makes and the distinctive opportunities and diversity it offers to the Trust. By working in true partnership, we offer exceptional learning experiences to all our children, so they benefit from the strength that being part of the extended Aspire family brings. If you want to learn more about us, then please visit our website at www.aspireacademytrust.org

I look forward to hopefully welcoming you to the Aspire family!

Vanessa Bragg
Aspire CEO

Getting learning off to a flying start.

Aspire Nurseries, led by qualified and knowledgeable staff, lay firm foundations for children in their early years. A qualified teacher from each school oversees the curriculum, learning environments and learning outcomes in conjunction with the Nursery Lead. Staff strive to ensure all children have an equal chance of success, informed by knowledge of what can be achieved.

Our nurseries, the children, families, our dedicated teams and the local community, are an integral part of the Aspire Academy Trust. We recognise the need for high quality early education where children flourish through the love and care given by all of our practitioners.

We know the importance for our nurseries to have strong and respectful partnerships with parents so every child can develop during their early years and that everyone plays an active role in ensuring this is successful.

Our number one goal is to ensure all children, within our family of Nurseries, grow stronger and achieve through high-quality early education and the care that we are able to offer.

Helen Bingham BSc(Hons) MEd(Dist)
Aspire Early Years Lead

Welcome from Head of School

Welcome to our thriving school where we aim to provide every child with a rich and diverse education. St Stephen Churchtown Academy and Nursery is a popular learning community that serves the locality of St Stephen in Brannel and also draws pupils from the wider geographical area of ‘the Clays’ and St Austell.

We want every child that attends St Stephen to fulfil their true potential - emotionally, socially and academically. We will nurture individuality and develop independence.

We are continually striving for improvement and offer a wide variety of opportunities: educational, personal and social. We want our nursery and school to be an exciting place to learn! At St Stephen, we have committed, hard-working and loyal staff who ensure that the children who attend our school have the best experiences possible.

If you would like to find out more about our nursery, please visit our school website: https://www.ststephenchurchtown.org.uk/web

Miss Lisa James / Head of School

Welcome from EYFS Lead

Hello and welcome to St Stephen Churchtown Academy,

My role as an EYFS Lead is to work across Nursery and Reception ensuring all children have the best start in our Nursery and then into school.
As a team we ensure we provide children with an exciting curriculum through a variety of activities.
We endeavour to work closely with our parents and families to help support your child's learning journey.

We look forward to welcoming you and your child/ren into our Nursery.

Claire Ridpath
EYFS Lead

School Vision & Values

Our Vision
Here at St Stephen we believe every pupil matters; every moment counts. Our school will be an exciting place to learn. We will nurture individuality and encourage independence.
Children will be equipped with the skills that they need to reach our full potential – emotionally, socially and academically.

Our Mission
To work in close partnership with the children, their families and the wider community to develop:
·       Curiosity
·       Courage
·       Creativity

Early Years Curriculum

The Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum is organised into 7 areas of learning. All areas of learning and development are important and inter-connected.

There are three prime areas:
· Communication and Language
· Physical Development
· Personal, Social and Emotional Development

There are four specific areas:
· Literacy
· Mathematics
· Understanding the world
• Expressive arts and design

Characteristics of Effective Learning

Characteristics of Effective Learning (CoEL) are in the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum (EYFS). CoEL reflect on the different ways that children learn.

Three characteristics of effective teaching and learning identified by the EYFS are:

Playing and exploring - children investigate and experience things, and ‘have a go’;
Active learning - children concentrate and keep on trying if they encounter difficulties, and enjoy achievements; and
Creating and thinking critically - children have and develop their own ideas, make links between ideas, and develop strategies for doing things.