Aspire 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 schools/academies and 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 to Whitemoor Nursery

Welcome

Mrs G Hooper
Head of School

Mrs B Mepham
Class 1 Teacher

Our Nursery Staff

Mrs S Toher
Hello I am Mrs Toher. I hold Whitemoor Nursery close to my heart as it was the first place I worked after qualifying and I have been part of the Nursery for the past 24 years. In my spare time I enjoy running, camping and hiking with my family and two dogs.

Miss M Treen
Miss Treen is an experienced member of the team, previously having worked at a nursery and pre-school. Miss Treen works in our mixed nursery and reception class full time.

Vision & Values

Our expectation for character and academic standards are high. We want all of our children to be ambitious in life. Our aim is to provide the children in our care with the best possible start in life and to support your child to develop into a confident individual, who understands their rights and responsibilities as a member of our school and the wider community.

We encourage all our children to follow our school rules:

- Be thoughtful, kind and polite to everyone
- Act sensibly at all times
- Always work hard and try your best
- Respect other people and their property
- Treat others as you would like to be treated

Early Years Curriculum

In our mixed nursery and reception classroom, the children in Early Years enjoy learning through play. We follow a topic-based curriculum that holds a joy of reading at it's heart.
The children in Class 1 at Whitemoor enjoy a well-planned and resourced environment, designed facilitate a culture of child-led learning. Staff are trained to support children to learn through their play to help them meet their next steps.

Our Nursery Day

9.00 - 9.10: Registration followed by wake and shake

9.10 - 10.30: Phonics games, maths songs and free-flow play

10.30 - 11.00: Snack and outside play

11.00 - 12.00: Finger fit crafting and free-flow play

12.00 - 1.00: Lunchtime and outside play

1.00 - 2.45: Afternoon registration followed by topic introduction and free flow play

2.45: Story time and songs

3.00: Home time

The nursery day runs from 9.00am - 3.00pm. Parents have the option to drop off children at 8.45am and collect at 3.15pm in line with the rest of the school. This can be booked via parent pay. Please contact the school office for more details and prices.

Learning Together

"Tapestry keeps you in touch with your child’s day wherever you are"

At Whitemoor we use Tapestry Learning Journal for home communication and recording observations of each child. Tapestry is an easy-to-use and secure online learning journal that helps staff and families across Aspire academies celebrate their children’s learning and development both at school and home.

Tapestry facilitates this by enabling a personal journal that builds over time. Photographs, videos and notes of special moments will be made available regularly to you via your iPhone or Android App.

More details on how to activate your Tapestry account will be shared once your child starts.