Nurturing early learners
At Long Close School, we believe in empowering young minds during their Early Years to become confident learners, eager to explore and master new skills. Our School Nursery is dedicated to providing accessible and enjoyable education that taps into children's innate curiosity, forming the foundation for an engaging curriculum.
Starting from the tender age of 2, our children embark on an enriching journey filled with diverse educational experiences both indoors and amidst our purpose-built, free-flowing facility. With its own captivating outdoor garden and Forest School classroom, our nurturing environment fosters a love for learning through exploration and play.
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An environment that encourages growth
As a part of our high-achieving educational establishment, our early years benefit from a focus on excellent academics right from the start.
Small class sizes and individualised learning approaches ensure each child and their family feels a sense of belonging, fostering a supportive and inspiring learning environment.
What's included
Weekly Playgroup
Welcoming Babies, Toddlers, Parents, and Grandparents every Thursday,
10:30am - 11am.
We invite you and your little ones to experience the warmth and educational environment that our school proudly offers.
No need to sign up, just drop in!
Private Tour
Monday to Friday
A great opportunity for prospective parents to see us in action. We're excited to welcome you to our school community!
Open Week
4th - 8th March 2024
We warmly invite you to a talk with our Headteacher, followed by a tour of Long Close School. Choose a day that works best for you.
Curriculum
Play-based to purposeful education
Our children at Long Close School experience a learning journey that begins with play-based activities carefully crafted by our dedicated staff. As they progress, we introduce structured learning, with small group explorations and specialist teachers guiding purposeful activities.
From music and movement sessions with our music teacher to creative art lessons and fascinating introductions to science, our students are exposed to a wide range of enriching experiences.
In the Early Years, we adopt a child-led approach, tailoring activities to match the children's interests and choices. By following their curiosity, they stay engaged, excited, and captivated by their daily learning.
Within Nursery, Pre-school, and Reception classes, we align our activities with the Early Years Curriculum, encompassing communication and language, physical development, and personal, social, and emotional development in the prime areas, as well as literacy, mathematics, and expressive arts and design in the specific areas.
Our Approach
Child-led Learning
By leveraging the naturally inquisitive nature of children, we create a curriculum that is engaging and interesting.
We listen to their passions and their questions and develop lessons that help them to explore their areas of curiosity. Through this type of learning, children begin to see education as enjoyable and exciting, a process that opens doors to new worlds of exploration, skills and knowledge.
Holistic Learning
Taking a holistic approach, we establish a thirst for discovery, an ability to express creativity and an enjoyment for learning.
Independence is encouraged, extending the ability to learn, play and co-operate with others. We create a happy, stable, caring and stimulating environment. There is nothing more important to us than the happiness and wellbeing of our children; this takes priority above all else.
Phonics
From the age of 2, our Nursery children are taught Read Write Inc phonics. As a result of this, the overall achievement of pupils within our Early Years setting, is excellent and attainment is far above national average for maintained schools.
In 2022 our Reception class achieved a GLD of 93% – which demonstrates excellent attainment as this exceeds the national average of 71.5%.
Parent Workshops
Learning how your children learn is fundamental to providing them with the right support at home. We provide a variety of parent workshops to up-skill you in the
strategies we use in school, as well as resources to use whilst at home.
Pupil Progress
Throughout each term, we carefully monitor and assess each child’s progress, allowing us to tailor our teaching to work at a pace every child is comfortable with.
You will receive termly, informative progress report and parent meetings to ensure you feel well informed of your child’s progress and learning.
Physical Education
Being active has been proven to help the mind and body which is why our Nursery, Pre School and Reception children enjoy weekly PE sessions with our specialist Sports Teachers.
Music
Children love to make music, so this is something we like to encourage from an early age with weekly lessons for our Nursery, Pre school and Reception children with our Director of Music.
Forest School
Our weekly Forest School lessons start from age 2, providing our youngest learners with a magical and immersive experience in the great outdoors that sparks their curiosity and fosters a lifelong love for nature.
Join us on a personal tour of the School
We would be delighted to invite you to our wonderful school and share with you what makes Long Close School the first choice school for so many families.
Learning Support
Supporting children's learning
We welcome children of all abilities into our Early Years program, taking immense pride in their remarkable progress. Recognised by our dedicated school inspectors, this progress drives our commitment to a nurturing and inclusive environment.
Each child receives personalised attention and support through our Individualised Learning Plan. Our staff closely monitor their progress, working with parents and our special educational needs coordinator to create tailored Individual Education Plans when necessary. Our Learning Support Assistant provides one-on-one assistance to children with specific learning difficulties, ensuring they receive the necessary guidance. With small class sizes and a strong commitment to inclusivity, Long Close School ensures equal access to high-quality teaching for all.
Forest School
New ways of teaching
At Long Close School, our weekly Forest School sessions, led by Mrs. Brindley, our dedicated Forest School Leader, cultivate a strong bond with nature and nurture confidence, resilience, and self-esteem in our Early Years children year-round.
Our Forest School aims to build a nurturing outdoor community where children think freely, feel valued, and grow holistically. Guided by qualified practitioners, it fosters confidence and independence, offering safe challenges and enriching experiences in our woodland setting.
Aspire to Continuity
Long Close School's seamless journey from Nursery to GCSEs
Our unique educational pathway, offers a consistent and integrated learning experience from the early years in Nursery right through to Senior schooling, culminating in GCSEs, ideal for families seeking a stable and continuous educational journey for their children.
2 - 4 yrs old
4 - 5 yrs old
5 - 11 yrs old
11 - 16 yrs old
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