Nursery & Nursery Plus

The Nursery provides an ideal educational start for the youngest children at George Watson’s College in secure and stimulating surroundings within purpose-built accommodation. It has three pre-school classes, two of which run throughout the school day, and one which operates on mornings only.

The associated care service, Nursery Plus, provides high quality childcare before and after Nursery and during holidays. This flexible service allows parents to choose the care sessions they need, to complement the educational time provided by the Nursery.

Our Nursery and Nursery Plus facilities are located in two buildings – a dedicated wing of the Lower Primary and a self-contained section of New Myreside House, which is adjacent to the Lower Primary building. Both facilities include work and play areas, toilets, cloakrooms, kitchens for the preparation of healthy snacks and garden areas. The bright and airy classrooms contain computers and listening centres, as well as a wealth of other educational resources and books. Specialised apparatus, including challenging fixed play equipment, is available for all nursery children to use. The wider world of the school campus is used regularly for safe walks and visits.

We have places for 64 Day children and 24 Morning Nursery children. The Morning Nursery class is situated in New Myreside House and runs from 8.45am–11.45am each day. The two Day Nursery classes are situated in the Lower Primary building and operate during school hours from 8.45am–3.00pm.

Our Nursery classes have a highly qualified staff of teachers and nursery nurses with a staffing ratio of 1:8. Nursery Plus is also staffed with a minimum 1:8 ratio. All our nursery services work closely together and senior promoted staff are closely involved in all aspects of Nursery provision.

Education and Care Times

Learning Through Play

In the Nursery, we aim to provide our children with an education which will be a foundation for life and which will meet the child’s needs in the Junior School. Above all, we aim to have happy, contented children who thoroughly enjoy their nursery experience.

The Nursery curriculum covers eight areas of learning:

• Health and Wellbeing
• Literacy
• Numeracy
• Expressive Arts
• Social Studies
• Religious and Moral Education
• Science
• Technologies

These eight key aspects of development and learning provide a framework to help staff plan appropriate learning experiences and activities.

The individual child’s development is fostered by the team of Nursery staff, although all children also have their own key worker. The content of the curriculum is based upon children’s interests, local and topical events, seasonal work and the natural world. The Nursery environment is carefully planned and structured to provide new experiences and facilitate the acquisition of skills and interests.

Nursery Plus - Flexible Care All Year Round

Nursery Plus provides care which is flexibly designed to meet the needs of parents by providing before and after nursery care and holiday care throughout all nursery holidays, with the exception of the period over Christmas and New Year and the five days prior to the start of the new session in August.

Nursery Plus is based in New Myreside House in newly converted purpose-designed accommodation just a short walk across the playground from the Nursery. Nursery Plus is designed to ensure that education and care work together. Core staff work in both the Nursery and Nursery Plus ensuring a smooth transition for the children and a transfer of relevant information. The facility provides attractive areas, where the children can quietly start their day or relax and play after their busy morning or day in the Nursery. This facility is also the base for holiday care although areas of the Nursery and Lower Primary will also be available to provide a wide choice of activities.

A variety of free choice activities is available for the children including drawing, board games, construction toys, jigsaws, dressing-up, stories, music and outdoor play. A planned activity takes place each day which the children are invited to join, if they wish. Activities include baking, music and movement, and craft activities such as clay, collage and painting. Outdoor activities in the garden allow children a free choice to enjoy large construction equipment, bats, balls, hoops, balancing beams or other pursuits. Organised team games, obstacle courses and circle games are available, if children wish to join in with them.

Application for Admission to Nursery (2011/12)