First pre-school designed for two year olds opens in Aylesbury
Children, parents and teachers at Haydon Abbey School in Aylesburyhave celebrated the opening of their new pre-school today (Thursday, March 5)
Theschool which will cater primarily for two year olds was officially opened by theChairman, Zahir Mohammed and Mike Appleyard, Buckinghamshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Education and Skills.
Based in a new building on the site of the old Aylesbury Vale Academy, the nursery is managed by Haydon Abbey School and led by an Assistant Headteacher for Early Years.
There is a fully qualified early years professional and four learning support assistants with several years of combined experience in education and childcare delivering the provision.
The school’s priority is a curriculum focussed on learning and development, based on the Early Years Foundation Stage whilst also echoing the ethos and exceptions of Haydon Abbey School.
The opening comes as schools and nurseries across the UK are being encouraged to open their doors to children as young as two and extend their nurseries’ opening hours as part of the government’s latest initiative to increase access to childcare.
Facilities at the pre-school comprises of a large space, fully equipped with brand new learning resources and equipment arranged to reflect the seven core areas of learning. There is also a large purpose built meeting room which will be used to deliver parent courses and will provide a venue for other outside agencies to come into the Pre-School and provide a range of services.
The school will eventually be able to accommodate 120 two year olds (sixty during morning and sixty in the afternoons) with the potential of further expansion if necessary.
Judith Ejdowski, Head Teacher at Haydon Abbey School said: “We are determined to ensure that all our children are able to achieve and, wherever possible, exceed their potential and be well prepared for their educational journey. Haydon Abbey School (October 2014) recently received its first ever judgment of ‘good’ from Ofsted and the opening of the Pre-School will allow us to provide even more children with an excellent education and an great start in life.
The nursery is a fundamental part of the County Council’s strategy to provide free early education to 1551 of Buckinghamshire’s most disadvantaged two year olds in the county.
The Government provided Buckinghamshire with £536,851 in capital funding to secure this additional provision and the County Council committed in excess of £7.5m to the capital development in order to secure sufficient high quality provision.
Part of this capital funding was used by the County Council to develop the premises at the old Aylesbury Vale Academy School site, which was recently praised by Ofsted for the quality of its finish, layout and resource.
Chairman Zahir Mohammed said: “The vastly improved building will help local children to get the best start to their learning. The facility provides the opportunity for Haydon Abbey to respond to the future child care needs of parents in the community. With more children now eligible for free pre-school education, this new resource is being delivered in perfect time.”
Cllr Appleyard said:”I am so pleased that Buckinghamshire is rolling out its provision of free nursery places to help even more families in the County.
“We know that quality nursery education gives children a good start in their learning. They will make new friends, improve their social skills and once they’re old enough to go to school they’re already well prepared and often achieve more.
“In addition, this is a wonderful opportunity for less advantaged parents to give their children a head start and the same opportunities to reach their educational potential as their peers.”
For more information, or to find out if your two-year-old is eligible for a free nursery place, email 2yearoldfunding@buckscc.gov.uk or call 0845 688 4944.