First Steps

Welcome to First Steps

First Steps is the start of your child’s journey here at St. Wilfrid’s, we are a Foundation Stage Unit which means we have Nursery and Reception children within our environment. Our aim is to provide them with a broad and balanced curriculum which encourages the intellectual, social, physical, spiritual, moral and cultural development of all the children in First Steps.

There are 7 areas of learning:

• Personal, social, emotional development
• Physical development
• Communication and language
• Literacy
• Mathematics
• Understanding the world
• Expressive arts and design

The Foundation Stage will be both formal and informal. We assess the children by stage not age so that every child can fulfill his/her potential.

As a Catholic School  our faith is a big part of our daily lives and we help the children with their faith journey by teaching Religious Education through our Come and See program.  We also take part in daily prayers together.

A Look Around Our Classroom

Admissions

Parent of children who attend St. Wilfrid’s Nursery are give information as to how to apply to Durham County Council for a place in the Reception class.  This allows parents to apply for a school place alongside those whose children do not attend the nursery.  All children are allocated a place in accordance with the School Admissions criteria.

Full details of the admission arrangements can be found in the Primary and Secondary Admissions brochure produced by Durham County Council and further information can be found in the school Admissions Policy that can be found in the School Policies section of our website.

Class Dojo

ClassDojo is a communication app for the classroom, each child has their own character that collects their points for them.  At St. Wilfrid’s we use ClassDojo to reward children for good behaviour, following school rules, fantastic work or being a good role model to others. At the end of each week/half term the child with the most Dojo’s wins a prize.

We also use ClassDojo to keep parents informed about what we have been doing, sending class messages to all parents about the work we have been doing in class and then also sending private messages to parents celebrating their own child’s achievements.

In First Steps parents are asked to send pictures to school of children’s achievements at home to ensure we really are partners in learning.  We then show the photos to the class and encourage the children to talk about what they have been doing or learning at home.

Downloads

For further information about First Steps please view or download our latest School Brochure below. We have also added some useful leaflets and advice on helping your child settle in and enjoy their time at First Steps.

Children often learn more effectively if they choose their own activities. We organise our environment into working areas, each promoting development of specific skills.

We do monitor the choices being made to ensure that your child will have a varied experience and, if necessary, will guide him / her to where s/he needs to go. Adult led activities are ongoing in each session and are planned around themes and children’s interests.

Each day your child can choose from the following activities:

• Painting
•  Sand / Water
•  Malleable/ play dough
• Mark making
• Cutting
• Fine motor
• Small / large construction
• Reading corner
• Maths
• Role Play
• Small world
• ICT
• Outdoors

First Steps Letters to Parents