St Matthew's

As well as ensuring that our children are academically prepared for the next step in their educational journey, we are passionate about ensuring our children’s school days truly are ‘the happiest days’ of their lives. Our ‘childhood curriculum’ is designed to ensure all our children leave St. Matthew’s with a breadth of experiences, designed and delivered with the purpose of developing their character and key life skills. It is the intention of our childhood curriculum’ to improve communication, build confidence, encourage creativity, to encourage children to embrace challenge and to enact positive change.

A thriving nursery fundamental to us in helping to realise these aims for our children. It is during these earliest stages of a child’s development that the roots to future confidence and success take hold. For years, we have watched our children in St. Matthew’s progress from our nursery into reception and beyond to become well grounded and rounded individuals. We believe that our nursery is the best option for parents in our locality who are considering what is best for their child’s present self and for their future development.

Roots and Shoots Nursery is built on the Forest School ethos and endeavours to provide children with a holistic experience which builds resilience and moulds confident, creative and independent learners who are supported to take risks that are appropriate to the environment and to themselves.

Come rain, wind or shine, children at Roots and Shoots Nursery will be given the opportunity to dig, plant, hunt and explore our extensive outdoor space. With the guidance of an experienced and caring Early Years team, children will start to burst through the surface and be ready to face the challenges ahead in primary school.

You can rest assured that your child is in a nurturing and caring environment that will help your child develop the skills that they need to flourish in their school life. We work closely with the reception class to form a cohesive early years unit which the children can access regularly.  This free flow environment is vital to our children as they develop the confidence they will need to flourish in the future.

Admissions

At present, our Nursery has 3 main intakes per year. For most children, they will start the term after their 3rd birthday (September, January, April.). Please do not hesitate to ring us should you wish to discuss joining our Nursery; we will be more than happy to work around you as a parent. If you are considering Roots and Shoots at St. Matthew’s for your child, we would definitely encourage you to come in for a chat and let your child experience what we have to offer.

Starting Nursery

Nursery sessions are:

• 8.45am – 11.45am (AM session)
• 8.45am- 2.45pm (full day)
• 11.45am -2.45pm (PM session)

We can take 22 children each session and we have two/ three members of staff. Our ratio is 1 adult to 13 children.

In order to offer as much support to our young children as possible, we operate staggered starting dates.

Parents are welcome to stay with their child if they feel that their child requires their support. For the first 2 days, all new children stay for only one/two hours. We try to be as flexible as possible with parents and we will always liaise with you if your child is struggling to settle in.

At the end of the session, it is important to collect your child at the correct time. If a different person is picking up your child, it is very important to let a member of staff know.

Additional sessions and wraparound care

For parents who are not eligible to receive a 30 hour code, we offer additional half day sessions priced at £6 per hour.  Nursery pupils can also utilise our wraparound care from 7:30am until 6:00pm. Please see our wraparound care section for more information.

Nursery Uniform

Our nursery uniform is available to purchase through our primary supplier SALTO which is based in Prudhoe.

Uniform table key

• O / R – Optional or required uniform item.
• B / G – Branded item required or generic (e.g. supermarket) alternative will be accepted.

Nursery children are not required to bring a water bottle or a bag. You may provide our nursery team with a spare change of clothes if you wish.

‘It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow.’

Our faith underpins everything that we do at St. Matthew’s and children’s spiritual growth is nurtured in the same way as their learning. We are; however, an open and  inclusive school where all are welcome, regardless of faith. We will always support the choices that parents make for their child’s educational journey, whether or not they want to pursue a wholly Catholic education.