St Andrews Pre-School & Jammie Dodgers ASC

About this day nursery

St Andrews Pre-school and Jammie Dodgers After School Club (ASC) is committed to fostering strong family partnerships to support children's learning and development. The curriculum is centred on the High Scope pedagogy, encouraging an active learning model with five key elements.

Children explore a variety of age-appropriate, open-ended materials that reflect their home, culture, and language, and are encouraged to handle, examine, combine, and transform these materials. They have the autonomy to choose materials and playmates, evolve their play ideas, and plan activities based on their interests.

The setting values child language and thought, encouraging children to communicate verbally and nonverbally to express their understanding and adapt their thinking. Educators provide scaffolding, supporting children's current cognitive levels and challenging them to advance, thereby developing creative problem-solving skills.

The nursery prioritises safeguarding for all children, with designated safeguarding leads and deputies in place.

Our ethos

Our ethos is centred on the High Scope pedagogy. At its heart Highscope’s fundamental approach is an active model of learning with five key elements: Materials A child’s home, culture, and language are reflected in a variety of age-appropriate, open-ended materials for them to explore. Manipulation Children make discoveries when they are encouraged to handle, examine, combine, and transform materials and ideas. Choice Children choose materials and play partners, change and build on their play ideas, and plan activities according to their interests and needs. Child Language and Thought Children communicate verbally and nonverbally — thinking about their actions, expressing their thoughts about what they understand, and modifying their thinking as they learn and explore. Adult Scaffolding Children gain knowledge and develop creative problem-solving skills with the help of well-prepared adults who support a child’s current level of thinking and challenge them to advance to the next stage, also known as “scaffolding.

What it's like

Staff greet children with big smiles and a warm welcome, leading to quick settling and enjoyment of play. Children demonstrate a good attitude to learning, participating joyfully in activities like singing familiar songs with staff and engaging in group activities. Staff also support children's emotional well-being by working closely with parents to ensure children feel secure and to support their learning at home.