St. Oswald's Pre-School Learning Centre

We offer ‘30 hours childcare for working parents’.

We are a pre-school located in the beautiful grounds of St. Oswald's Park, Newton Aycliffe on the outskirts of Newton Aycliffe next to the A167. We provide care and education for children from their second birthday up to the age of 4 years ensuring they are in a happy, fun, safe, learning environment.

Full and part time places are available, and we will endeavour to meet the individual needs of parents.

Children who stay all day require a packed lunch.

To find out more about help with childcare costs please visit www.durham.gov.uk/childcarecosts

When is it on?

Session information
Monday to Friday 8.45am - 3.30pm during term time only.
Morning Session 8.45am - 11.45am / afternoon session 12.30pm - 3.30pm
Full day sessions 8.45am - 2.45pm / 8.45am - 3.30pm

Who to contact

Contact name
Julie Gale
Contact position
Manager
Telephone
07968 379 009 (Julie Gale)
07974 704 213
E-mail
julie.gale@great-aycliffe.gov.uk
Website
St. Oswald's Pre-School Learning Centre

Where to go

Name
St. Oswalds Park
Address
Wren Close
Newton Aycliffe
County Durham
Postcode
DL5 4BG

Other details

Cost description
£5 per hour
Age range
2 - 5 years

Availability

Childcare availability
Closed bank holidays
Term time
Free 3/4 yr places
Yes
Free 2 yr places
Yes
Will be providing 30 hours
Yes

Special provisions

Wheelchair access
Yes - Wheelchair accessible.
Cultural provisions
Yes - All catered for.
Special diets
Yes - Can cater for special diets.
Special needs access
Yes

Vacancy details

Immediate vacancies?
Yes
Other information
Limited full and part time vacancies available (Updated 15 September 2023)

Other details

School drop off/collection
Last Ofsted inspection grade
Outstanding
Ofsted report
View the latest Ofsted inspection report

Local Offer

Local Offer description

We believe all children are entitled to a quality provision that will enable them to achieve their potential. 

Staff have indepth knowledge and experience of working in partnership with children and the professionals involved with them. They have received various training which includes Makaton, Autism Awareness, P.E.C.S., Speech Therapy etc.

Our SENCo hold a level 3 qualification in Special Educational Needs Co-ordinators in Early Years Settings.

Our setting is in a single storey building, which has wheelchair access and a disabled toilet for the children. There are steps from the entrance area to the creative area, however ramps can be provided for access and the outdoor area. All furniture and resources are at a child friendly height, and tables can be adjusted to allow a child in a wheelchair to access the activities. 

Contact name
Abbey Gamble
Contact telephone
07974 704 213
Contact email
abigail.gamble@great-aycliffe.gov.uk
Links
Web

How does the early year's provision identify and assess children with special educational needs and disabilities?

How does the early year's provision identify and assess children with special educational needs and disabilities?

We observe all children to find out how they learn and what they already know. Staff then baseline the individual children, so they have a starting point to plan for their future support and development. We offer a varied and stimulating curriculum which is relevant to the individual needs of the children.

Staff plot the children’s progress so that they can celebrate their success and share this with their parents.  The Early Years Foundation Stage is followed as well as the graduated approach as written in the Special educational Needs and Disabilities Code of Practice 2014.

How will the curriculum be matched to meet children's developmental needs?

How will the curriculum be matched to meet children's developmental needs?

We follow the graduated approach and following the three levels of intervention.

Quality First teaching
We work with the child to observe and keep evidence. Staff assess, plan, do and review; this alone may be enough for children who may be making slower progress than others.

SEN Support
Staff will develop a Support Plan so that they can plan small manageable steps for a child to help them reach their full potential. This is to help children who may need support with their play, learning and communication skills. The plan is put in place in conjunction with parents and any professionals involved in the child’s care.

Education, Health Care Plan (EHCP)
This is the final level for children with more complex difficulties which impact significantly on their play, learning and communication skills. In addition to Quality First Teaching and SEN Support, practitioners will work in partnership with other agencies, access specialist training, go to meetings and write reports, as part of a multi-agency approach.  The plan is produced in conjunction with everyone involved with the child.

What specialist services and expertise are available at or accessed by the early years setting?

What specialist services and expertise are available at or accessed by the early years setting?

We have received or accessed and worked in partnership with the following services:

  • Speech and Language Therapy Service
  • Educational Psychology
  • Clinical Psychology
  • CAHMS
  • Occupational Therapy
  • Physiotherapy
  • Portage Practitioners
  • Health Visitors
  • Family Outreach Workers
  • Asthma Nurse
  • Anaphylactic Nurse
  • Paediatricians
  • General Practitioners
  • Area SENCo Team
  • Durham County Council Early Years Team
  • Social Services
  • Early Years Learning Support Officers
  • Portage Service

By working in partnership with these agencies, the nursery can ensure the curriculum is meeting the specific needs of the child, in order for them to make as much progress as possible to enable them to reach their full potential.

What training have the staff supporting children with SEND had, or are having?

What training have the staff supporting children with SEND had, or are having?

Staff supporting children with SEND have received or are receiving the following training:

  • I Can
  • Learning to talk, talk for learning
  • Makaton
  • Speech Therapy – for individual children
  • Autism Awareness
  • AHDA
  • Down Syndrome
  • Occupational Therapy – for individual children
  • Handling children with special needs
  • Understanding equality and diversity
  • Report writing
  • SEND 2014
  • Asthma
  • Paediatric First Aid
  • Blast
  • Makaton

 

How accessible is the early years setting environment? (indoors/outdoors)

How accessible is the early years setting environment? (indoors/outdoors)

We are in a single storey building with two rooms and a secure outdoor area. Access to the building is through doors that can be opened up to allow wheelchair access. There is a disabled toilet facility for the children. All equipment and resources are at a height that is accessible to all children, and tables can be adjusted to enable all children to access them.

There are steps between the two rooms and into the outdoor area, however portable ramps can be provided.

Our building for the two years olds  is accessible by a ramp leading up to the entrance. Our two’s room is on one level and we have a wonderful sensory room available for children to access. 

How will the early years provision prepare and support my child(ren's) transition to their next educational establishment?

How will the early years provision prepare and support my child(ren's) transition to their next educational establishment?

Reception class teachers are invited to come to us, where they can meet the children and are able to observe them in a place where they are settled and secure. They talk to the child’s key person and the SENCO regarding learning styles, levels of achievement, friends, targets and strategies to help the child, My Stories, support/SEN support plans and EHCP’s. Discussions also take place to discuss the involvement of outside agencies giving them a good broad view of the child, so that they can plan for the pre-visits that are a good experience for each individual child. 

Feedback from the local schools suggests that the transitions arrangements in place have made these visits less traumatic and more fun for the children.

If for any reason the teachers are unable to visit the Pre-School, we speak to the school by phone giving them an all round picture of the child development

If the child has a learning support worker, they will go with the child and their family on extra visits to the school to support them with their transistion 

If we feel a child in their care would benefit from extra contact with the school, photographic books of the new setting and staff, and also extra visits for school meals etc will be arranged by our SENCO with the individual school.

Disclaimer

Durham County Council's Families Information Service does not promote nor endorse the services advertised on this website. Anyone seeking to use/access such services does so at their own risk and may make all appropriate enquiries about fitness for purpose and suitability to meet their needs.

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Address: Wren Close  Newton Aycliffe  County Durham

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