The nursery opened in 1995.  Our aim is to provide a happy, secure and stimulating environment for children and to enable them to develop the skills they need for starting school.
The nursery is based in a modern, purpose-built, self-contained unit, including a spacious playground and large garden, with facilities for many different activities.  We have a well-equipped cookery area and a built-in 'home corner'.  We provide all the standard nursery activities.  These include sand and water activities, modelling, art and craft, computer skills, science, music, mathematical activities, games, puzzles and construction toys. We have a wide selection of books, tapes and materials for reading, drawing and writing.  Outside, we have climbing equipment and wheeled toys.  The children have access to the outside area on a daily basis and are involved in the development of the nursery garden.
We welcome parental assistance in nursery activities such as cookery, art, crafts and in practical projects to improve the nursery facilities (e.g. the garden area).
SESSION TIMES
We have a morning and an afternoon session each day, with 26 places in each, which are run between the following times:
Morning session: 9.00am to 11.30am
Afternoon session: 12.45pm to 3.15pm
STAFFING
The nursery has two fully qualified full-time members of staff; a teacher and a nursery nurse.
CLOTHING
Like the primary school, the colour of jumpers and cardigans is royal blue.  A Nursery tracksuit is available from the school uniform supplier for parents who wish to buy one.  Clothes should be both practical and suitable for messy and vigorous activities.  Shoes need to be safe and comfortable. Fastenings which your child can manage themselves will encourage independence.  The school provides waterproof aprons and other protective clothing for water play and painting.
PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT & PARENTS' EVENING
We welcome parental involvement in a range of projects and activities.
We have regular parent-teacher consultation evenings where the progress of individual children can be discussed.  Parents are welcome to contact the nursery staff at any other time if they need to see them about their child.  At the end of each term, parents are invited to join us for part of a session, during which the children have the opportunity to show their parents what they have been doing.
NURSERY ADMISSIONS
Parents of prospective nursery children are welcome to complete an application form, which is available from the main school office.  Visits are welcomed (by appointment with the Headteacher).  Please contact the school secretary for further information.

1.      The minimum age of admission will be 3 years.
2.      All places will be on a part time basis i.e. either mornings or afternoons.
3.      In general the optimum length of stay will be 3 terms. Four or five terms may be possible in some cases but two terms will be regarded as a minimum length of stay. One term is not regarded as being of real educational benefit and will, therefore, only be offered in response to an emergency or in exceptional circumstances.
4.      Where a child is registered within the optimum length of stay, which means within the three terms before starting at Infant school, he/she will be offered a place at the Nursery if possible.
5.      In cases when a child has been on a waiting list in another area every effort will be made to transfer the child to our waiting list according to the date at which he/she was first registered at the other school.
6.      Registration for more than one Nursery will not be accepted. (For your information, registration details can be shared with other schools).
7.      Applications will be grouped into termly admission by age. If the size of the group is greater than the number of places available, then places will be allocated in the following order.

8.      There will be close consultation with professional agencies to identify priority admission on medical, physical, social, emotional or educational grounds. All cases must be supported in writing by the appropriate professional agency. The maximum number of priority admissions will be 15% per session.
9.      No priority can be given to those pupils likely to transfer to Birch Hill Primary School. Admission to Birch Hill Nursery does not guarantee admission to the main school.
10.  Where a child has been attending a Nursery unit in another area and their circumstances change such that they cannot reasonably continue to do so, every effort will be made to admit them to Birch Hill Nursery at the earliest opportunity.
11.  Nursery places will be held open for three weeks for unnotified absences and for half a term for notified absences. Children returning after this period will then take their place on the waiting list.
12.  Registration information is available at the School Office during school hours.
13.  Children who attend Birch Hill Nursery unit should not attend any other nursery classes or playgroups.