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Norcot Early Years Centre are recuiting Early Years Childcare Apprentices and A Casual Cleaner. Please see our vacancies page or click below for information

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We are delighted that "Woodside" our new learning through nature area is complete and ready for the children to enjoy.

The Centre secured funding £12,000 from the Tesco Bags of Help scheme to create the new Learning Through Nature Area, called Woodside. The space will be used to allow children to gain a greater knowledge and understanding of the natural world.

Our gardener Moira Rusbridge designed the space with Head of Centre Diana Heath and the Senior Management Team. The project included removing an old shed and building a new wooden shelter on the site, re-fencing, planting, laying turf and decking an area. Natural materials such as willow tunnels and bug hotels will be incorporated on the site.

Local builders Bowood Landscapes Ltd were the chosen contractors and made use of interesting additional materials which would otherwise have been disposed of for example rubber playground tiles from another school refurbishment, hazel rods left over from garden maintenance work and various fixing and surplus bricks they had left at their yard.

Another local building and timber suppliers, Buildbase, also gave a generous discount on materials for the decking which allowed the funding to stretch further.

The area will provide opportunities for the children to be physically active, learn about nature by hunting for mini beasts and foraging, experience cooking over an open fire pit and develop storytelling and listening skills.

A series of workshops will also be held for parents to explain the benefits of outdoor learning and giving them ideas for future outings with their children and how to use nature to develop their skills for life.

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Head of Centre Welcome

Welcome to Norcot Early Years Centre. Here at Norcot, we are committed to treating each child as an individual. We have a passion for care and education using the natural world and inspire children to learn and develop in our exciting environment.

Norcot Early Years Centre is a large, outstanding (OFSTED 2014) state run nursery school for 3-5 year olds with 180 part-time places. We also have 50 day care places for 0-5 year olds and provide wraparound care from 8am-6pm. We are sited in Tilehurst, Reading near the river in the Thames Valley, west of London and we are a part of a mixed socio-economic and cultural community.

The centre provides a broad, balanced curriculum following the framework of the Early Years Foundation Stage with a strong emphasis on outdoor learning delivered through our innovative Learning Through Nature programme as featured on the good practice pages of the Ofsted website. Each child and their family are encouraged to work in partnership with staff to build a learning journal as a record of their development and progress. We have a well developed Special Needs policy and practice, ensuring early identification, support, planning and evaluation. Families are closely involved and work with the centre or outside professionals, where needed.

We are constantly developing the Centre to maximise its potential as a learning environment.

We are sure you will find our website interesting and informative.

Diana Heath

Ethos, Aims and Values

Be inspired by our creative learning adventure...

We aim to support your child's personal development and prepare him or her for the future by:

providing a broad and balanced curriculum with reference to the guidance provided in the Early Years Foundation Stage
providing an environment that develops lively enquiring minds and an enthusiasm for learning
recognising children as individuals and build upon their successes
enabling children to feel valued and respected so they can be confident and secure: willing to seek help in the understanding that overcoming difficulty is part of the learning process
developing, through example and explanation, a sense of responsibility, self-discipline and respect for: one another; the Centre; and the community
encouraging aesthetic and spiritual awareness
ensuring that children, staff, parents, governors and the community feel a sense of belonging and ownership and take a pride in the Centre.

Our key values are respect, trust and communication.

Please contact us on 01189375577 or admin@norcot.reading.sch.uk if you would like a printed copy of any of the informaion on our website.