Little Grange is open 51 weeks per year, and from 8am – 6pm Monday to Friday. We ask all of our children to do a minimum of six sessions per week (a session is a half day).
There are three main stages at Little Grange; Curious Cubs (Babies), Little Lions (Toddlers) and Rangers (Pre-School). Many of our children will progress to Bilton Grange, either through our pre-school class, The Nest, or directly into Reception. Others, on the Primary School Pathway, will transfer to their Reception classes in local primary schools. Others will stay at Little Grange until they are ready to transfer to their Reception classes in local primary schools. Whatever your chosen pathway you can be sure that your child will have had an outstanding head start in these most crucial early years.
The Rangers pre-school class in Little Grange is perfect for those families wishing to transfer to local primary schools for Reception. They will receive a high quality provision, focussing on developing their core skills of personal, emotional and social development, communication and language and physical development as well as beginning to enjoy some more formal learning in maths and phonics sessions. The child-centred, play based environment supports each child’s development at a pace which suits their needs. Our ‘Headstart’ school readiness programme allows us to work closely with our local primary schools, ensuring that when the time comes they are able to make a confident step into the Reception class of their choice.
The Nest is the choice for parents who wish their child to follow the Independent School route through Bilton Grange and every aspect of our provision is designed to aid a very smooth and seamless transition into Reception at the Pre-Prep. The Nest is run by our qualified teacher, Miss Payne, supported by some very experienced and qualified teaching assistants. Having a qualified teacher ensures our Nest children make the most confident strides forward on their educational journey in readiness for the start of their formal schooling years. Individualised attention enhances progress and our digital tracking system Tapestry, ensures effective communication with parents. Developing an early sense of security and happiness is key, as well as an underpinning love of learning – something we are really proud of at Bilton Grange. The children make use of all of the facilities within the School, including the sports hall, the swimming pool, the library, playgrounds, dining rooms, and Pre-Prep hall. Specialist lessons such as Create Club and Rhythm Time, taught by our wonderful specialist teachers ensures that when they start Reception, they are confident within the space, and have already built key relationships in the Pre-Prep.
The Nest runs term time only, but Holiday Club provision will be offered for all children on site at Bilton Grange.
If the chosen pathway for your child is to transfer through to Bilton Grange, then the Admissions team will work with you and your family to secure a place for your child in The Nest and through the Pre-Prep. Bilton Grange is a non-selective School but we will wish to ensure we are able to meet your child’s needs and that they will thrive and cope with the demands of our busy curriculum.Children will usually transfer to The Nest in September following their third birthday and they will complete a full academic year here prior to starting Reception. The Nest runs term time only, but holiday provision and after school care, is available.
We understand the year round provision offered at Little Grange will suit some families, but we do believe that transferring to The Nest will be the best and smoothest transition for your child into Bilton Grange’s Reception class. Priority entry into Reception will always be given to The Nest pupils followed by children in the Rangers class at Little Grange.
We fully expect to have many families for whom the independent route is not their chosen pathway. That’s absolutely fine and we know that regardless of their next steps onwards from Little Grange, they will have had the very best of starts on their educational journey.
Absolutely. Outdoor Learning is a huge part of the provision at Bilton Grange and we expect it to be no different for our Little Grangers. We have 90 amazing acres of spaces, including woodlands, and outdoor learning classrooms, where we can light camp fires and build dens, and well as huge parkland spaces for endless exploring.
Our aim is to provide a happy, safe and stimulating environment in which our Little Grangers will grow and thrive. Throughout Bilton Grange, we are proud of our individualised approach which ensures every child gets the provision and support they need to make their steps forward on their learning journey. Our curriculum will be based on the learning and development requirements contained within the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework.
The day to day curriculum will be enhanced with a range of specialist subject offerings and enhancements for example, languages, dance and music and our children will benefit from weekly Forest School sessions.
Of the very many conversations we are having during this important planning phase, safeguarding is the most important. Beginning with rigorous and uncompromising recruitment procedures, to planning our physical spaces, thinking about security and CCTV coverage, staffing ratios, medical and allergy protocols and robust risk assessments; these elements will all come together to ensure that you feel secure putting your child in our hands. Their wellbeing and safety will be our number one priority every single day.
Before opening we put all of our energy into seeking the very best team to run and lead Little Grange and we can confidently say we succeeded. The quality of staffing is crucial and gaining the right balance of experience and expertise is something we will not compromise on. One thing that is for sure, our staff team is absolutely dedicated to ensuring the very best of care for each and every child.
The current Ofsted recommended ratio in the baby rooms is 1:3, the toddler rooms 1:4 and the pre-school rooms is 1:8. However, at Little Grange, we will often operate with a higher ratio of adults to children than this, which enables us to maintain the very highest quality early years provision and never compromise of safety and welfare.
All three and four-year-old children, attending Little Grange will be eligible for the Universal 15 hours of funded childcare. In addition, some may be eligible for up to 30 hours of funded childcare, as part of the means tested Extended Entitlement. There are only a limited number of places for children attending for only the 30 funded hours and for all other children, this is only available for those attending on a full time basis. Please contact the Admissions team to discuss your needs in this area
We know how important it is for a child to eat well and for you as parents to understand what your child is eating whilst they are at nursery each day. For those young enough to be bottle fed, we work with families to match the formula offered at home and indeed can support the storage and feeding of breast milk. We will work with you through the weaning process to ensure the child forms a positive relationship around food and weans away from their main milk feeds smoothly. Nutritious meals and snacks, will be prepared by our chefs on site. Menus for each week will be accessible via the website. Our feedback systems ensure that you are aware of what your child has eaten each and every day so that you can adjust your home feeds accordingly.
Investing time getting to know your family, prior to your child starting, is crucial. An induction meeting between yourselves and your child’s room leader and key worker will form the basis of the information that will enable us to plan for the successful transition of your child into nursery. Settling in sessions will be offered prior to your child’s start date so that they can start to become familiar with the environment and the practitioners that will be caring for them.
As much as we possibly can, we try to mirror your home routine inside the Nursery. We understand that every child is different and that their sleep patterns will change over time. We know that children will not necessarily fit into any chosen time frame for sleeping! We know that forming a routine that works for the child and for you as a family will be important to you.
We will work with you as a family, when your child is ready, to support toilet training and to ensure a smooth and, hopefully positive, transition to them becoming independently clean and dry.
Your child will need to bring appropriate warm layers and wet/cold weather clothing – we go outside in all weathers and throughout the year. Once mobile, wellies will be important for keeping those feet warm and dry!
We provide all feeds and food (except of course breast milk, if your child is still breast feeding!). All nappies and wipes are provided, but we do ask each family to provide nappy cream, so that this can be solely allocated and used by your child.
Your main point of call for registering a place at Little Grange will be via the Admissions team who will be on hand to answer all of your questions as we approach our opening date. The Nursery Manager will then be your day to day guide for bookings and other administration during your time at the Nursery. Bespoke, electronic systems will be used ensure this process is seamlessly smooth, and that communications between your family and the Nursery are efficient and effectual.
