First Steps at St James’ is a specially designed area dedicated to providing a safe and secure learning environment for 2-3 year olds. First Steps is within the Foundation Unit and offers sessional care with funded “free” and non-funded places available. Find out if you child is eligible.
Our well-qualified staff follow the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework – this ensures an integrated approach to early learning and care.
The staff plan fun and engaging activities both indoors and outdoors. Playing, singing, painting, exploring, climbing, building and gardening are just some of the activities that your child can enjoy – and learn at the same time, too. Research shows that regular learning with other children in a good quality environment has lasting benefits for all children.
Our opening hours are 8.30-11.30am, Monday – Friday, term time only.
The cost of a non-funded place is £15 per session.
Please contact the school office for more information or make an appointment to come and look around.
We follow the principles set out in:
- Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage: setting the standards for learning, development and care for children from birth to five (Department for Education, March 2014)
- Early Years Foundation Stage Profile Handbook (Standards and Testing Agency, updated annually)
- Development Matters in the Early Years Foundation Stage (Early Education, 2012)
- Early Years Outcomes: a non-statutory guide for practitioners and inspectors to help inform understanding of child development through the early years (Department for Education, September, 2013)