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The early years departments are filled with busy, happy children engaged in purposeful learning opportunities at Gateways School. A strong, caring, innovative and passionate team of early years professionals enable children to thrive and reach their full potential in a safe and secure environment.
Staff strive to maintain a nurturing environment and calm space with what they refer to as ‘the odd day of chaos thrown in’, such as days to support charities and events, themed days and visitors into school, or days when children just need to play outside in the wide open spaces that surround the school. The staff team are adaptable and fluid so that the individual needs of children can be met and current interests followed.
The school is located in a rural area and all areas of the campus are utilised to provide added extra learning experiences for the children. They have small class sizes, which results in greater individual attention given to nurture each child. Staff know the children very well as individuals and tailor educational programmes to ensure every child has the best possible start in life.
Children are actively encouraged to express their thoughts and ideas, including through committee meetings that are held every half term to give even the youngest members of the school community a voice. Making mummy a bracelet for Mother’s Day, inviting a hedgehog into school and making jelly are some of the children’s recent suggestions.
Staff try hard to keep abreast of new initiatives. Forest Friday is embraced by the children, with staff finding that exploring and playing outdoors helps to support their wellbeing and development. Another popular initiative is their Mystery Reader visits each week for story time.
Many of the children enjoy interacting with the school’s animals – a dog called Cherry and Fudge the bunny – and benefit from their calming presence. One child had a debilitating fear of animals, so staff supported him by giving him the time and space to slowly get used to Cherry, including a comforting hand to hold when the dog was nearby and pictures of Cherry to look at and talk about at home. The support was sucha success that he got a pet for his birthday.
Staff and children make use of the school transport to explore the area, visit the local village and make important connections within the community. They have links with the local church, collecting donations to take to the vicar, and a rabbi also brings a mobile sukkah to school during Sukkot too. Children make Christmas cards for elderly people in the community, and Tinned Tuesday is a regular feature throughout the year when food items are collected for the food bank in the nearest town. They also support local charities, including one for disadvantaged children and a hedgehog rescue centre.
Care is also taken to support staff wellbeing and keep the team healthy so they are able to give their best to the children. The school has a wellbeing room where a massage chair, soft music, blankets and positive affirmation cards are available. Cover is put in place and ‘wellbeing tokens’ are issued to encourage all staff to use the facility.
The Gateways community regards it as a ‘small school with a big heart’.
FINALIST
Eldon Grove Academy – Hartlepool, Teesside
CRITERION
For Early Years Foundation Stage or equivalent provision in primary schools which have developed high-quality practice for nursery and Reception children.
