LIFE IN EARLY YEARS LIFE IN EARLY YEARS
PASTORAL CARE THE USE OF
MOBILE PHONES
This aspect is a hugely important part of the
education we offer at Wellington College
International Shanghai. In Early Years, our
pastoral care is mainly provided by the class
teacher and teaching assistant, who are there
to oversee the safety and wellbeing of their
children throughout the day. They are the
first point of contact for both children and
parents.
SETTLING IN AND
TRANSITION
For many of our Early Years children, this
will be their first experience of school and
therefore we have developed an approach
that will support children as they settle in.
We have a staggered start at the beginning
of the year for all children. This is especially
aimed at children who are new to us. We
then increase their time at school until we feel
they are ready to access a full school day. As
this can be different for each child, we ensure
we operate this policy on a very personalised,
individual level.
When the time comes for children to leave
the Early Years Centre, we work closely with
our colleagues on the main campus to ensure
their transition into year 1 is as smooth
as possible. We have a detailed transition
process with regards to information about each
child, including their current learning levels.
We also allow time between the teachers to
discuss each child. Finally, we ensure parents
are given key information regarding the new
year group in the summer term.
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LINKS TO THE
MAIN CAMPUS
The Early Years Centre remains a part of
the Wellington College International Shanghai.
Though it is situated on its own campus,
the links between the two campuses
remain strong.
We will continue to attend key events at the
main campus, including our Christmas and
Chinese New Year performances.
Please talk to all family members, family
representatives and your children to remind
them of the importance of the following:
- Saying good morning, good afternoon, goodbye
- Speaking appropriately for an early
years setting
- Having an ‘indoor voice’
- Using kind words and kind hands always
STAFFING AND
CLASSES
In the Early Years Centre we will have 9
classes – 4 nursery and 5 reception. In a
nursery class there will be one class teacher, a
teaching assistant and 18 pupils. In reception
there is one class teacher, a teaching assistant
and 20 pupils. All children will have specialist
teachers for Chinese, PE and music. Only
Reception children will have swimming.
Our class teachers are internationally
educated, with the vast majority coming
from the UK. Specialist teachers are qualified
within their specialism. Most of our teaching
assistants are from China, graduating from
some of its best universities.
BEHAVIOUR
Adults are active role models for children
who learn how to behave by observing the
actions of the adults around them. Our
expectations of behaviour do not only apply
to the pupils and staff. Our expectations apply
to every family member, visitor and guest
to the Early Years Centre. Basic courtesies
are a daily feature of life at the setting and it
is imperative that for our partnership to be
successful, we have your
full support.
- Holding doors open for each other and
showing general courtesy for all
- Encouraging children to walk for themselves,
pack and carry their own bag
- Turning off mobile phones within the setting
- Looking after the property and belongings
of the setting, so that it is fit and safe for the
children to use
- Encouraging the pupils to tidy up after they
have played in any area or learning space
- Ensuring that your child is supervised
appropriately once they are picked up from
the classroom or Academy
We have a clear behaviour policy and
expectations. We have a consistent policy of
rewards and sanctions that is utilised across
the Early Years. We believe that praise is the
best way to encourage children to follow
those expectations. Children in Early Years
are awarded ‘smiley faces’ when they have
shown positive learning behaviours. We
also celebrate children’s work in class and at
weekly assemblies. Our behaviour track in
class is a visual reminder to the children to
stay on green and aim for gold. We use the
yellow and red tracks as a deterrent to poor
learning behaviours as well as sanctions such
as ‘time out’.
This is to ensure that while you are within
the setting, your attention is focused on the
pupils and staff. We ask that phones are
silenced until you are outside of the building.
Mobile phones are not to be used around
the centre for taking photographs or videos.
We appreciate that the use of social media
is a popular method of sharing information
amongst the community. However, parents
must be respectful and responsible when
considering sharing images of other people’s
children and to this end we support a no
mobile phone policy at all times. Where
possible, during performances, we will
ensure that video footage is taken and shared
accordingly, affording parents and families the
chance to sit back, relax and enjoy the show.
GENERAL
CONDUCT WHILE
IN AND AROUND
THE SETTING
We kindly ask that ALL members of the
Wellington family conduct themselves in a
responsible manner at all times. Language
should be appropriate for an early
years setting and we ask that everyone
acknowledges each other with a suitable
greeting. Smoking is not permitted in and
around the building and spitting is prohibited.
Any members of the Wellington family
who display behaviour which disregards the
Wellington Values will be asked to leave
the premises and may be barred from
future visits. Please take time to talk with
grandparents, relatives, drivers and ayis (and
anyone else who may be involved in your
child’s care) who act as representatives for
the family about conduct in and around the
setting and advise them that their conduct
reflects upon your family.
HOME ROUTINES
Children thrive when they are well fed, well
rested and well cared for. When a child
sleeps, their body rests and recovers after a
busy day. While sleeping, the body releases
growth hormone, supporting health physical
growth. While sleeping, a child’s brain has
opportunity to properly file away all the
information they have acquired that day.
Throughout the day, we keep pupils’
bodies and minds very busy and, to this
end, they need to be prepared each day
for the adventure that awaits them. Tired
children make poor learners; they are often
emotional and grumpy. They react badly to
situations and they learn little or nothing as
they disengage with the world around them.
We strongly advise that children have well-
established sleep patterns by the time they
start at the Early Years Centre, so that they
are given every advantage for development.
Children aged between 3-6 years old require
around 10.5-11.5 hours per day. Wellington
nursery pupils will nap from 12:30 – 14.00
(this is gradually reduced throughout the
academic year to the point where there is no
napping in term 3), therefore it is important
that the other 10 (minimum) hours is achieved
at home, during the evening and preferably as
a solid block of sleep. Reception pupils do not
nap, and therefore will likely be exhausted by
the end of the day.
A consistent routine is essential in supporting
your child’s development with family time,
dinner time, bath time and bedtime hopefully
taking place by 19:30, affording a good night’s
sleep for your child. We strongly recommend
that you arrive at the setting before 08:20,
so that your child has time to mentally adjust
to making the transition from home to the
setting in preparation for the day ahead.
The day for most pupils is supported by
an established routine, so we do ask that
pupils are collected on time by a familiar,
approved adult. The teaching teams work
with the pupils during the core hours of the
day, with the final hours of their working day
allocated for preparation, planning, meetings
and training. Late collection of children has
a significant impact upon the teachers’ work
time and therefore we ask that parents and
families are mindful and respectful of this.
ATTENDANCE
AND ILLNESS
High attendance at school is crucial to a child’s
development. We want every pupil to be the
very best version of themselves and this can
only be achieved with consistent attendance
and punctuality. We monitor attendance,
illness and lateness through the year.
Taking time out of education can be disruptive
for your child’s learning. If some period of
leave during term time is unavoidable and
parents know in advance that their child will
be absent from school, they must contact
their child’s class teacher and the Head of the
Early Years Centre to obtain permission as
soon as possible. If a child is going to be absent
from school due to unforeseen circumstances,
such as illness, parents should inform their
child’s class teacher or the admin staff before
9:00AM that day.
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