Saint Ronan’s Nursery provides children with a gentle introduction to school life whilst establishing solid foundations. The Nursery is housed in the Groom’s Cottage and garden, which has a homely feel for the children as they start their education.
Children start in Nursery by attending at least two morning sessions per week and increasing their hours as they develop in maturity and stamina. Attendance is flexible in order to fulfil the needs of individual children and parents.
Learning outside is always fun when you have so many different environments to explore. Learning and having fun in our Forest School is a weekly feature for the Nursery children. The children have a beautiful garden where they can take their learning outside. They can cook up amazing recipes in the sand pit and young engineers can work safely in the outdoor construction area, as well as tending to their strawberries and other tasty crops in the vegetable garden.
Children can enjoy a longer school day by doing a Mini Club. Experienced and qualified Early Years staff will care for our youngest children while they enjoy their tea and play in the familiar and comforting surroundings of the Nursery. There will be time to relax during story time, as well as have fun with friends.
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The Groom’s Cottage is part of the Coach House and, as the name suggests, it once provided lodgings for the Gunther family’s groom. When the mansion house became a school and children replaced horses, the Headmaster and his family took up residence there before transforming it into a cosy home for our Nursery family. The children are as settled as they are at home and play, eat lunch, venture outdoors into the garden and learn together in the caring environment of the Nursery.
Every child is different so we believe that you should be able to choose the right number of sessions for your child. Each day you can choose from a morning session (8.30am – 1pm), an afternoon session (12.00-3.30pm) or a whole day (8.30-3.30pm). Whatever you choose, the children will be served a hot lunch at midday. There are different activities each day to keep the children stimulated, interested and excited to learn. We are happy to discuss the sessions that will best suit your child and how best to increase these sessions so that they are ready to join Reception.
Further afield is the Forest, which we visit twice a week, come rain or shine. We light fires in the winter and pond-dip in the summer. On very cold days, we toast marshmallows and listen to stories in the Hobbit House. The extensive grounds have beautiful places to explore, such as visiting the bees in the Salt Mines or the wildlife in the wild flower meadow. In the summer we practice our Sports Day races on our athletics pitch and swim in the heated pool.
The Hobbit House: it's often said that there's no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing! However sometimes it's nice to toast marshmallows and keep warm when it is cold outside and the Hobbit House offers shelter and a fire pit just outside our Forest School.
Paradise Farm: the School farm, known as Paradise Farm, is an important part of our focus on Learning Outside. We visit the Farm throughout the year, where we meet the pigs and their piglets and collect eggs from the hens, who love a cuddle from the children.
Mini Club Children can enjoy a longer school day with the introduction of Mini Club. Experienced, qualified Early Years staff will care for our youngest children while they enjoy their tea and play in the familiar and comforting surroundings of the Nursery. There will be time to relax during story time as well as have fun with friends.
Full list of clubs for N&PPEvery child is different so we believe that you should be able to choose the right number of sessions for your child. Each day you can choose from a morning session (8.30am – 1pm), an afternoon session (12.00-3.30pm) or a whole day (8.30-3.30pm). Whatever you choose, the children will be served a hot lunch at midday. There are different activities each day to keep the children stimulated, interested and excited to learn. We are happy to discuss the sessions that will best suit your child and how best to increase these sessions so that they are ready to join Reception.
‘Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.’ ― Benjamin Franklin
Children learn in many different ways and at different rates. With today’s technology on hand to assist, learning is fun, enjoyable and memorable. Our goal is to give each child an opportunity to realise that they might not know how to do something ‘yet’. This makes every lesson a challenge and gives our children a determination to keep practising and experimenting.
In Reception classes the children follow the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum, where they learn personal, social and emotional skills, improve their communication and language skills and develop physically. Reading, Writing and Mathematics are taught as dedicated lessons and are extended through imaginative and purposeful play. The beautiful, historical setting helps children to understand the world around them and modern technology opens doors of discovery. Learning is not confined to inside the classroom but is enhanced through exploration in the Forest School and getting stuck into jobs on the Farm. The natural talent and curiosity of each child is allowed to develop as they express themselves artistically, musically or dramatically.
In Years 1 and 2 the children are taught in dedicated lessons of Literacy, Mathematics, Science, Geography, History, Computer Science, French, Music, PE and RE. Practical activities, group learning, reporting and recording are all ways that children can share what they have learned with others and consolidate their own understanding. Taking their learning outside allows the children to put into practice their knowledge and helps them to solve everyday problems, recording the number of eggs laid this week or deciding on the best angle at which to lay the logs when building a shelter in the Forest School.
Getting the learning right for each individual depends on experienced, highly-qualified class teachers and teaching assistants, working together with parents and specialist staff. The family atmosphere helps children to feel confident to aim high academically, musically and on the sports pitch. Music, PE and French are specialist taught subjects.
By the time the children have finished Year 2, they are ready to begin the next exciting journey through the Prep School. Time is spent preparing them for this transition and children leave the Pre-Prep with a greater independence and confidence in their own abilities, socially and emotionally equipped for the challenges ahead. They are curious, imaginative, able to actively problem solve and think critically. All children are academically tracked from Nursery onwards and achievement is above the nationally expected levels.
The essence of the Nursery and Pre-Prep curriculum is one of care, continuity and careful planning of lessons; delivered within a department which values each individual child’s efforts to achieve the best that they can.
Head of Nursery and Pre-Prep
Mrs Andrea Bright
Title: Head of Nursery and Pre-Prep
Qualifications: B.econ., P.G.C.E, University of Cape Town
Contact details: [email protected]
Life before Saint Ronan's
I grew up in the beautiful South African winelands, in a village called Stellenbosch. My best memories of school are of being outside, climbing mountains, canoeing down rivers, swimming in streams and playing sport with my friends. I moved to the UK with my husband in 2002 and we spent our first six years in London teaching in a Prep school. I taught Year 2 and Reception during these years.
Roles at School
I am Head of N&PP and Class teacher to the Otters on a Friday and the Hedgehogs on a Monday.
Away from the Classroom
I love scuba-diving and any sport related to water! I love sunshine and sand and try to spend as much time as possible with my family, running through waves or exploring in rock pools. Dale and I met on the Orange River while doing a six day canoe trip and this is still one of our favourite activities. I love to travel and experience new cultures and places. Being a teacher has allowed this love to become real and it is wonderful being able to bring my experiences to my classroom. Recently I fed stingrays at Struisbaai Harbour in South Africa and it was glorious to show my Reception class the clip of this during their ‘Sea’ topic.
Teacher
Mrs Julie Britton
Title: Teacger
Qualifications: NNEB
Contact details: [email protected]
Teacher
Mrs Simone Edwards
Title: Teacher
Qualifications: B.A. (Hons), Q.T.S. Christ Church, Canterbury
Contact details: [email protected]
Life before Saint Ronan's
My first occupation was working as a Bank Clerk for the TSB Bank! I taught piano and worked at Robertsbridge Playgroup when my children were little. I also worked with my husband as a graphic designer.
Roles at School
I am the Frogs class teacher in the Nursery. My other roles include Foundation Coordinator, Pre-Prep Music coordinator, Early Years Safeguarding Officer and Early Years SENCO. I love to play the piano for the Nursery and Pre-Prep celebration Assemblies and I direct and play for the Early Years' Nativity. I originally set up the Children’s Garden here at Saint Ronan’s.
Away from the Classroom
I have an allotment in the Park in Hastings and am passionate about growing vegetables. I also love knitting and regularly attend a ‘knitter and natter’ group.
Teacher
Mrs Julie Jenkins
Title: Teacher
Qualifications: Mrs Julie Jenkins, C.A.C.H.E., NVQ level 4
Contact details: [email protected]
Teaching assistant
Mrs Amy Raynor
Title: Teaching assistant
Qualifications: NVQ level 3
Contact details: [email protected]
Teaching Assistant
Mrs Paula Robinson
Title: Teaching Assistant
Qualifications: NVQ level 3
Contact details: [email protected]
My children changed schools in yr 2 & yr 4 and they settled in instantly. The school has a lovely family feel, the staff do a brilliant job inspiring the children. Both my girls weren't particularly sporty when they arrived but both grew to love sport and my eldest has carried that through into senior school. The music is also exceptional, you really feel your children come away with a well rounded education not just academic. Both my girls have got into their senior schools of choice and I am sad to say farewell to Saint Ronan's but thank you for all you have done for my children. Highly recommended.
Hayley S
This is a real gem, right at the top of its game. The children are loved and cared for by the entire staff. I wish I had had the opportunity many years ago. They achieve so much by example, gentleness and kindness. Floret St Ronan's and long may you continue to flourish.
Terry D
Saint Ronans is quite unique and magical.. the children work hard and play equally hard... the teachers are approachable and your child will flourish... our daughter has taken every opportunity and through all her own self motivated hard work turned herself into an amazing all rounder who is thriving in sports, academics and music. What’s not to like.
Sharon B
