Index of Topic Interest Reports

This is the first report on this Topic, with a purpose of describing the existing situation
for residents of the village regarding availability of "Education Facilities"

As will be seen, this is a first draft and additional information is required to make it more complete.

This will be catered for by re-issue of updated versions of this report as additional information is gathered.

Educational requirements fall into broadly four bands relative to age-groups :

--(a) Pre-school

--(b) Primary school

--(c) Secondary school

--(d) Adult education

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There are several existing facilities within Peasedown St.John which can be classified under this heading. At this time just one typical facility is described below :

"Zebedees Day Nursery"

( a listing of several other opportunities for pre-school children existing within the village will be added into later versions of this report )

"Zebedees Peasedown St.John" is one of a group of Day Nurseries owned by ‘Lansdown Day Nurseries Ltd’, others in the Group being at Bath Avon Street and Bristol St.Andrews.

Their corporate aim is to provide the highest possible standard of childcare, combined with a first rate nursery education for each child. The day nurseries aim to provide a secure, happy, friendly and stimulating environment, well planned and organised. The environment is safe, children can explore, experiment, plan and make decisions for themselves, with development encouraged and creativity stimulated on a structured basis of purposeful play and activities. Individuality of each child is valued, working closely with parents or carers to develop each child’s emotional, social and physical need

Staff expertise includes an ‘Early Years Teacher’ and others who hold recognised childcare qualifications or are training toward a recognised qualification.

For the age group 2 to 3 years toddlers need to develop greater independence and explore within play. Children in this age group are offered well equipped play areas with one member of staff for each four children. Their days are carefully structured and include playing with a wide range of toys, undertaking construction and creative activities which involve both indoor and outdoor play.

There is a wide syllabus of pre school education in which children develop new skills either individually, with partners. or in groups.

Foundation Stage is linked to ‘Curriculum Guidance’ standards, and open to view for parents or carers.

Children are encouraged to bring in and show related items. The overall aim is to provide the children with a pre school education of the highest quality in readiness for entrance to infant school.

Each child is allocated a key worker to assist with settling in and helping the child integrate. The key worker is also responsible for maintaining records and conducting observations to allow for each child’s individual needs to be catered for. Meals supplied are nutritious and freshly cooked each day.

The Peasedown St.John facility caters for the overall age range 18 months to 5 years.

This nursery has two outdoor play areas : a large grassed area at the front of the nursery which is ideal for gardening and football, and a smaller tarmac area at the back of the nursery ideal for water and sand play and use of tricycles and cars.

Inside the nursery are two rooms : the first a large, light and airy one for children aged 2-5 years, divided into areas for creativity, role play, busy or quiet, and a pre-school area for older children.

The second room caters for the 18-months / 2-years group and is smaller, homely and cosy.

This room also has specialised areas for creativity, role play, and busy and quiet times.

The nursery is open from 08.00h to 18.00h , Monday to Friday, throughout the year except for Bank Holidays.

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is located centrally within the village and currently serves a roll of 457 pupils.

The premises are a mix of old and new buildings.

There is an older two-storey building dating from 1913 that has been extensively refurbished throughout to provide excellent accommodation for the purposes of facilitating learning. These features include :

--two suites each of sixteen computers these are networked and connected to the internet through broadband.
--a computerised central Library which serves the whole school

--a set of fifteen interactive whiteboards
--classrooms which are attractive, with additional teaching areas

--numerous resource bases

--Reception and Office accommodation

The newer building, opened in 1998, houses a large hall with latest equipment for concerts, productions, assemblies and physical education.

It also contains Foundation Stage classrooms with specialised areas and equipment.

An enclosed courtyard area between the two buildings houses large play equipment for the Reception classes.

The Nursery is in a new building opened in 2003 with a large teaching area, areas for sand and water play,
a medical room, food preparation area, quiet room, cloakrooms and Nursery playground with some cover.

Children are admitted to the Nursery in the September following their third birthday. Once a child has a confirmed place within the Nursery classes a full programme of induction for parents and pupils begins.

There are close links with all the local playgroups and pre-school providers to ensure a smooth transition into school.

Children can therefore enter the school at 3 years of age and can benefit from a continuity and progression right through to 11-plus years when they transfer to Secondary Schools.

The school is a "two-form-entry" school. This means it has two Reception classes, two Year-One classes and so on. All children are taught in single-year-group classes. Class sizes ( at an average of 26 ) are provided without the need to mix year groups, ensuring dedicated teaching appropriate to age-group.

Year One children have their own unit of classrooms with direct access to their own playground.

There are large playgrounds ( enlarged and resurfaced in 2005 ) with a field and conservation area. Children also enjoy a quiet garden area, which provides scope for shade and friendship.

Safe access to the school is facilitated by a network of footpaths leading into the rear gates, by a pedestrian crossing at the front gate with School Crossing Patrol and segregated car parking.

The School is very secure with the only access for visitors through the front entrance via Reception.

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There are currently -no- facilities for Secondary education within the village

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A separate building for Adult Education has recently been constructed adjacent to the Youth Centre.

Facilities offered there will be covered in a later update to this Report.