Our Reception is made up of two classes, the first named after Helen Keller, the blind author and activist and the other after the Scottish artist, Andy Goldsworthy.
Our Nursery is also made up of two classes, the first named after the Victorian author, Beatrix Potter and the other after the modern children’s writer, Anthony Browne.
Early Years News from 2011-12
A new and much improved play area for nursery children at Canonbury School has been opened, with different ‘learning zones’ for children to discover.
A special celebration event was held to mark the opening of the playground, with Rupert Graves – actor and Canonbury parent – cutting an official ribbon.
The playground has been designed to stimulate children’s learning in a range of ways, tapping into their imagination and encouraging them to be physically active. The new play space is brighter and includes a hump back bridge, artificial grass and planting, a net tunnel to crawl through, balancing posts, benches, a story teller’s chair, chalkboards and a water play section.
A total of £22,000 was raised by the Canonbury School Foundation, with principle donations from the Morris Charitable Trust, who have a history of supporting the school, as well as local councillors Paula, Sue, Terry, Julie and John who made ward grants to make the playground improvements a reality.
Headteacher at Canonbury School, Matt Britt, said:
“I am delighted that at last Canonbury’s nursery pupils have an inspiring and stimulating outdoor area. The school has been supported through the kindness of the Morris Charitable Trust, local ward councillors and other donors to complete this work. Now the very youngest pupils get an exciting and enriching start to their school life, and can explore and learn in the outdoors in a way which matches the high quality of the indoor experience.
“Canonbury is a wonderful school with the most amazing pupils and we are all working very hard to ensure they have the opportunities and resources they deserve.”
As part of the celebrations, pupils performed a song for the assembled guests and later released balloons into the sky.
Canonbury School’s Early Years Foundation Stage
At Canonbury Primary School our Early Years Foundation Stage (Nursery and Reception classes) provide an environment that is happy, warm, secure and stimulating. We always aim to ensure that all children become confident and independent, and enjoy exploring and learning. The practitioners equip the children with the skills to develop a strong sense of self, while also learning to play, negotiate and co-operate with others.
We believe…
- No child should feel excluded or disadvantaged because of ethnicity, culture, or religion, home language, family background, special educational need, disability gender or ability. We ensure that all children feel included secure and valued.
- Children are active learners who are physically, emotionally and mentally involved in learning; for young children play is the natural and most important vehicle for active learning.
- The curriculum has to be accessible for every child – in planning opportunities for children’s learning and experience our practitioners ensure that the different areas of learning are interlinked and that each area is given equal importance (broad and balanced curriculum).
We work in partnership with parents and carers to meet the needs of the children and families, both individually and as a group.
“Parents are children’s first and most enduring educators. When parents and practitioners work together in Early Years settings, the results have a positive impact on the child’s development and learning”
(DfEE/QCA 2000)
Jane Carrington
jane.carrington@canonbury.islington.sch.uk
EYFS Senior Teacher