The Early Years Department

Welcome to our New Early Years Department!

This is a new department combining our current Nursery School and Reception classes into one specialist Department consisting of 6 rooms and the Early Years Garden, offering excellent provision and a variety of experiences to aid the children’s transition into the Lower School. The new department will have specialist qualified teachers, excellent staff to pupil ratios and improved provision in practical subjects.

Nursery School

 Our Nursery School provides an excellent start to each of our children's education. We take children from 2 ½ to 4 years old in an outstanding environment under the guidance of a team of highly experience staff with many years' experience.

Teaching in the Nursery is by the Montessori Method and is designed to ensure the continuity of education as your child progresses through the different departments of Colchester High School. Although the Nursery is an integral part of the school it retains a separate identity, which enables children to feel safe & secure.

The Nursery comprises 4 pleasant and well-equipped rooms, offering the opportunity for both quiet time and active play along with a designated and stimulating garden.

Attendance is broken down into sessions, each session being equivalent to one half day. We ask that children attend a minimum of three sessions each week to enable them to participate fully in Nursery life. The maximum number of sessions per week is 10.

Morning sessions are from 8.30am - 12.15pm and a full day (comprising two sessions) is from 8.30am - 3.00pm. For full day attendance a healthy packed lunch is required.

We accept government funding and childcare vouchers towards the fees for children at the relevant age in our Nursery School.

Reception Classes

At four, children move into the Reception classes. Here small class sizes allow teachers to work individually with each child, resulting in high standards of work and behaviour.

We put a lot of emphasis on reading. Reading is taught through a range of activities which develop phonological awareness andletter recognition. Because of small numbers teachers are able to plan with each individual child's needs in mind. In addition Music, PE and ICT are taught by specialist teachers,

All children will get a hot school lunch each day. School lunches are an excellent opportunity for children to try a variety of different healthy food as well as develop their table manners and socialise.

We adopt a formal approach to literacy and numeracy within a broad-based curriculum; children also enjoy a wide variety of clubs at lunchtimes and after school. We also organise various activities based on the curriculum such as World Book Day and trips to various locations in Colchester. 

Wraparound Care

In addition we are able to offer wrap around care for our Early Years children from 7.30am until the beginning of the school day and then again after School until 5.30pm.

There is a charge of £1.10 per 15 minute session for this service.