Please contact us to visit the Nursery.

There is an overview below of our general approach and some detail about particular issues that we think are important.

The photographs below show some of the creative arts elements that forms part of the Art Raft approach.

Our Aims:

• To encourage the development of free creative thought.
• To provide a rich, exciting, supportive and stimulating environment enabling children to safely take the lead in their own discoveries. This child centred ethos filters though to all areas of children's development.
• To provide a happy relaxed atmosphere where children gain confidence to engage in new experiences.

• To encourage independent thinking and in particular, 'free expression' through creative arts.
• To build firm relationships with parents, welcoming their ideas and any input and to keep them informed of their child's progress. Early years development is very important - we will work together with parents to ensure their children achieve their full potential.

Creative Development: Creativity is fundamental to successful learning. The transfer of learning from one area to another is a creative process. Children are encouraged to develop their creative skills and explore ideas, extending their imagination. Depending on the age of the children, expressing and communicating creative ideas is carried out through drama, role play, visual arts, dance, music and creative narrative. The value of art and its free expression as an important part of children's creative development is largely undervalued. The Art Raft Piglets Nursery has a strong creative arts focus with many different types of creative activities, giving children access to a large range of art media and equipment. The emphasis is on children's individuality, building confidence and self-esteem and above all encouraging the development of free creative thought.

Children are introduced to various creative activities from visual arts through to imaginative story telling, music and dance, as part of our regular activities.

Organisation of the Nursery:

The Nursery is arranged over two floors with one large room upstairs and two smaller rooms downstairs. The main office is located in the second of the two downstairs rooms. The upstairs area is dedicated for physical development and has a range of bikes and trucks together with a soft play area and is used as the refectory at lunchtime.

There is an outside area for play and access to a small grassed park area which is walled and has mature trees.

The two downstairs rooms have a number of special areas and are connected with adjoining doors. These areas include: the home corner; the library; arts room; and the quiet area.

There are child-size toilets both upstairs and downstairs together with a changing area on the ground floor.

Security: is one of our prime concerns. There is a secure cctv buzzer entry system run by our staff to ensure access to the nursery is restricted.

Equal Opportunities:

• All Children regardless of gender, religion, disability or ability will be given equal opportunity to access all materials and practises in sessions they attend.
• All equipment/materials are non-gender specific.
• We are supportive of 'Article 31' of the UN Convention of children's rights.' (information is available for parents'/carers on request)
• All children will have opportunity to express themselves imaginatively, with emphasis on their own ideas which are encouraged and treated with the respect they deserve.
• All children are given the opportunity to make decisions about their own needs e.g. their level of input to any group projects.
• All children are constantly encouraged to expand on their ideas and demonstrate a positive self-image.
• All children's learning experience is open-ended and investigative with many opportunities for exploration.

Recruitment:

Due to the growth of the nursery, the following positions are available for an immediate start:

• Senior Nursery Nurse
• Nursery Assistant

If you are interested in either of these posts, please contact the Nursery:

0117 904 6358 or EMail: office@artraft.com

Closing date when positions are filled.