Early Years
We have Reception places available for September 2027. please see our admissions page for more details.
we have preschool places available now
We welcome you to find out more about our school by exploring our website or booking a visit to see Jewell Academy for yourselves. We would also be more than happy to answer any queries via a phone call.
early years at jewell academy
Our mission statement is ‘There is no limit to what our children can achieve’. Our values of self-worth, engagement and purpose and these inform the opportunities that we strive to provide to our children and are interwoven in everything that we do. Jewell Academy is proud to be the heart of the community.
Why choose jewell academy for your child’s learning journey?
To see how our youngest learners flourish and grow, please take a look at our Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and Year 1 Phonics Screening results.
A Day in Early Years
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A Warm Welcome: Every morning, children build independence by hanging up their coats and settling smoothly into a fun activity.
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Child-Led & Supported Learning: We learn through play, with our team providing targeted adult support to help every child progress at their own pace.
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Focused Learning: Throughout the day, children take part in focused activities covering phonics, reading, writing, maths, and our exciting topic work.
Unforgettable Experiences & Trips
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Launches & Landings: Every topic starts with an exciting launch event and ends with a memorable ‘landing’—from visits by the Fire Service and interactive storytelling with the Tree House Theatre, to handling minibeasts or hosting a Royal Banquet!
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Outdoor Adventures: In the summer term, we visit Moors Valley Country Park for hands-on pond dipping, alongside our regular Forest School sessions throughout the year.
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School Events & Community: Children love taking part in our Books & Stories events, PTA discos, author visits, musical performances, and seasonal fayres.
Our Community & Care
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Celebrating Diversity: We embrace and celebrate all cultures and beliefs year-round across our curriculum, as well as through special events like Cultural Day.
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Freshly Cooked Meals: Our delicious, healthy school dinners are prepared fresh daily by our caterers, Cucina.
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Wrap-Around Care: On-site childcare is provided by St Claire’s Childcare, offering convenient Breakfast Club (from 7:45 am) and After School Club (3:00 pm – 6:00 pm) at reasonable rates.
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Staying Connected: We keep you fully updated through regular newsletters, text messages, Facebook, our website, and Tapestry.
Explore our Early Years welcome booklet to discover how Jewell Academy creates a happy, safe, and stimulating environment to support your child’s learning, play, and growth.
Welcome to Early Years Booklet
At Jewell Academy, your child will be encouraged to start their educational journey in a way that best suits them whilst having fun doing so.
We nurture our students through their time at Pre-school and Reception to ensure that the start of their education journey is a positive, fulfilling and inclusive experience.
Our Early Years curriculum embeds the three guiding principles of the Aspirations Academies Trust: self-worth, engagement and purpose. There is a focus on learning through play and children are encouraged to learn independently and be driven by their own curiosities and creativity.
Facilities
The Early Years department at Jewell Academy is large, bright and airy providing plenty of indoor and outdoor space. Our Early Years environment is well-resourced and includes two large airy classrooms, a shared base area showcasing our Early Years Library and an enclosed garden space. We have recently developed our outside area to include an integrated water and pebble play space and a large bespoke wooden play trail. The garden also includes a growing area and lots of opportunities for sand and water play as well as physical activities such as a mud kitchen and bikes and trikes trail.
Our beautiful environment supports and encourages the children to become inquisitive and enthusiastic learners offering real-world and authentic experiences across all areas of the curriculum.
Our Nursery and Reception children thrive in the Early Years setting provided at Jewell and are happy and excited to come to school. We strongly believe that there is no limit to what our children can achieve.
HOw can your child Apply for a place at Jewell Academy?
Reception places
We welcome children into Reception from the September following their fourth birthday. We love to show our new families our inspiring learning environment and offer informal open evenings and bookable tours during the school day for prospective families.
Families who have confirmed a place are also offered the opportunity to attend our ‘Welcome to Reception’ evening in June. We know how excited our new children are to start school and offer an additional ‘Stay and Play’ session in July for children to explore their new classrooms. In September, a gradual start to school is offered; children have the opportunity to receive a home visit from their teachers, followed by a week of half-day ‘settling in sessions’, before starting their full-time learning journey at Jewell Academy.