Welcome to Whitley Park Infant and Nursery School
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Whitley Park Infant and Nursery School is a Reading Borough Council Community School located in the South of the town.
The school teaches children aged 3 to 7 years. The school shares its campus with the Junior School.
South Reading After School Club is based at the school. For more information contact the club leader on 0118 901 5567.
Whitley Park Infant and Nursery School is part of the Whitley Excellence Cluster (WEC) launched in January 2004 |
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Ofsted June 2006: ''This is a good school with outstanding features. It is held in high regard by parents. Pupils achieve well. The quality of care is outstanding. Pupils' personal development is good. They are really enthusiastic about school life. Pupils have a very positive attitude to learning.''
Please read the school profile for parents.
Working with the wider community
We believe it is important that children learn about the wider community. We support national charities with special events to collect goods or raise money.
When we celebrate harvest each year the contributions from the families are given to the local community through the local church of St Agnes.
At the annual Christmas Carol Service with parents a collection is taken for a different charity each year, chosen for its importance to families or staff in the school The charities supported have included BIBs, REACH, Stillbirth Trust and Macmillan Nurses.
The children are sponsored by family and friends to complete a puzzle game. The money raised helps support the NCH work with vulnerable children and their families. Cedric the dragon came to thank the children for all their hard work.
Cedric the Dragon came to thank the children for collecting money for the NCH
On Red Nose day, the children are invited to dress up as a nursery rhyme or fairy tale character and bring a contribution for Comic Relief.
The school supported the Tsunami 2004 relief effort through the work of Feed the Children collecting a range of dry goods.
The Learning Environment
The Nursery building has classrooms, a kitchen, library and large space for indoor physical development opportunities. You could meet 'Bob' the builder, 'Percy' in his park shed or be the local hairdresser.
Outside there is a lovely garden with well-established trees and plenty of space for children to enjoy sand and water; running, climbing; bikes and prams; and a range of role-play sheds.
| The Infant School is a single storey building with good access all round to the outdoor environment. Foundation Stage children in the Reception Year have ready access to a secure outdoor classroom. Outdoor classrooms are being developed for Key Stage One children. |
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All the children in the infant school make good use of the large playground and grassed area for playtimes, during lessons and for p.e. The playground has areas for quiet play, tables and benches, and a range of activities are provided for playtimes.
All the classes have access to a well stocked school library and a good range of resources to support the curriculum.
Visitors and visits
Throughout our school year we plan a variety of performances, workshops and visits to support and enrich the curriculum. The children learn to watch, listen and respond appropriately, participate and learn new skills. We have been very well supported by Reading Rotary clubs through 'Kids Out', 'Kids In' and generous donations and personal support.
Visits and visitors have included:
Train ride to Bristol. Key Stage 1 went to Bristol with First Great Western and enjoyed a journey by train, they were entertained on the way and had a visit from Santa on the return journey. In Bristol they went to see Polar Express in 3D. Thanks to 'Kids Out' and the Rotary Club
Seaside visit to Sandbanks in Poole. Maiden Erlegh Rotary have sponsored Year 1 to visit the seaside for a great day on the beach
Kaya Drumming who led drumming workshops for all children, stress busting sessions for staff and led our Native American day, when they brought a teepee to school.
Martin the Puppet Man is an annual visitor to the school and always performs high quality productions with his range of puppets, which the children really enjoy
Berkshire Young Musicians Trust perform exciting live music to the children and talk about the instruments used and how they are played.
Poets in School have led shared poetry sessions and poetry workshops with Key Stage 1 and poetry sessions with Foundation Stage children
Reading Museum service - offers class-based sessions where the children can handle artefacts and gain an insight into the past. The workshops have included 'toys' and 'seaside in the past' which have linked into out school topics.
Katesgrove School, museum service: Key Stage One have enjoyed 'Homes through History' where they learn what homes were like before electricity. The children experienced a strict regime of lessons in the Wartime school room!
Zoolab. Robin brought a selection of his animals for the children to handle and learn about -including a cockroach, a millipede, and a tarantula
Millers Ark Farm are annual visitors to the Foundation Stage children. They bring a range of animals traditionally found on farms. The children are able to handle many of them and find out just what size and shape they really are.
Bob T Bob led fun workshops on puppet making and story telling
The Bear Factory , in the Oracle - as part of their work on 'Toys' were able to make a class bear.
Year 1 visit Rushall Farm Bradfield. It is a great opportunity to see a farm, farm animals and experience the countryside at first hand
Marwell Zoo in Hampshire - The children are able to see a range of animals from around the world, and take part in a workshop session called 'fur, feathers, scales'.
The Elastic band in Guildford - for a live production of music from an orchestra
Annie Welch, community artist, has worked with the children to produce a mosaic pond for the school garden, and created an 'insects' mural in the playground. She has also worked alongside a team from Thames Water who painted a countryside mural in the school playground
Annie was specially commissioned to reproduce the school logo in mosaic and this hangs in the school hall. | 
