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About
Your Child is in Great Hands
Learning Through Play
We provide a friendly, caring, safe and stimulating environment where each child can learn and develop, at their own pace, through play and activities which interest them. We work closely with parents and carers to enable us to treat every child as unique and ensure inclusion, for both children and parents, helping them to develop into confident, independent learners. We adhere to the Early Years Foundation Stage Statutory Framework ensuring we meet all government legislation and requirements.
Our prospectus covers the preschool setting in much greater detail and can be viewed here.
Opening Hours
We open for 38 weeks during the school term.
Monday to Friday:
8.45am to 11.45am (morning session)
11.45am to 2.45pm (afternoon session)
8.45am to 2.45pm (all day)
2.45pm to 3.15pm (additional half-hour session)
The additional half-hour session (2.45pm to 3.15pm) is optional and subject to availability. It is in addition to the core sessions and charged separately.
Please note for the afternoon session or all day sessions the child should bring their own packed lunch as the preschool has no facilities to provide food for lunch.
Term Dates
Term 1 – 1st September 2023 to 19th October 2023
Term 2 – 30th October 2023 to 15th December 2023
Term 3 – 4th January 2024 to 7th February 2024
Term 4 – 19th February 2024 to 28th March 2024
Term 5 – 15th April 2024 to 24th May 2024
Term 6 – 3rd June 2024 to 19th July 2024
Latest Ofsted Report
This Provision is Good
"Staff manage children's behaviour well. Children learn to follow instructions, share, take turns and play harmoniously together. Their behaviour is good. Staff work well with parents and keep them fully informed about their child's learning and development. Parents speak highly of the staff team and the service they receive.
Staff support children effectively through the move from preschool to school.
They form strong links with the host school and ensure children are emotionally well prepared for their next stage of learning. Children benefit from the nurturing environment and the strong keyperson system. They form secure attachments to staff and are confident to ask for help.
The manager is committed to continuous improvement and effective evaluation systems ensure that staff, parents and children engage well in continual reflective practice. Staff support children to develop good communication skills. For instance, they ask them thought-provoking questions and encourage their responses."
Tracey Cook - Ofsted Inspector, May 2018
Out latest Ofsted report (May 2018) can be viewed in full here.
All Ofsted reports can be found at http://www.ofsted.gov.uk
Our Day
Welcome
During this time the Manager or your child's keyperson will be available to talk to you about any queries you may have or for you to share any information you would like us to know before you leave your child with us for the day.
Wake and Shake
This is a short dance and movement activity which is done to music. The children enjoy this time and set them up ready to engage in circle time.
Circle Time
Children are split into groups of 4-6 children for an adult led focus activity. Circle time covers a variety of different topics including, letters and sounds, maths, colours and personal, social and emotional activities.
Snack Time
We run a rolling snack routine, which allows children to access snack for a set period throughout the morning session. This has many benefits to the children including:
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Giving children a choice
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Promoting British Values such as individual liberty
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Children spend less wasted time seated waiting for everyone to sit down or finish
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Builds independence, confidence, esteem and self-awareness
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Develops motor and self-help skills as children are allowed to prepare their snacks and pour drinks
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Allows time for children to chat in a small group, developing language skills
Tidy-up Time
All of the children are expected to help tidy up both the indoor and outdoor learning environment. Asking children to tidy up after themselves teaches children about responsibility and accountability.
Free Flow
For much of the day we operate free flow which allows child initiated play to flow between the indoor and outdoor space. This takes place during all weathers and children are encouraged to become independent in accessing the wet weather clothing and boots we provide for this.
Story and Song Time
Each session ends with the children joining together for a story or song. This is also a useful time for us to share any news, such as, a child telling us about their time away with our travel bear or celebrating a child's birthday.
Time to go home
Any work that the children have completed is put into their red folders, along with any correspondence we are sending home. Children wait to be collected on our carpet area and are called up by name to be handed over to their nominated adult by a staff member on the door.
Parents
As you are your child's first educator and we are their second, it is important that we work together to maximise your child's learning and development. If you have a skill or talent that you could share with the children or a topic that you could talk to them about we would love to hear from you. Parents are also very welcome just to come in and join us for a session. This gives parents the opportunity to take an active part in the pre-school, to see what happens there and to talk about it afterwards with their child.
Ways in which we involve parents in the setting:
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By regular newsletters and information provided on our noticeboard
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By displaying photos and samples of the children's work/activities
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By staying to play
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By contributing to the Learning Journey Diary
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By attending Pre-school trips
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By helping to organise and/or attend fundraising and social events
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By joining the committee
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By attending open evenings/days
Studies regularly show that children whose parents are interested and involved in their education are happier and more successful. If you would be interested in helping on a regular basis or just joining us for one session to see what we do please speak to either Janet or Barbara who will be happy to help.
