On Arrival
A typical day at pre-school starts at 8.30 or 9am with a pickup at either 12pm, 2.30pm or 4,30pm Parents and children gather in the outside area and have an opportunity to interact with each other before our day begins.

A member of staff will open the front door and remain there for security to greet the children as they enter the lobby area. And to take messages. We ask that you say goodbye at the front door, where staff will be available to support their arrival. The majority of our staff will be situated in the main hall during drop off time to give a warm welcome to the children and engage them in activities to aid the separation process. We ask that the children place their bags and water bottles in the boxes available and their lunch boxes on the trolley provided. In the lobby area we have a Wellington boot box where you can bring in a named pair of boots for your child to change into on rainy days. In the summer we also have a sun hat box which operates in the same way. We will encourage the children to hang up their named coats on any peg in our coat peg area with adults available to support them with this If you feel your child needs extra assistance with separation, please feel free to approach any member of staff for support.

Once all of the parents have left the doors will be secured and we will seat the children in their groups, decided by age (called Lions and Tigers) for our coming together time to share any news and discuss what we will be doing that day. The main gates to the premises will also be locked and our session will begin. We will always offer a wide range of activities both inside and out to cover all the areas of learning laid down in the Government’s ‘Early Years Foundation Stage’, and we operate a free flow play system whereby the children can choose which activities they participate in and move freely around all areas of the pre-school. Our staff are situated around the premises in such a way as to ensure that our staff to child ratios are maintained and that the adults can engage with the children to encourage and extend learning.
A typical session will consist of coming together time, free play both inside and outside with a combination of adult let and child-initiated activities, rolling snack, group time, and home time.

Snack Time
We operate a” Rolling Snack” in the morning which allows the children to choose when they have their snack during the morning session from approx 10.30am-11am,  They select their name and seat themselves at the table with other children of their choice and a supervising adult. They then exchange their name for their snack which they help prepare themselves by pouring drinks or cutting fruit etc. We believe that this way of having snack leads to a more relaxed and smoother running session which benefits the children. For those children staying until 4.30pm an additional healthy snack will be offered at approx 2.30pm.

Key Person System
Whilst all our staff are responsible for the health, well being and emotional happiness of all the children, we also operate a key person system in line with the Governments ‘Every Child Matters’ policy. This means that your child will be assigned to an individual member of staff who will be responsible for observing and recording your child’s individual development in their Tapestry online Learning Journal. You can like and comment on observations that we add for your child and it’s also possible for you to add your own observations. You will be introduced to your key person when your child starts and throughout your child’s time with us both you and your key worker will work together to determine their progress and set their next developmental steps. We also hold regular parent evenings for you to come and talk to us.

Lunch
For those children who are with us until 2.30pm or 4.30pm we will offer a short lunch session. You will need to bring a healthy packed lunch in line with our healthy eating policy with you in the morning and lunch boxes can be stored on the special trolley situated near the kitchen. Please ensure you place a freezer block inside as we have no facility to refrigerate them. We follow a strict no nuts policy.

Toileting
We encourage the children to be as independent as possible in their toileting and hygiene needs. However, if your child is still in nappies when they start with us, we will be more than happy to change them providing you supply sufficient nappies and wipes in a named bag. When you are ready to potty train just let us know and again, we will be more than happy to continue your home routines at pre-school, all we ask is that you supply a sufficient amount of spare clothes in a named bag.

Home time
Our sessions draw to an end with group time. We split the children into their groups and hold two separate group times simultaneously. Group time is a mixture of listening to a story, having circle time, or singing action songs or stories and nursery rhymes. We find that this system works really well, and the children respond positively.

After group time at the designated time, those staying for lunch go back to play and those going home sit on a carpet and sing our ‘Laugh and Learn’ song. When we have said ‘goodbye’ a member of staff will open the door for the children going home at 12 and the children will be passed out to the parents.
For those staying all day the door will be opened at 2.25pm or 4.25pm and each child will be individually called out of the main hall to greet their parent, you can then pick up their coat, bag, lunchbox and water bottle from the coat peg area before exiting out of our side door. A member of staff positioned on this door will ensure that no child leaves without the correct adult and also mark them out of the register as they leave.
Home time is an ideal time to speak to your child’s keyperson or the staff should you need to.

Uniform polo shirts and sweat shirts
Pre-school is one place where it is absolutely fine to get messy! So please make sure your children only wear old clothes and shoes as, with the best will in the world, we cannot always guarantee they will go home in the same state they arrived. We do sell our own uniform which is just perfect for pre-school and if you are interested in purchasing some please come and speak to us to see an example and for details of current prices.

Sun Screen
Please ensure that during periods of warm weather you apply sun screen to your child before they come to pre-school. If your child stays all day we will reapply our sun screen after lunch.