Parent Pack
Starting pre-school can be a daunting ‘process’ not only for your child, but also for you. The aim of this booklet is to give you an idea of what to expect at Bear Flat Pre-school, answer some of your queries and hopefully put both you and your child at ease!
Days & Times
Bear Flat Pre-school operates on a Monday, Tuesday. Wednesday and Friday morning from 9.30am until 12.00 noon.
Leader - Sandra Varley
Deputy Leader - Loraine Hardy
Assistant - Maria Hoskins
Assistant - Shelley Buck
Contact Numbers
Sandra Varley at Pre-school (term time only 9.00 am - 12.15 pm) 01225 445694
Sandra Varley (home) 01225 423736
Loraine Hardy (home) 01225 316700
Please notify us if your child misses more than two Pre-school sessions or if they have any infectious diseases so we can inform other parents/carers.
If you are unable to contact the staff on the landline while your child is at Pre-school, it will be because they are outside with the children. In an emergency you can contact them on the Pre-school’s mobile number which is 07504 780629. Please do not use this number at other times.
Settling in
At Bear Flat Pre-school we recognise that each child will settle into the group in their own way. We aim to work with you to ensure that this happens as smoothly as possible for them.
Please send your child in suitable clothing and footwear (no wellies please). You can also bring in spare clothes if you feel your child might need them.
Once your child has started at Pre-school, it is usually best to depart quickly as delays can sometimes cause a child to become upset. Lingering will only prolong the anxiety be assured that we will reassure your child and involve them in an activity they enjoy. You are welcome to phone during the session if you are concerned about your child.
A typical session
We ask that you arrive promptly at 9.30 am. On arrival at Pre-school, children and parents/carers are welcomed. Parents/carers are asked to take their children to the toilet and hang up their coats. Please clearly name outdoor clothing/footwear.
Please encourage your child to put their photo / name on the board on arrival.
Every day we will have a special helper. If your child’s photograph is on the right hand notice board in the morning it means they are today’s ‘special helper’ and will wear a special badge, ring the bell at tidy-up time, be at the front at lining up times and count the children in circle time (with or without support). It is a responsible, confidence-boosting role that all children will have a turn to experience. Sandra and Loraine work through a list to which children are added when they are ready, so your child might not be chosen in their first term.
A register is taken on arrival of the children and staff, and any late arrivals/early departures are noted.
Each child can choose a book which they can share at home from a selection which changes daily. The book should be returned in the child’s named plastic wallet to the table at Pre-school at the start of the session. Children can keep each book for as long as they like. We would ask that you change your child’s book no more than once a week.
Children then have a free choice of activities which may include open ended resources, the home corner, a shop, construction, games, sand, water, play dough, puzzles, small world, drawing table, books, painting and craft table and time spent with their Key Person. Aprons are provided for messy play. A healthy snack and drink is made available during this time. Drinking water is made available throughout the session. At ‘tidy up time’ children are encouraged to help put toys back into boxes and clear away.
Weather permitting, the children visit the outside space on a daily basis. The brightly coloured all-weather surface is safe and fun for the children to play on and the space is equipped with musical chimes, a blackboard and a stage for those make-believe moments! Additional resources are also taken out on a daily basis. Please make sure that your child has a warm, waterproof coat and suitable footwear with them for each session. On days when we are unable to go outside, our physical activity will take place in the main hall and may include balls, bean bags, obstacle courses, a parachute, ring games, musical instruments, dance etc.
Towards the end of the session the children go into the ‘quiet room’ while the hall is being cleared. Here we take the register, count the number of children, show and tell on the theme of the week (this is sometimes done in the time with the child’s Key Person) and do singing and action rhymes. We then finish with a story before home time.
Your child is welcome to bring one item for ‘show and tell’ that relates to the theme of the week. All themes are posted on the notice board and are also on our website.
We aim to put out a white board daily to keep you informed of the activities that have taken place that day and to aid further discussion for you and your child.
Children are only released from the Pre-school to individuals named by the parent.
Lunch Club
The Pre-school also runs a lunch club one day a week for the 2 terms after Easter. This is open to children who are starting school the following September and is to get the children used to eating lunch away from home. An additional fee is charged for Lunch Club. Please ask Sandra for further details.
Fees
Fees are payable termly in advance and are due in the first week of each term. Fees are not refundable for absences due to sickness or holiday. Once you have accepted a place at the Pre-School for your child, we require four weeks notice of cancellation, or four weeks fees in lieu, which will be calculated at the current sessional rate, and will be required even if your child is normally funded. Please see Sandra if you wish to increase the number of sessions for your child.
Funding
We are approved to accept government funding for eligible children. Funded children are entitled to 5 sessions per week. Parents will, however, be asked to pay up to the standard session rate in certain circumstances where the funding from the government does not cover the full cost. If you have any problems or queries, please ask to chat to the Treasurer, whose contact details can be found on the notice board in the foyer.
Voluntary Administration Fee
The Pre-school asks parents to pay a small voluntary administration fee. The administration fee will be used to guarantee a fairer rate of pay for our staff and help to meet the administration costs which are necessary to fulfil the requirements of Ofsted. This will ensure that Bear Flat Pre-school remains a small, caring setting, with a highly experienced and dedicated staff, working to high adult to children ratios. The voluntary administration fee will be set at 60p per child per session and will be collected on a termly basis. At the start of each term you will be given an invoice stating your contribution amount. Although the fee is voluntary we hope that most parents will agree that this small contribution is worthwhile to maintain the standards of the pre-school. We will still need to raise money through fundraising and grant applications to purchase new toys and equipment.
Key Person
We operate a Key Person system. Your child will be allocated a Key Person on starting at Bear Flat Pre-school, who will have particular responsibility for them. Their Key Person will work with them in a small group and give them reassurance so that they feel safe and cared for. They will also carry out routine observations, update their records, liaise closely with parents/carers and assist in settling in when the child first starts Pre-school.
Children’s Records
Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) records are kept on all children. Each child’s folder is kept in a locked cupboard. These records are confidential, but available to the child’s parent / carer at any time.
Early Learning Goals for the Foundation Stage
The activities at the pre-school are planned to give attention to the six areas outlined in ‘The Early Years Foundation Stage’ (EYFS). The EYFS is a mandatory framework for all Ofsted registered childcare providers and schools caring for children from birth to the end of the academic year in which a child has their fifth birthday. It was developed to ensure that all childcare services, whether they are new or established, provide a safe and secure environment for children and support children’s learning through carefully planned play activities that are fun and appropriate to their needs.
The aim of the EYFS is to help young children achieve the five Every Child Matters outcomes of staying safe, being healthy, enjoying and achieving, making a positive contribution, and achieving economic well-being.
There are six areas covered by the early learning goals and educational programmes:
• Personal, Social and Emotional Development - focusing on children learning through work, play, co-operate with others, mix in a group other than their family and build self-confidence.
• Communication, Language and Literacy - focusing on children developing talking and listening skills, reading and writing through stories, songs, rhymes.
• Problem Solving, Reasoning and Numeracy - providing a foundation for numeracy, enabling the children to compare, sort, match, order, sequence and count with confidence using number rhymes, counting games, songs and stories.
• Knowledge and understanding of the world - to enhance the children’s natural curiosity about the world around them, developing knowledge and understanding of their environment. Children are encouraged to question and think, and have regular activities where they explore the world around them with a theme each week where the children are invited to bring in something from home relating to the topic.
• Physical development - focusing on children developing physical control, mobility and awareness of space through dance, music and movement, obstacle courses, ball skills and balancing; and manipulative skills through craft, cookery and construction.
• Creative development - focusing on how children’s imagination develops and their ability to communicate and express their ideas and feelings in creative ways through musical instruments, arts and crafts, dance, drama and imaginative play.
Details can also be found in your child’s folder and on our website. If you would like any more information please ask a member of staff.
If your child does something for the first time at home (such as getting dressed by themselves etc.) please make a note of it on one of our ‘wow’ sheets and bring it to pre-school so that we can include it in their folder.
Notice Board
The notice board is in the waiting area and contains the following information:
• Term dates
• List of policies and procedures
• Daily plans
• Ofsted report
• Themes of the Week • Complaints Procedure
• List of Committee Members
• Any other relevant information for parents/carers.
We aim to send out a newsletter to parents/carers at least once a term telling you of forthcoming events.
Parental Involvement
We have a ratio of 1 adult to 4 children under the age of 3 and 1 to 6 over the age of 3. At each session there is a parent helper - every parent is expected to attend his or her allocated duty rota approximately once each term. Not only does it provide valuable hands-on help for the pre-school, it’s a good opportunity for you to spend time with the children and get to know your child’s new friends. It’s also great to see your own child getting on so well at Preschool! We will advise you of the activities you can support during the session and we also really appreciate your help in tidying up the hall at the end of the morning. You will also have an opportunity to see your child’s folder, but if you are not on the volunteer rota or wish to see it at any other time, please ask Sandra.
Preschool Committee
A Committee of volunteer parents, elected by parents at the AGM each September or October, runs Bear Flat Pre-school. A full list of Committee members can be seen on the notice board.
Their roles and responsibilities are as follows:
• Chair Person
Chairs committee meetings, liaises with Sandra and is parents’ point of contact for the Committee.
• Secretary
Takes minutes at committee meetings and writes and distributes newsletters and other correspondence.
• Co-Treasurers
Manage the finance, including collecting fees, paying wages, paying rent and other bills.
• Membership Secretary (role may be split into 2)
Organises the waiting list, receives and processes applications. Writes out termly registers and keeps the children’s details updated in the register.
• Fundraisers
Fundraising is a vital part of the Preschool and the committee will have a dedicated Fundraising Team. Fundraising not only brings in valuable money to be spent on resources, new toys and equipment etc. but it gives a wonderful opportunity for all parents, whether on the committee or not, to get involved. Please join in!
• Committee Members
The Committee is also made up of several general members whose help is invaluable.
For further information, please feel free to chat to a member of the committee, either at Pre-school, or by phoning anyone on the committee list on the notice board in the foyer.
Care, Learning and Play
We encourage children to be confident, independent and develop their self esteem. We ensure that there is a balance of adult-led and freely-chosen or child-initiated activities, delivered through indoor and outdoor play. We select resources and provide activities and play opportunities for children to develop their natural curiosity, their language, mathematical thinking, use their imagination and develop social relationships. The children also make choices about what resources are made available daily.
We help children to learn about what is right and wrong. We listen and value what children say. We observe what the children do and use their observations to plan the next steps. We organise resources so that they are readily accessible to children and deploy staff to support learning.
Health
The Pre-school has a Medication Policy understood by staff and discussed with parents regarding the administration of any medication.
Safeguarding
The Pre-school has a Child Safeguarding Policy and Shelley Buck is the Pre-school’s Practitioner for Safeguarding Children who attends any relevant training and takes lead responsibility for safeguarding children within the setting. The Child Safeguarding Policy details the Pre-school’s responsibilities for the reporting of any concerns about the safety of a child, monitoring of the child and liaising with the local social services department, Ofsted and other relevant bodies.
First Aid / Accidents / Well Being
There is a First Aid box, which all staff members are aware of. The contents are checked and replaced as necessary. There is at least one member of staff with a current First Aid training certificate. Before your child starts Pre-school written permission will be requested to the seeking of any necessary emergency medical advice or treatment in the future.
An Accident Record is maintained and, where necessary, signed by parents.
We record any existing marks a child has on arrival at Pre-school on a body outline and this is signed by the parents.
Unwell Children
An obviously ill child should not be sent to Pre-school, as apart from causing distress to the child, there is a danger of infecting other children and the staff. Any child with a high temperature, unusual rash or sickness should be kept at home until the symptoms disappear.
In the case of sickness and / or diarrhoea, we ask that you keep your child away from the Pre-school for at least 48 hours after the last incident of sickness / diarrhoea to ensure that the child is well and germfree before he / she mixes again with the other children.
If your child should become unwell at Pre-school, you will be contacted immediately. Your child will be comforted by a member of staff until you arrive. Please make sure your contact details are kept up to date.
Nappy Changing
The Pre-school has a Nappy Changing Policy and Procedure. If your child will be wearing nappies to Pre-school please contact Sandra for more information.
Collecting Children
It is very important that we are informed if anyone other than the usual person is collecting your child by writing their name in our collection book. For safety reasons we require you to complete a contact form giving us details of everyone who may be collecting your child.
Please be at the Pre-school in plenty of time to collect your child, as young children can become easily worried if they see other parents/carers arriving and not their own. The Pre-school has a policy for uncollected children, ensuring their safety and well being at all times.
Policies & Procedures
The Pre-school has a number of Policies & Procedures. Please see a member of staff if you wish to see them:
• Operational Plan
• Equal Opportunities Policy
• Special Needs Policy
• Child Safeguarding Policy
• Behaviour Policy
• Admissions Policy
• Confidentiality Policy
• Staffing & Employment Policy
• Health and Safety Policy
• Health & Hygiene Policy
• Disciplinary and Grievance Procedure
• Nappy Changing Policy and Procedure • Children’s Personal Hygiene – Independent Toileting
• Fees Policy
• Medication Policy
• Student Placement Policy
• Procedure for Uncollected Children
• Procedure for Unwell Children
• Procedure for Outings
• Procedure for Settling In
• Lost Child Procedure
• Outside Space Procedure
• Complaints Procedure*
*We have a written complaints procedure, which can be found on the notice board.
Introducing Rover!
Hello! My name is Rover and I'm the Pre-school's cuddly dog.
I love travelling by car, train, bus, coach, aeroplane, boat, bicycle, hot air balloon. I love visiting special places and special people. I love going on outings, weekends and holidays.
Could you take me with you next time you are travelling somewhere? It would be fantastic if we could have our photo taken together! It would be brilliant if we could send a postcard to everyone at pre¬school! Best of all I can go to lots of new places and see lots of new faces.
Please ask Sandra, Loraine, Shelley or Maria to check my appointment diary to see if I’m free to come with you. I can’t wait!!
Love from Rover
Website
Much of the information above is also available on our website: www.bearflatpreschool.co.uk.
We may use photos of groups of the children at play on our website. Please speak to Sandra if you have any objections to your child’s picture being used.
Thank you from taking the time to read the above. If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to see any member of staff or the Pre-School Committee.
(July 2009. Version 5)
