Marsworth
Pre-School
· A fun and educational place to be
· We take children from ages 2 ½ to 5 years
· Highest rating given for recent OFSTED inspection
· Lots of great toys to play with in a caring environment
· Highly qualified and dedicated staff
Opening hours:
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
Morning sessions 9.00am – 11.30am
Lunch club: 11.30am – 12.30pm
Afternoon sessions 12.30pm – 3.00pm
Morning and Afternoon Sessions £7.95
Lunch Club £3.00
Come and visit and see for yourself!
For more details call Sarah Crombie on
01296 660919
Alternatively, please contact:
Marsworth Pre - School on 07506 179658
Or Tracey Kennedy on 01296 660973
Welcome Booklet
1. WELCOME
2. YOUR PRE-SCHOOL SESSIONS
3. DRESSING YOUR CHILD
4. ARRIVING AND LEAVING PRE – SCHOOL
5. WHAT YOUR CHILD WILL BE DOING
6. KEY WORKER
7. YOUR HELP - THE PARENTS ROTA
8. YOUR DUTY ROLE
9. UNDER 2½ YEARS OLD
10. ABSENCE
11. BIRTHDAYS
12. ENCOURAGING GOOD BEHAVIOUR
13. NUMBER OF SESSIONS
14. OUR EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES POLICY
15. OUR FINANCES
16. FIRST AID
17. FIRE PROCEDURES
18. THE STAFF
19. YOUR CHILD'S HEALTH & SAFETY
20. MEETING SPECIAL NEEDS
21. ADMISSIONS POLICY
22. VOICING YOUR CONCERNS
23. YOUR COMMITTEE
24. CHILDREN LEFT BEHIND AND LOST CHILD POLICY
Appendices
1. Things we do in Pre-school & how they tie in with child development
2. The Early Learning Goals
3. Infectious childhood illnesses
4. Your current committee
PRE-SCHOOL PHONE FOR USE IN PRE-SCHOOL HOURS – 07506 179 658
MARSWORTH PRE - SCHOOL
1. WELCOME TO YOUR PRE-SCHOOL
Pre-school is held at:
Marsworth Village Millennium Hall
Vicarage Road
Marsworth
It is run by our Pre-School Leader, Wendy Lewis, Deputy Pre-School Leader Louisa Whitson, assistants Joanne Cox and Tracey Chalkley. Marsworth Pre-School is a committee run pre-school, backed by parents. Our staff are required to attain relevant child care qualifications to ensure your pre-school is run to the highest standards.
Wendy is fully qualified holding a NVQ3 in Early Years Childcare and Education and holds a SEN certificate, First Aid trained and has attended an Autism training course and various day courses.
Louisa has attained a level 3 Diploma in Pre-school Practice and has been SEN trained and is Marsworth Pre-School SEN Co-ordinator. Louisa also has First Aid training, and is working towards her Foundation Degree in Early Years. Louisa has also attended various day courses.
Joanne Cox is working towards her NVQ3. Joanne also has First Aid training.
Tracey Chalkley has attended various courses in child care. Tracey also has First Aid training and is currently progressing through a Health and Safety course.
Through their guidance and expertise our children learn:
- To play together
- To express themselves in a variety of ways.
- To sing and listen to stories
- To develop their language skills
- To develop co-ordination
- To enjoy playing with our wide range of equipment.
- To become independent
- To become confident
- To join in a variety of activities
2. YOUR PRE-SCHOOL SESSIONS
When your child first starts, be prepared to stay if they need you. Having you there will give your child confidence in their new surroundings. Together you and the Pre-School Leader can decide when they are ready to be left. You will be asked to come for a visit with your child prior to starting.
If they can settle gently and happily into Pre-school they will gradually grow into a confident independent child.
We hold pre-school sessions four days a week - Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. The session times are:-
Morning: 9.00am to 11.30am. Educational sessions – funding is available for 3 and all 4 year olds (term FOLLOWING birthday for 3 year olds)
Lunch club: 11.30am to 12.30pm. Children bring their own packed lunch, once lunch is finished the children are able to watch television or play with the activities set out.
Afternoon: 12.30pm to 3.00pm. Educational sessions, as morning above.
. Children can attend any combination of sessions – sessions need to be booked before the beginning of each term with the rota secretary. The younger children normally attend two sessions a week and gradually increase the number of sessions as they grow older and closer to school age.
We welcome children from the age of 2½ to 5 years. The Pre-school operates on an adult: children ratio of 1:4 for children under 3 and 1:8 for those over 3, as recommended by the Pre-school Learning Alliance. This means that we do have restrictions on the number of places available. Parents may be asked to do voluntary duties in order to maintain these ratios.
3. DRESSING YOUR CHILD
Your child will be encouraged to explore and learn through different materials such as sand, water, paint, glue and play dough. They will get messy and although aprons and paper towels are provided it is advisable to dress your child in comfortable "older" clothes that can be easily washed. Marsworth Pre-school T-shirts and sweatshirts are available for purchase from the Pre-School.
Confidence comes from being able to do things yourself. If you make sure all fastenings are simple, (i.e., no buckles, zips or buttons for them to deal with), your child will learn quickly to go to the toilet independently. Some spare clothing is kept at the hall if needed. Please ensure all removable clothing and footwear is labelled.
We do ask that each child keep a pair of named plimsolls or non-buckled shoes, in a shoe bag, clearly labelled. Plimsolls ensure our hall is kept clean and dry, particularly in wet weather, and our equipment suffers minimum wear and tear.
4. ARRIVING AND LEAVING PRE-SCHOOL
Please arrive with your child just before the beginning of a session. All children enter pre-school via the front door You are responsible for your child until the register is taken, so stay with your child until this time. Read the notice board daily.
Upon arrival, please change your child’s shoes into their indoor shoes. Children are then free to come into the main hall and play with any activity.
Children are collected from a session via the front door, please arrive just before the session finishes and wait for the front door to be opened, your child will be brought out from the quiet room for you to dress in their outdoor clothes. Ensure all items are collected from their trays.
If you have arranged for another adult to collect your child, please write these arrangements in the diary and notify staff.
Please be aware that once your child has been handed over to you, their safety is your responsibility and not that of the Pre-School.
5. WHAT YOUR CHILD WILL BE DOING
MORNING SESSION
9.00 Session starts
9.10 Registration – during this time there will be a brief discussion of the weeks theme, weather, day of the week – we may also do some group numeracy and literacy work.
9.20 Adult lead activities and free play – this may include: painting; play
dough; model making; gluing and sticking; sand and water play;
Construction toys; dressing up; puzzles; games; music; cooking;
role play; climbing frame and book corner
10.10 Activities finish. Tidy up time – children are encouraged to help put toys away.
10.15 Dance and movement.
10.30 Snack time – we will provide water throughout the whole day for all children as and when they require it. At snack time water, squash and milk are provided with a variety of healthy snacks, i.e. biscuits, fruit, dried fruit and vegetables. Please inform school leader of any allergies your child has when they start pre-school.
10.45 Into the quiet room for story time and singing.
10.55 Outside play or hall games depending on the weather.
11.10 ‘Show and Tell’, songs and rhymes – each child is encouraged to bring an item from home; if possible based on the weeks theme – the days on which your child should bring something in is listed on the pre-school notice board and letters will have been sent out to you.
11.25 Children that are staying for lunch club are taken to TV area. The remaining children await collection by parents in the quiet room.
11.30 Home time
LUNCH SESSION
11.30 Session starts
11.35 Registration
11.40 Lunch – all children will sit at a large table to eat with a member of staff. Please note that the children’s lunch boxes are not kept in a fridge – they will however be kept in a cool place. Please encourage your child to eat healthy food at lunchtime – in particular please do not provide sweets or fizzy drinks. Once children have finished their lunch a range of activities will be available or quiet time with the TV if wanted.
12.30 Home time
AFTERNOON SESSION
12.30 Session starts - registration
12.40 Adult lead activities and free play – this may include: painting; play dough; model making; gluing and sticking; sand and water play;
construction toys; dressing up; puzzles; games; music; cooking; role play; climbing frame and book corner.
13.35 Tidy up time – children are encouraged to help put toys away.
13.40 Dance and movement.
14.05 Snack time – we will provide water throughout the whole day for all children as and when they require it. At snack time, water, squash and milk are provided with a variety of healthy snacks, i.e. biscuits, fruit, dried fruit and vegetables. Please inform school leader of any allergies your child has when they start pre-school.
14.25 Into the quiet room for story time and singing
14.35 Outside play or hall games depending on the weather.
14.45 ‘Show and Tell’, songs and rhymes – each child is encouraged to bring
An item from home; if possible based on the weeks theme – the days on
Which your child should bring something in is listed on the notice board.
and you will hence receive a letter.
15.00 Home time.
A broad guideline to what your child will be learning through play can be seen in Appendix 1.
6. KEYWORKER
Whilst at pre-school your child will be allocated a key worker – this is a particular member of staff who observes and works closely with your child, your Childs key worker will remain with them throughout their time at pre-school – a list of key workers and their children is on the pre-school notice board. If you have any concerns about your child s key worker please speak to the pre-school leader or chairperson.
7. YOUR HELP - THE PARENT'S ROTA
Your Pre-school cannot run without your help. This is needed in many ways:
At present we have 6 members of staff who provide appropriate cover. Should this alter through sickness, session size increase etc. parents will be asked to do duties.
When on duty, there is a list on the notice board in the hallway explaining what needs to be done each time. At the end of the session please ensure all equipment is packed away in its correct place, the hall is cleared and swept and the kitchen, toilets and hall are tidy.
8. YOUR DUTY ROLE
Parents on duty are to arrive at 9.00 am. During the session you can be of help and enjoy yourself by assisting the children with the activities, helping them play, listening to them talk, as well as serving the drinks and snacks, tidying up and putting away the equipment.
9. UNDER 2½ YEARS OLD
Unfortunately the facilities for your Pre-school children are not normally appropriate for younger children and may be positively dangerous.
Therefore, with safety in mind as well as the lack of recommended separate sleeping and nappy changing facilities, you are asked to find a friend or member of your family to look after younger children whilst you are on duty. We are a friendly group of mothers and are willing to help each other. Should you have any difficulties do not hesitate to talk to a committee member.
10. ABSENCE
If you are planning holidays please inform the Pre-school leader as soon as possible. Likewise, if your child is sick please contact the Pre-school Leader as soon as you can, indicating where possible the likely length of absence.
It is sometimes difficult to decide whether your child is well enough to attend Pre-school. If in doubt please do not send your child. This is very important if we are to ensure infections are not passed around. To help we have included guidelines on infectious childhood diseases (Appendix 2).
If you are planning to withdraw your child from Pre-school, to enable us to plan our numbers and sessions you are required to give a half term’s notice and to cover all your duties. Otherwise you will still be charged for these sessions.
11. BIRTHDAYS
We love to celebrate and share birthdays. To make sessions really special, parents often bring along a cake/pastries which are served at drinks time.
12. ENCOURAGING POSITIVE BEHAVIOUR
We never discipline the children by smacking, slapping, shaking or humiliating them. There are no circumstances in which such discipline can be justified. The child will be taken to one side to discuss the correct way to behave. What is right and what is wrong. If this behaviour continues, the parents will be asked to see the Pre-School leader to discuss the problem.
When on duty please do not discipline your own child in a manner explained above, even if you do so at home. It is not the Pre-school policy and continuity must be upheld throughout.
A child will be disciplined if they are offensive/rude to another child or adult, disrupting other play, fighting, biting, squealing or shouting. If a child is continually disruptive the staff may telephone the parent to ask that they be removed from that day’s session.
13. NUMBER OF SESSIONS
All children, under age 3 can start with 2 sessions (or more), one morning and one afternoon per week and subsequently will be able to increase the number of sessions according to availability and prioritised according to age.
If you wish to increase the number of sessions your child attends, please speak to the Sarah Crombie, Administrator.
14. EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES POLICY
We recognise and respect differences in race, culture, religion and language. The benefits offered by Pre-school are genuinely available to all. We accept the individual child/family and try to make sure that each child/family is given every possible chance to develop their full potential in an atmosphere of mutual respect. By enabling the children to understand different cultures and disabilities we will be helping them to work for a more just and peaceful world.
15. OUR FINANCES
The Pre-school is a registered charity and is totally self supporting. Whilst we aim to cover such items as rent and basic running costs from the fees, most of the time they only just cover costs. To meet additional costs we hold various fund raising events throughout the year and we rely on your help at these events.
The current fees per session are:
Morning £7.95
Lunch £3.00
Afternoon £7.95
All fees are payable half-termly in advance by the end of the first week of the half term.
If your child is on holiday or unwell you are required to pay while they are absent. However, if the period of absence is going to be more than 2 weeks then the first 2 weeks are at the full rate and thereafter complete weeks will be charged at half the normal rate.
Should you ever have any difficulties regarding fees, please speak to Sarah Crombie, Administrator in confidence.
The Pre-School receives funding for 3 and all 4 year olds, i.e. sessions are free; children become eligible for this in the term after their 3rd birthday.
16. FIRST AID
All staff have completed First Aid training or are in the process of doing so. A First Aid box is kept in the kitchen and during all sessions is placed on the kitchen work surface by the hatch.
In the event of an accident, however minor, it must be recorded in the accident book, this is kept with the register in the cupboard. In the event of an accident, the book is shown to the parent upon arrival at the Pre-school for signature. If an accident is more serious and prompt attention is needed medical help will be sought.
17. FIRE PROCEDURES
A detailed fire procedure can be found on the notice board. For your child and your own safety please DO read it.
In addition, a fire drill will take place every 6 weeks, so that your child gains some familiarity with the process.
18. THE STAFF
As you will no doubt find out, we employ high quality staffs who work very hard to create a caring environment in which your child will be encouraged to develop and learn. The staffs communicate daily with parents and the committee, are monitored frequently and are supported in their own development through an annual appraisal system. Parent / Teacher meetings are held every term. A staff disciplinary procedure following current legislation is incorporated within the employment contract.
19. YOUR CHILD'S HEALTH AND SAFETY
The health and safety of your child and all those attending Pre-school is of paramount importance. Safety is achieved in a number of ways; appropriate adult/child ratios, the application of the policies in this book, safety checks on the premises and regular equipment checks. Similarly your Pre-school promotes a healthy lifestyle and a high standard of hygiene in all activities and day to day work.
20. MEETING SPECIAL NEEDS
The Pre-school welcomes children with special needs. Your Pre-School aims to work with parents, the Pre-school leader, SENCO, members of the committee and the appropriate professionals (such as health visitors, therapists, paediatricians etc.) to identify and assess special educational needs. We achieve this through close observation, record keeping and tailored activities where appropriate.
21. ADMISSIONS POLICY
The main purpose of our Pre-school is to provide a place for any child over the age of 2½ years old who wishes to attend. However, should the demand for places outnumber their availability, places will be allocated as follows:
a. Children over the age of 3 years living in the village are top priority (i.e. the eldest child first). Any remaining places would then be offered to:
b. Children between 2½ and 3 years living in the village, (up to a maximum of 8 under 3 years of age at any one session). If there are places remaining these will be offered to:-
i) Children who live outside the village, but whose sibling already attends;
ii) children who live outside the village, over the age of 3 years;
iii) and finally, children who live outside the village under the age of 3 years
We do have a waiting list which, bearing in mind the above criteria, is kept on a purely chronological birth date basis.
22. VOICING YOUR CONCERNS
We welcome any suggestions or comments you wish to make. We are well aware that improvements can always be made. In particular please let your Pre-school Leader, and if appropriate the committee Chairperson, know if you feel uneasy about any aspect of the Pre-school so that we can solve problems swiftly and efficiently. If you feel the solution is unsatisfactory or the problem reoccurs you should put your concerns in writing for the full committee to consider in confidence and assist resolution.
If you feel that the committee has not resolved the issue to your satisfaction then you should contact the governing body OFSTED. The can be contacted on 08456 404045/08456 404040 or by letter to Royal Exchange Buildings, St Ann’s Square, Manchester. M2 7LA.
23. YOUR COMMITTEE
Your Committee is responsible for the day to day management and the business side of Pre-School. We employ the staff, agree the policies and procedures in this book ensure we are properly insured, pay bills and organise the fund raising events - which we rely on so much to keep fees down. Your help at these events would be very welcome.
The Committee is elected by parents at the AGM and we welcome any suggestions you may have and are very happy to discuss any aspect of the Pre-school with you.
24. CHILDREN LEFT BEHIND POLICY AND LOST CHILD POLICY
Children will be kept at the pre-school with staff for 15 minutes after the session has ended, (i.e. until 11.45am, 12.45am or 3.15pm) after this time the parent/guardian will be contacted. If contact with parent/guardian and other given emergency contacts is not made, then the following procedure will commence:
At 11.50am/12.50pm/3.20pm Social Services will be contacted and informed about the situation, we will then follow their advice.
Procedures for lost child: look in hall and outside areas, if not found contact 999 and parents.
APPENDIX 1 - to follow
APPENDIX 2
THE EARLY LEARNING GOALS
i. PERSONAL AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
Children are confident, show appropriate self-respect and are able to establish effective relationships with other children and adults. They work as part of a group and independently, are able to concentrate and persevere in their learning and to seek help where needed. They are eager to explore new learning, and show the ability to initiate ideas and to solve simple practical problems. They demonstrate independence in selecting an activity or resources and in dressing and personal hygiene.
Children are sensitive to the needs and feelings of others and show respect for people of other cultures and beliefs. They take turns and share fairly. They express their feelings and behave in appropriate ways, developing an understanding of right and wrong and why. They treat living things, property and their environment with care and concern. They respond to relevant cultural and religious events and show a range of feelings, such as wonder, joy or sorrow, in response to their experiences of the world.
ii. LANGUAGE AND LITERACY
In small and large groups, children listen attentively and talk about their experiences. They use growing vocabulary with increasing fluency to express thoughts and convey meaning to their listener. They listen and respond to stories, songs, nursery rhymes and poems. They make up their own stories and take part in role play with confidence.
Children enjoy books and handle them carefully, understanding how they are organised. They know that words and pictures carry meaning and that, in English, print is read from left to right and from top to bottom. They begin to associate sounds with patterns in rhymes, with syllables, and with words and letters. They recognise their own names and some familiar words. They recognise letters of the alphabet by shape and sound. In their writing they use pictures, symbols, familiar words and letters, to communicate meaning, showing awareness of some of the different purposes of writing.
iii. MATHEMATICS
Children use mathematical language, such as circle, in front of, bigger than and more, to describe shape, position, size and quantity. They recognise and recreate patterns. They are familiar with number rhymes, songs, stories, counting games and activities. They compare, sort, match, order, sequence and count using everyday objects. They recognise and use numbers to 10 and are familiar with large numbers from their everyday lives. They begin to use their developing mathematical understanding to solve practical problems. Through practical activities children understand and record numbers, begin to show awareness of number operations, such as addition and subtraction, and begin to use the language involved.
iv. KNOWLEDGE & UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD
Children talk about where they live, their environment, their families and past and present events in their own lives. They explore and recognise features of living things, objects and events in the natural and made world and look closely at similarities, differences, patterns and change. They show an awareness of the purpose of some features of the area in which they live. They talk about their observations, sometimes recording them and ask questions to gain information about why things happen and how things work. They explore and select materials and equipment and use skills such as cutting, joining, folding and building for a variety of purposes. They use technology, where appropriate, to support their learning.
v. PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT
Children move confidently and imaginatively with increasing control and coordination and an awareness of space and others. They use a range of small and large equipment and balancing and climbing apparatus, with increasing skills. They handle appropriate tools, objects, construction and malleable materials safely and with increasing control.
vi. CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT
Children explore sound, colour, texture, shape, form and space in two and three dimensions. They respond in a variety of ways to what they see, hear, smell, touch and feel. Through art, music, dance, stories and imaginative play, they show an increasing ability to use their imagination, to listen and to observe. They use a widening range of materials, suitable tools, instruments and other resources to express ideas and to communicate their feelings.
APPENDIX 3
WHEN INFECTIOUS ILLNESS OCCURS
CHILDREN SHOULD BE EXCLUDED FOR THE PERIOD SHOWN
Diagnosis* denotes notifiable disease Period to be kept away from Pre School
Diarrhoea and/or vomitingE.coli 0157Typhoid* (and paratyphoid*)Shigella (Dysentery) 48hrs from last episode of diarrhoea or vomiting (48 rule applies)Exclusion is important for some childrenExclusion is important for some children.Always consult with HPUExclusion may be necessary.
Respiratory Infections‘Flu’ (influenza)Tuberculosis*Whooping cough Until recoveredConsult with HPU (Health Protection Unit)5 days from commencing antibiotic treatment or 21 days from onset of illness if no antibiotic treatment.