SESSIONS

Our sessions are held on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 8.45am until 12.30pm to provide 15 hours of pre-school education per week.

This is a typical day:

8.45AM - ARRIVAL ROUTINE

Upon arrival please ensure your child is welcomed through the door by a member of staff.

On wet mornings we can allow you to enter the foyer early, BUT we cannot allow the children into the hall until 8.45am for child protection reasons.

Can we ask you to send your child to Pre-School in appropriate foot wear and encourage them to change into them themselves, as they may be required to change during the session for particular activities.   Can your child please wear their Pre-School t-shirt/sweatshirt if purchased when attending a session.

On arrival, the children sanitise their hands, take out their water bottle, are encouraged to recognise their named coat hook and hang their coats on the rail, then find their name card to self register.  The children then play whilst they wait for registration to start.

9.00AM AND ONWARDS

REGISTRATION

Around this time the register is taken.  We sing “I am ready” to ensure the children are sitting appropriately and ready to listen for their names being called out.  We use the calender to discuss day, date, month, weather and season.  The children sing our Days of the Week song to help with this.

After the register is completed, the children can estimate/guess how many are present and we then count together to check.  We then use the boards to look at our daily routine, classroom rules to understand why they are important to keep everyone safe and happy, use the ‘How are you feeling?’ board to share how we feel and our ‘Friendship’ board to discuss what makes them a good friend and what to do if someone is unkind.  The children get the chance to share any news or achievements and then we discuss what activities we can take part in and talk about our theme.  This circle time uses the child’s communication skills and language, giving the children confidence and improving their self-esteem.

OTHER MORNING CIRCLE TIME MOMENTS:

HELPER OF THE DAY

Once the children have settled, each room will select a child to help the Aunties during that day, this will include a variety of small jobs to encourage the children to develop a sense of responsibility.

SHOW AND TELL

From January, the children in the Ladybird room will be encouraged to bring something into Pre-School for Show and Tell. This can be anything that your child wants to show and discuss with the other children or it can be something related to the themes we have been learning about.  Show and Tell is a valuable way to promote and develop language and communication skills and personal and social skils.  Please do not allow your child to bring in anything valuable, breakable or inappropriate. It will be helpful if the item is labelled with their name.

TAKE ME HOME TOY

From January, the children in the Ladybird room will take it in turns with the Take Me Home Toy.  A cuddly animal will go home with a child on Friday and is to be returned the following Friday. The animal has a diary for you to complete with whatever fun your child had with it. Please write what you have done and it would be lovely if you could include some photos too.   Sharing the diary with the other children is a really helpful way to promote and develop personal and social skills and also language and communication skills.

WAKE UP AND SHAKE UP

After registration, the children take part in our daily exercise session 'Wake Up and Shake Up'. The children follow the Aunties actions and instructions (including counting claps and jumps) in order to warm up their bodies and wake up their brains ready to play and learn.  We use ribbons, music and action songs to help develop gross motor skills which are required for pencil control and writing.

FREE CHOICE PLAY TIME

The children then enjoy free choice play with a variety of activities available including construction, creative, ITC, physical, imaginative, role play, messy play, book corner and understanding the world. 

HOW WE LEARN THROUGH PLAY:

MARK MAKING

The children are able to make marks daily using a wide variety of tools and media. 

RHYME WRITE

The children take part in Rhyme Write, this helps with their physical development by using large muscle movements when writing in time with a rhyme.

FINE MOTOR SKILL DEVELOPMENT

We practice fine motor skills using a variety resources including, threading, playing with play dough, using tweezers and completing various puzzles.

MESSY PLAY

Every day the children are able to play in sand, water and various other sensory materials. (Gelli baff, baby lotion, shaving foam, slime, compost, spaghetti, rice pudding etc).

ROLE PLAY

Every day the children will have access to a variety of props and equipment to help them pretend and take on a role in their play. Role play will often be connected to our themes to help promote the desired learning.

SCISSOR SKILLS

The children have the opportunity to practise their scissor skills (and learn how to use them safely) every week.

SHAPES, SPACE AND MEASUREMENT

The children will explore shapes. We will pay particular attention to shapes with corresponding sides up to 8 and make links through a variety of activities.  The children will also explore positional language, patterns, capacity and measuring.

DISCO DOUGH

The children take part in Disco dough. This will help enhance fine motor skills. Disco dough involves moulding play dough in time to music and performing different actions such as rolling it into a ball, flattening it, putting each individual finger into the dough, rolling it into a sausage and squeezing it.

STORY TIME

The children enjoy a group story time every day alongside access to a range of books independently. They will learn that print has meaning, how to recall a story, describe characters, settings and a sequence of events.
Once a week we listen to CD story and watch an animated story.  The stories are chosen to complement our themes and to help personal, social and emotional development. We also use puppets, props and musical instruments to enhance the stories.   The children will also learn the names the different parts of the book, to engage when discussing stories and characters, learn new vocabulary, make predictions on what might happen next or how a story might end and begin to recall the story with detail.

MUSIC TIME

Every week we have fun with musical instruments. We make our own music, the children follow instructions whilst we sing and incorporate them into stories, parachute games or action songs. Alongside this we will also complete the ‘Going on a Journey’ musical program weekly. This program is a musical collection with a varied mix of songs and activities to encourage children’s creativity and active participation in music and movement.

CHANGING ACTIVITIES

In the Ladybird room, when an Auntie puts her hand up in the air and calls out "children", it signals that the children need to stop what they are doing, put their own hand up and listen to the Aunties. We do this when it is time to change activities or to follow instructions.  We ring a bell for the younger children in the Bumblebee room.

The children use sand timers to measure time. They use them when they need to share resources, wait for their turn and to understand a different activity/event will take place once the sand runs out.

OUTDOOR PLAY TIME

The children are encouraged to put on their own coats before our daily outdoors play time. The children enjoy outside play every day. They can choose to ride bikes, motorbikes or cars, use the climbing frame and slide, play in the house or with pushchairs, use bats and balls, chase hoops or each other, draw on wooden boards, use balancing equipment or the sand box. The children have the opportunity to join in with circle games. The children line up to go outside. When it is time to come inside, the children help tidy up the toys and then line up with their Aunties. The children help us count the children to ensure we are all present to come inside.

SNACK TIME

We partake in snack time together (see snack in more detail later in booklet) which is a valuable time for social interaction.  Everyday the children are offered a selection of different fruit/vegetables and healthy snacks. The children are encouraged to line up and wash their hands independently, they collect their drinks bottles, choose where to sit at the table and select their own snack. They have the opportunity to pour themselves a cup of milk if they wish. The children have time time to eat their food, have some more if required and talk/interact with their friends before washing their own plate and cup.

PHONICS SOUNDS AND LETTER FORMATION

Every day, the children in the Ladybird room have a short group session where we learn about phonic sounds and letter formation.  We work through a new sound each week, recapping them each half-term. We learn what each letter looks and sounds like, sing Jolly Phonics songs, explore initial sounds, practise letter formation using rhymes and begin blending sounds together to form words.  The younger children in the Bumblebee room take part in daily listening and attention development activities.

ADULT FOCUSED ACTITIVIES

The children also take part in adult focused activities which are based on our weekly themes and our curriculum.

TIDY UP TIME

Towards the end of the session the children are encouraged to help tidy away the toys.

SONG TIME

We sing songs and rhymes every day. We sing number songs to help develop counting 1-10 and number recognition 1-10. We sing shape songs to develop shape identification and features. We also sing nursery rhymes and take part in action songs.

12.30PM - HOME TIME

The children leave Pre-School with their parents/carers.  If the person collecting your child is not the same person who brought him/her to Pre-School this must be recorded on a collection slip located at the door on arrival.  This is a child protection issue and we must ensure the safety of your child at all times.  If circumstances change during the session please contact us by calling any of the emergency telephone numbers.

You will be asked to provide a password to be used in cases where you need someone else to collect your child unexpectedly on your behalf. Please keep this password secure, sharing it only with those you trust to collect your child.

We will not allow your child to leave the setting with anyone without your express prior verbal/written permission and use of the password system.

PLEASE NOTE IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE CHILDREN ARE DROPPED OFF AND COLLECTED ON TIME.  TIME IS CRUCIAL IN THE SESSIONS DUE TO THE CURRICULUM REQUIREMENTS.  WE ALSO OPERATE FROM A COMMUNITY SETTING SO MUST CLEAR THE BUILDING WITHIN SET TIME LIMITATIONS FOR OTHER USERS.  PLEASE SEE OUR POLICY REGARDING LATE/NON-COLLECTION OF CHILDREN. PLEASE ALSO NOTE THAT THE STAFF ARE REQUIRED TO LOCK THE VILLAGE HALL GATE AS THEY LEAVE, SO PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE YOUR CAR IN THE CAR PARK.  WE CANNOT RETURN TO OPEN THE GATE.

INFORMATION ABOUT SESSIONS:

UNIFORM

We encourage parents to purchase the Pre-School t-shirts and/or sweatshirts.  Not only do they protect clothing during our messy play but they also give the children a sense of belonging to a community and being proud to be part of Branston Pre-School Centre.  T-shirts cost £6 and sweatshirts cost £10, both items are available in sizes 3-4 years or 5-6 years and can be purchased throughout the year.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION CHANGES/SESSION CHANGES

Please let us know immediately if you change your address, contact number, GP or place of work.  This enables us to keep your child’s files up to date and we are able to contact you in an emergency.  If you wish to change or request extra sessions please speak to KELLY LOCKE our MANAGER.  Should you wish to cancel sessions we ask that you give us 4 weeks notice in writing to Kelly or you will be charged for the sessions not being used.

ILLNESS/ UNAUTHORISED ABSENCE

Please call the setting as soon as possible on the first day of illness/absence, keeping us informed if the illness/absence continues. Your child’s funding entitlement is regularly audited by the controlling body via our attendence registers and can be revoked if your child is persistently absent from sessions for which funding is claimed without good reason. This is also a child protection issue as frequent, unexplained absence will obviously raise concerns with Pre-School staff.

NOTICES

We have several notices displayed in the foyer.  Please take your time to read these as they will have information about the Pre-School and also about our latest fundraising events.

POLICIES

The Pre-School has a range of Policies which are available for you to read located in the foyer and also online.  If you need any further information concerning these Policies please speak to a member of Staff or Committee Member.  POLICIES ARE REVIEWED ON A REGULAR BASIS AND COMMENTS/SUGGESTIONS ARE ALWAYS WELCOMED.  OUR POLICIES ARE ADOPTED AT OUR ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING WHICH IS HELD IN SEPTEMBER EACH YEAR.

CLOTHING/JEWELLERY

Please send your child to Pre-School in suitable clothing (ie;jeans/leggings/shorts). Loose flowing garments are unsuitable for our physical equipment. The children do have “messy” play and although we do provide aprons, accidents may happen. Therefore we recommend your child wears the Pre-School uniform.  PLEASE DO NOT SEND YOUR CHILD TO PRE-SCHOOL IN ANY JEWELLERY FOR SAFETY REASONS.  WE ALSO ASK THAT YOU SEND YOUR CHILD WITH SOFT SOLED SHOES, NOT ONLY WILL IT HELP GIVE THEM INDEPENDENCE IN CHANGING THEM THEMSELVES IT ALSO STOPS LITTLE FINGERS BEING HURT IF TRODDEN ON.

IMPORTANCE OF RECEIVING YOUR CHILD’S PICTURES/WORK

Your child will take part in a variety of creative activities and whilst producing their art work they are learning and developing their skills.  They require praise to gain self worth and confidence.  Therefore please ensure you take your child’s work home and appreciate it.

SNACK

The children bring in their own water bottle each day and have access to water throughout the sessions, topping up their bottle if required.  Milk is provided for the children.  The children have free access to the snack table where they can socialise with the other children.  They are required to wash their hands prior to finding a place at the table.  The children are able to choose from a variety of healthy snacks and pour themselves a drink of milk or water. If your child is unable to drink milk or water (and has any food allergy or food intolerances), please speak to their Keyworkers. The children are encouraged to put their rubbish in the bin and wash their plate and cup.  We also try to encourage the children to try new snacks from time to time with food tasting sessions and celebration food. 

INSURANCE

The Pre-School is insured annually with the SUN ALLIANCE.  This policy is negotiated by the Early Years Alliance.  A certificate of Employers Liability is displayed on the notice board at all times.