Sessions
Each morning or afternoon session runs for 2½ hours. As of September 2009, we now offer grant funded sessions from 9:30am-3:00pm on Mondays and Wednesdays at the Town Hall site and from 9:15am-3:15am at the Rising Fives site. The OFSTED registered maximum number of children per session is 22 at pre-school (the Town Hall site) and 18 at Rising Fives. However, to maintain high standards of care we limit pre-school session numbers to 18, only increasing to 22 when demand is high. Children are accepted from age 3 years. Whilst it is preferred that children are clean and dry when they join us it is not a problem if they are not. Accidents happen to the most reliable children especially when involved in an activity.
How our sessions are planned
We follow the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) which was introduces in September 2008 and the curriculum is based on the six areas of learning identified by the Department of Education and Skills. These are called 'Early Learning Goals' and are listed below.
All our pre-school sessions follow a similar routine to ensure familiarity and continuity.
Welcome: We encourage parents to bring their child into the room to an activity where our helpers are waiting to welcome and help settle and play with the children.
Activity Time: This is a period when the children are invited to choose and explore the session’s different activities, in small groups or individual situations, making full use of both our indoor and outdoor environments. All the activities are carefully planned to include all the areas of learning and develop the skills that the children will build on during their lifetimes. On a typical session these activities could include role play; small work play; small and large construction; crafts including creative drawing, “writing,” cutting and gluing and painting; exploring materials such as play-dough, clay, dough, jelly, spaghetti, wood, leaves – to name but a few; ride on vehicles; exploring P.E. equipment and climbing apparatus; relaxing in a quiet area or enjoying a story. We have a wide range of resources available to draw on throughout the week.
Snack Time – The children enjoy a glass of milk or water and fresh fruit/vegetables sitting in small groups with an adult, engaging in conversation.
Tidy up Time: A time when all the children are encouraged to take on responsibility as they carefully put toys away.
Circle Time: An opportunity for the children to quieten for a few moments as they gather together as a group to appreciate books, handling them carefully and enjoy a story or two; join in with singing.
Staffing
Each session has a paid Supervisor, with a minimum qualification of NVQ 3 or equivalent, who is in charge plus 2 or3 paid helpers, depending on the number of children attending the sessions and depending on their individual needs. In every session, at least half the helpers have the NVQ2 qualification (or equivalent).
There is a maximum ratio of 1 adult to 6 children at all sessions with a minimum of one qualified first-aider on every session.
All staff are vetted by OFSTED and the Police (Criminal Records Bureau).