Here is a guide to a typical days activities
On Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays -
The children arrive at 9.30am and they are welcomed by the staff, their arrival times being noted by the parent helper of the session. The children then take off their coats and hang them up, and put any other belonging in their own named tray, they can then play freely with any of the activities available until everyone else has arrived.
At approximately 9.40am the children assemble for circle time when the day?s activities are discussed and the letter/number/colour of the week introduced. Time is then spent talking about the day?s events, the children?s interests, weather, community issues, or special events (e.g. someone?s birthday, a house move or an outing a child might have had etc). The children are encouraged to talk and share their experiences with the others. Register is taken where the children answer with a word relevant to the letter that week and the boys and girls are counted and their numbers compared.
There is always an activity for the day, which is linked to the half term?s topic. All children will be invited to participate in this and parent helpers are shown the session plans.
The many and varied activities include painting, sand, play dough, home corner, water, climbing frame, construction toys, train sets, ride on toys etc, and a quiet corner with cushions, puzzles and books. At approximately 11.00am children are encouraged to help tidy up and then assemble together on the carpet in the quiet area. After this, the children will visit the toilet and wash their hands before having their snack.
After snack time we then read a story together, play a game, play instruments, use the parachute or sing some of our favourite songs before it is time to get ready to go home at 12pm.
On Thursdays session at the school hall -
The Thursday consists of two sessions (9.00 - 12.00 and 1.00 - 3.20) These can be used individually or the children can stay the full day, 9am to 3.20pm.
The children arrive at 9am at Cheriton Bishop School Hall. After being welcomed by a member of staff at circle time, the children participate in a group activity based around the letter of the week. They may then play with any activity of their own choice. This session has more educationally structured activities, in addition to other free play, as it is geared towards preparing them for school.
We aim to help the children learn about numbers and to recognise them. We also help them to learn their alphabet, so that by the time they go to Primary School they are able to write their own names and to recognise some simple words.
At 10.30am we join the main school in the playground to let off some steam and play with the other children. After break time, we have our snack and drink, then the children can discuss topics of their own choice as well as the topic chosen for the half term. We then have a story and game and, if time permits, some songs and music before having our packed lunches with the school children. The session continues at 1pm, there are various activities until pick up time at 3.20pm.
This day familiarises the children with the school environment and therefore makes the transition to starting school a seamless one.