Welcome to our prospectus

Records of achievement

The pre-school keeps a record of achievement for each child. Staff and parents working together on their child's record of achievement is one of the ways in which pre-school and parents work in partnership. Your child's record of achievement helps us to celebrate together her/his achievements and to work together to provide what your child needs for her/his wellbeing and to make progress.

Staff training

As well as gaining qualifications in early years care and education, the pre-school staff regularly undertake further training to help them to keep up-to-date, improve existing skills and learn new ones.  Our playgroup assistants are both doing NVQ level 3 diplomas.

The pre-school also keeps itself up-to-date with best practice in early years care and education through the Pre-school Learning Alliance's publications.

The playgroups routines

Cheriton Bishop Playgroup believes that care and education are equally important in the experience that we offer children. The routines and activities that make up the pre-school's sessions are provided in ways that:

·         help each child to feel that she/he is a valued member of the pre-school;

·         ensure the safety of each child;

·         help children to gain from the social experience of being part of a group; and

·         provide children with opportunities to learn and help them to value learning.

The session

The pre-school organises its sessions so that the children can choose from - and work at - a range of activities and, in doing so, build up their ability to select and work through a task to its completion. The children are also helped and encouraged to take part in adult-led small and large group activities that introduce them to new experiences and help them to gain new skills, as well as helping them to learn to work with others.

Outdoor activities contribute to children's health, their physical development and their knowledge of the world around them. The children have the opportunity - and are encouraged - to take part in outdoor child-chosen and adult-led activities, as well as those provided in the indoor space.

For an example of a typical days activities click here.

Outdoor play area

At the Village Hall we have built our own play area adjacent to the hall.  This area is well fenced and secure, with adult supervision at all times.  Children have the opportunity to play in the fresh air throughout the year, weather permitting.  We often grow plants, feed birds, and discuss nature and the seasons, as well as play games in this area.

At the primary school on Thursdays we share the use of their many outside facilities.  The children have the chance to play with the school children and familiarise themselves with the environment, thus making the transition to school an easy one.  It is a secure area and the playgroup children wear their own coloured tabards to distinguish them from the older children.  Once again they are supervised at all times.

Snacks and meals

The pre-school provides a mid-morning snack and drink, we try to encourage healthy eating and a wide variety of different things is provided each day.  Do tell us about any allergies or dietary needs and we will make sure that these needs are met.  Children attending the full day on Thursdays will need to bring a suitable packed lunch, as will children staying for the wednesday lunch club.

Policies

Copies of the pre-school's policies are available at the playgroup or can be downloaded via the link at the bottom of the page (adobe acrobat format).

The pre-school's policies help us to make sure that the service provided by the pre-school is a high quality one and that being a member of the pre-school is an enjoyable and beneficial experience for each child and her/his parents.

The staff and parents of the pre-school work together to adopt the policies and they all have the opportunity to take part in the annual review of the policies. This review helps us to make sure that the policies are enabling the pre-school to provide a quality service for its members and the local community.

Special needs

As part of the pre-school's policy to make sure that its provision meets the needs of each individual child, we take account of any special needs that a child may have.

The pre-school works to the requirements of the 1993 Education Act and The Special Educational Needs Code of Practice (2000). The pre-school's Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator is our Playleader Christine Grist.

The management of Cheriton Bishop Playgroup

As mentioned earlier, a parent/carer committee - whose members are elected by the parents of the children who attend - manage the playgroup. The elections take place at the pre-school's Annual General Meeting, which is held in October each year. The committee is primarily responsible for:

·         managing the pre-school's finances;

·         employing and managing the staff;

·         making sure that the pre-school has - and works to - policies which help it to provide a high quality service; and

·         making sure that the pre-school works in partnership with the children's parents.

The Annual General Meeting is open to the parents of all of the children who attend the pre-school. It is their forum for looking back over the previous year's activities and shaping the coming year's activities.

Fees

The fees are £5.25 under 3's and £5.75 over 3's per session payable per term in advance. Fees must still be paid if children are absent without notice for a short period of time. If your child has to be absent over a long period of time, talk to the playleader or the committee chair. Half a terms fees will be payable in lieu of notice.  All 3 and 4 year olds living in the area receive nursery education funding this funds 38 weeks in a year.  There is a wraparound fee of £3 for thursday all day sessions, plus 50p per week towards snacks.  Wednesday lunch club costs £3.

Settling in

Children are welcome to start playgroup at 2^1/2, although we ask the parent to stay with their child until they are 3. We want your child to feel happy and safe at the pre-school. To make sure that this is the case, the staff will work with you to decide on how to help your child to settle in.  All children are different and while some settle into playgroup almost immediately, others may find the move from their home environment more difficult.  Therefore you are more than welcome to stay on with your child if they would be happier.

Clothing

The playgroup provides aprons for the children when they play with messy activities, but it is best for your child to wear clothes that they are allowed to get messy in, as we often encourage them to get creative and accidents do happen!

Independence

The pre-school encourages children to gain the skills that help them to be independent and look after themselves. These include taking themselves to the toilet (with supervision), taking tissues to wipe their own noses, pouring their own drinks at snacktime and removing - and putting on - outdoor clothes. Clothing which is easy for them to manage will help them to do this.