Prospectus 2016/17
Co- managers Sian Davies
Joanne Whatley
ChairAlison McMahon
TreasurerAmy Tibbit
(This Prospectus has been adapted from the Pre-school Learning Alliance.Little Apples is registered with Ofsted and the local Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership and contributes to the Partnership’s overall planning to provide education and care throughout the Early Years Foundation Stage.)
OUR PRE-SCHOOL
Pre-school name: Little Apples of Bramley
Address: Village Hall, The Street, Bramley, Tadley, Hampshire, RG26 5BP
Telephone: 01256 886408
Visit:
Email:
We aim:
To enhance the development and education of children under statutory school age in a parent-involving, community-based group
To provide a safe, secure and stimulating environment
To work within a framework which ensures equality of opportunity for all children and families.
Our primary aim is to encourage confidence and self esteem, so children have the courage to explore their world. With this, children enter school with the skills they need to be effective, active learners.
We offer your child:
A specially tailored curriculum leading to the early learning goals
Individual care and attention made possible by a high ratio of adults to children
Fun and friendship with children and other adults
The support of a personal key person
Opportunities for you and your family to be directly involved, in the activities of the group and in your own child's progress.
Little Apples runs the following sessions and our charges are £4.50 per hour from September 2013 (reviewed every September). Charges remain at this level for academic year 2016-17
Session Time / Cost9.00 – 12.00 / £13.50
9.00 – 1.00* / £18.00
9.00-2.00* / £22.50
9.00 - 2:45 * / £25.88
12:00 – 2:45 * / £12.38
11.00 – 2.45* / £16.88
* sessions unavailable Tuesdays
If your child is with us between 12 and 1, we ask you to provide a packed lunch.
In addition we offer an “Early start club” every morning from 8.30-9.00 am. Cost £2.50 (limited numbers)
Little Apples offers education and care for children below school age and over the age of 2 years, 6 months.We accept children over 2 who have qualified for “EYE” Grant, subject to availability.
CURRICULUM
Within the group, all children are supported in developing their potential at their own pace. Our key person system enables us to ensure a planned curriculum tailored to the needs of each individual child. By means of developmentally appropriate play activities and a high level of individual adult input, we offer a curriculum which enables children to progress towards the Early Learning Goals of the “Early Years Foundation Stage” and prepares them for the National Curriculum, which begins at Year 1 in primary school.
What do children do at Little Apples?
Little Apples is based on free flow play, so mostly children choose what to do. We also have adult-led learning opportunities in small groups or one-to-one. Your Key person will be responsible for guiding your child through the “Early Years Foundation Stage” (EYFS) and the activities provided help support that.
Children are learning skills, acquiring new knowledge and demonstrating understanding through 7 areas of learning and development.
Children should mostly develop the 3 prime areas first:
- Communication and language
- Physical development
- Personal, social and emotional development.
These prime areas are those most essential for healthy development and future learning.
As children grow, the prime areas will help them to develop skills in 4 specific areas. These are:
- Literacy
- Mathematics
- Understanding the world
- Expressive arts and design.
More information is available from staff or at
Examples of activities we do at Little Apples,
and where they fit within the EYFS
Q
Little Apples Routine– what does a normal day look like?
8.30 - 9.00 Early start club in the Small Hall
9.00 – Play and learn in the Big and Small Hall
9.20 (approx) – Register on the mat in the Big hall
This includes early literacy including first letter sounds and early maths, numbers and counting.
9.30 - Play and learn in the Big Hall, Small Hall and outside area*
A mix of child and adult led activities are available and children choose their activities, perhaps guided by their key person or other staff.
10.00 – Snack bar opens, offering healthy carbohydrate and fruit or vegetable options
A system ensures everyone is encouraged to have snack.
Just before lunch, we usually tidy up then enjoy a story or song.
12.00 – Lunch time (NOT TUESDAYS)
Some children arrive or leave at this time. After lunch children play and Learn in the Big Hall or outside.
1.00 – Afternoon session
Some children leave at this time. In this session we have more fine motor, table top activities in the Big Hall as well as gross motor activities, either outside or inside.*
2.15 – Afternoon snack
A drink and a biscuit.
2.25 – Music and movement
Traditional ring games, songs and nursery rhymes. We often tidy up and water the garden too.
2.45 – Home time!
From 10.30 – Small Group Sessions (Not Tuesdays)
Alongside the above routines throughout the day, the children spend some time in a small, adult led group activity with their key person or with a group who have been identified as having similar “next steps” or interests.
Please note:
*Access to the Outside Area and the small hall maybe restricted at times by the weather and staff availability.
Books and stories are usually shared in small groups during Play and Learn, rather than as a whole group.
With pre-school children, flexibility is key so we do not guarantee to follow the routine strictly every day. Changes and adaptations are made with the best interests of the health, safety, happiness and development of the children in mind.
If you would like to stay and play for a session, or just an hour, parents are very welcome. Please arrange with Jo or Sian once your child is happily settled. (Unfortunately we cannot have other siblings.)
If you have any comments or questions, Jo, Sian or your Key person will be happy to help you.
ADULT RESOURCES
We are proud of the high ratio of adults to children in our group. This ensures individual attention to the needs and development of each child. We provide a ratio of one adult to 6 children aged 3 and over and the Managers arein addition to this number. Ofsted, our regulatory body, recommends a ratio of 1:8 for children aged 3&4 years.
Children 2-3 years have a ratio of 1:4
Staff - The regular staff at Little Apples are:
Name / Title / Qualifications & ExperienceJoanne Whatley / Manager
Child protection officer
Inclusion co-ordinator / BA Primary Practice (Distinction)
Sian Davies / Manager
Child protection officer
Inclusion co-ordinator / NVQ3 Early Years Care & Education
Wendy Smith / Deputy Manager / NVQ3 Early Years Care & Education
Breda Miles / Deputy Manager / NVQ3 Early Years Care & Education
Susan Baird / Deputy Manager & Inclusion assistant –Celebrating diversity / NVQ3 Early Years Care & Education
Karen Jones / Play Assistant / NVQ3 Early Years Care & Education
Sharon Hilliard / Inclusion assistant –under 3's / NVQ3 Early Years Care & Education
Karen Totterdell / Financial Controller
Sharon Osbourne / Inclusion assistant –
Gifted & Talented
Behaviour management / NVQ3 Early Years Care & Education
Jo Heighway / Play Assistant
Key Person System
Each child is allocated a key person who you will meet on your visits, giving your child a special adult to relate to. This can make settling into the group much easier. In addition, the key person is in a position to tailor the learning opportunities to the unique needs of each individual child. The key person maintains links with the child's home setting, working with parents through shared record keeping to ensure that all children are supported in reaching their full potential. Formal Parent contact appointments are offered every January and June, but staff are available for an update throughout the week. We keep detailed records for the children; where they are and the next steps in their learning and development. These are based on observation and shared with parents. Records are transferred to school or other settings when children move on.
Your child will also be allocated a co-key person to support your child in any sessions where the key person may be absent.
Training
Our enhanced membership of the Pre-school Learning Alliance ensures that we are constantly in touch with new thinking in the field of child education and care. We receive a monthly magazine offering practical advice and up-to-date information, and have access to a range of professionally produced publications. Parents may ask to see any of these. In addition, ongoing training is available through the Early Years Development Plan, who welcome both staff and parents. Informal training is available through local meetings and conferences, and parents will always be informed about these.
The role of parents
Little Apples recognises parents as the first and most important educators of their young children. We aim to support parents. Parents can get involved in a variety of ways and at a level of involvement to suit all circumstances. Families are encouraged to:
Join in a session with the children. (Finding out what the children do and getting to know staff and children)
Assist with fundraising, or attend fund raising event. For example, in July we have a Family Fun Sports afternoon on Clift meadow which is a free community event.
We have stay and play events.
Share photographs of families, pets, special occasions with us
Let us know of “WOW” moments in your child’s development.
Take part in the management of the pre-school, through the committee. This is very important as we cannot operate without a committee. Usually there are 3 meetings a year. Please ask for more information.
POLICIES
Our policy statements are always availableto view on-line and in the lobby. Should you wish to obtain a copy, please contact the managers.
All our policies are designed to offer the best possible experience for the children and families in the group. Our policies are reviewed on a regular basis and comments and suggestions from parents are always welcome.
Our policies include a very stringent Safeguarding Policy & Whistleblowing Policy to ensure child protection is enforced as our primary concern. Our managers are happy to discuss any questions you may have.
Special educational needs
We aim to provide equality of opportunity for all members of our group, and this includes children with special educational needs. Each child is able to progress at her/his own rate in all areas of development, and this is true for children with and without disabilities or learning difficulties. We are experienced in working in close liaison with professionals across the range of special needs, and we operate in accordance with the government’s Code of Practice on special educational needs. If you would like to discuss the group's ability to meet your own child's special needs, please talk to the manager or your child's keyworker. Our full special needs policy is available on request, in the lobby and on our website.
MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION
Decision making
The pre-school is run by an elected committee, which ensures that major decision making is in the hands of the parents who use the group. The committee is responsible for reviewing both policy and practice. Our Annual General Meeting, at which the committee for the following year is elected, is held in May and parents will be informed in good time so they are able to attend.
Fees
Fees are £4.50 per hour since September 2013, payable half-termly in advance. Children eligible for EYE grant have up to 15 hours free per week (subject to terms and conditions).
Fees continue to be payable if a child is absent without notice or for a short time. In cases of prolonged absence, parents should consult the manager or financial controller about fee payment. Each child's attendance at the group is conditional upon continued payment of any necessary fees.
STARTING PRE-SCHOOL
The first days
A child who is tense or unhappy will not be able to play or learn properly, so it is important for parents and pre-school staff to work together to help the child to feel confident and secure in the group. This takes longer for some children than for others and parents should not feel worried if their child takes a while to settle. The pre-school's policy on settling is available on request. We are able to accommodate each child’s individual needs and welcome comfort items as they often help children settle with a familiar item around them. A child-friendly “Welcome Pack” is provided.
Toileting
While many children are toilet trained when they start pre-school, some are just not ready at this time.
We welcome children at Little Apples who are wearing nappies or pull ups and ask that they bring a couple of changes with them for their time with us.
Some children regress with potty training when they first start and this is quite normal but we usually find that once settled, children revert to being trained again.
We have potties, steps, toilet seats and low sinks for the children to use to ensure that toileting is not a daunting process, and staff are happy to support families, whatever stage training is at.
What to wear
In order to feel free to explore and experiment with all kinds of materials, including messy ones, it is best to send children dressed in clothes that are easily washable or not too new. Although aprons are offered for messy activities we never force a child to wear one against their will. Many children find that aprons can inhibit their creativity and prefer not to wear one.
It is good for children to practice the skills that will make them independent. Simple clothing that they can handle themselves will enable them to go to the toilet when they want to and to put on and take off their outdoor clothes without being too dependent on other people's help.
Little Apples T-shirts and fleeces are available to purchase when your child starts. These make an easy alternative to deciding what to wear each day. Please see the managers for an order form.
We hope that your child's time in pre-school will be a very happy and productive one. If you have any queries, or if we can be of any help, please contact Jo or Sian at any time.
For further information about the Pre-school Learning Alliance, to which we belong, send a large SAE for a free publications catalogue to the Pre-school Learning Alliance, 69 Kings Cross Road, London WC1X 9LL.
Little Apples of Bramley Pre-school Prospectus