SQUIRRELS PRE-SCHOOL
A MESSAGE FROM THE SQUIRRELS PRE-SCHOOL COMMITTEE
HELLO AND WELCOME TO SQUIRRELS PRE-SCHOOL
We would like to take this opportunity to welcome you and your family and also tell you a little about how Squirrels Pre-school is run.
The Pre-school is a registered charity providing a community facility and is run by a committee of elected parents. These members are elected each year at our AGM. Any parent can stand for election onto the committee.
The role of the committee is to assist the staff with the management of the group, manage the organisations finances, and to help out within the sessions when activities may need extra adults.
As a charity it is important for us to organise fund-raising events such as coffee mornings, prize draws and Fayres to raise money for the maintenance and purchase of toys and equipment.
The committee usually meets once a month. The meetings are very informal and can be held in the home of one of the members or at another suitable venue. We have 3 elected officers, who are supported by all the other committee and volunteer helpers. As the children move on to school their parents leave the committee, so it is a wonderful opportunity for new parents to take an active role in their own child’s development and early years education and also to make new friends.
If you can help in any way or would like more information about the committee, please contact Niki and she will introduce you to us.
WE HOPE YOU AND YOUR CHILD ENJOY YOUR TIME AT SQUIRRELS
PRE-SCHOOL AND MAKE NEW FRIENDS…. BUT MOST OF ALL
HAVE LOTS OF FUN!
ABOUT OUR PRE-SCHOOL
PRE SCHOOL NAME: SQUIRRELS PRE-SCHOOL
ADDRESS: WEST TOTTON COMMUNITY CENTRE
HAZEL FARM ROAD, TOTTON
WEB ADDRESS: www.squirrelspreschooltotton.co.uk
EMAILS:
TELPHONE NUMBER: 02380 862266 / 07591 606121 (during session times)
02380 861712 (West Totton community centre)
07906 762439 (registrations)
PRE SCHOOL SESSIONS ARE IN THE SMALL HALL AT THE FOLLOWING TIMES:
Monday 8.25am to 3.25pm
Tuesday 8.25am to 3.25pm
Wednesday 8.25am to 3.25pm
Thursday 8.25am to 3.25pm
Friday 8.25am to 3.25pm + Community Room 8.55am to 2.55pm
These sessions are registered with OFSTED for a maximum of 26 children.
25% of the children on the register at any time can be between the ages of 2 years 6 months and 3 years.
CLUB 4 SESSIONS ARE IN THE COMMUNITY ROOM WITHIN HAZELWOOD SCHOOL AT THE FOLLOWING TIMES:
TELEPHONE NUMBER: 07591 606121 (during Club 4 session times only)
Tuesday 8.55am to 11.55am / 12.25pm to 3.25pm
Wednesday 8.55am to 11.55am
Thursday 8.55am to 11.55am / 12.25pm to 3.25pm
CLUB 4 is registered for only 12 children and is only available to children the year before they start school. These sessions may vary on the days they run depending on the number of children eligible and staff availability. The activities and equipment in Club 4 are different from the main sessions and are aimed at helping the children develop independence in readiness for starting school. Children are encouraged to work together in small groups to solve problems themselves. We frequently visit Hazelwood School and have use of the outdoor play area.
Lunch is daily at 11.55pm to 12.25pm. Children are required to bring their own packed lunch for which refrigerated storage is available.
WE HOPE YOUR CHILDS’ TIME IN OUR PRE-SCHOOL WILL BE A VERY HAPPY AND REWARDING ONE. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUERIES OR IF WE CAN BE OF ANY HELP, PLEASE CONTACT THE STAFF OR COMMITTEE MEMBERS AT ANY TIME.
STAFF DETAILS
We are proud of the high ratio of adults to children in our group. This ensures individual attention can be given to the needs and development of each child.
The staff team is as follows:
NAME / POSITION / QUALIFICATIONSNIKI LACE / Manager/staff /tutor/child protection liaison. Safeguarding Officer.
Behaviour Management head. / Diploma in Pre-school Practice Level 3, PCET Certificate of Education, Health & Safety and Manual Handling, Basic Skills Teaching Certificate, NVQ Assessor (A+V) Award, First Aid. NVQ 4. CAF, SENCO Training
JULIE MERRICK / Supervisor / NVQ3 in Childcare and Education & First Aid, SENCO, CAF, Safeguarding L3
JACKIE DIBDEN / Supervisor
Health & Safety / NVQ3 in Childcare and Education, Food Hygiene Certificate & First Aid. Health & Safety. Manual Handling. Safeguarding L3
ALISON YATES / SENCO / NVQ3. Certificate in Pre-school Practice, First Aid, SENCO, Health & Safety and Manual Handling. Safeguarding L3. Initial Portage training
MAXINE ANDREWS / Senior Practitioner / NVQ3 & First Aid.
Safeguarding L3. Food Hygiene
JO COUNDLEY / Senior Practitioner / CYPW3. First Aid.
Safeguarding L3
SUE JONES / Senior Practitioner / CYPW3. First Aid
Safeguarding L3
MAXINE CARTY / Senior Practitioner / CYPW3. Food Hygiene.
Safeguarding L3. First Aid
BECKY LAUGHLAND / Senior Practitioner / CYPW3. Food Hygiene, First Aid. Safeguarding L3
DONNA SHAW / Practitioner Level 2 / NVQ 2
Safeguarding L2
ANN LOVELL / Support Worker / NVQ2.
Safeguarding L2
MARIETTA HALES / Practitioner Level 3 / CYPW3. First Aid. Safeguarding L3, Food Hygiene.
MICHAELA EDGAR / Practitioner Level 2 / Safeguarding L2. CYPW2
MARZENA SONDEJ / Practitioner Level 2 / Safeguarding L2. CYPW2
RAINY THOMPSON / Practitioner / Safeguarding L2/Food Hygiene.
CYPW2. First Aid
CARA HAYES / Support Worker / Safeguarding L2. CYPW2
KAY BATTEN / Admin Officer / BTEC OND Business Studies,
HNC Public Admin
REGISTRATION
When returning your registration form you will have been asked to send a £30.00 registration fee (non-refundable, unless your child is already eligible for funding). This fee covers the cost of your starter pack, which includes a pre-school T-shirt, our welcome leaflet listing preschool policies which can be found at www.squirrelspreschooltotton.co.uk and a shoe bag. £10.00 of this will be credited to you on your first bill. Your starter pack will be given to you at the “New Parents” Evening or on your first visit to pre-school. Please have your child’s birth certificate available for staff to see at the home visit.
STARTING PRE-SCHOOL – the first day
Any 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 feel confident and secure in the group. This takes longer for some children than others and parents should not feel worried if their child takes a little while to settle. The pre-school’s policy on settling can be found in our policy statements.
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, which are easily washable or not too new. T-shirts with the Squirrels logo are recommended and additional ones are available to purchase at £6.00 each and sweatshirts at £12.00 each. It is good for children to practice many different skills, which lead to independence. Simple clothing which they can handle themselves will enable them to go to the toilet when they need to and put on and take off their outdoor clothes without being too dependant on other peoples help.
Please send in a change of shoes and clothes in case the child gets wet and, depending on the weather, wellingtons and wet weather gear/sunhat every day.
PLEASE ENSURE ALL CLOTHING AND SHOES ARE CLEARLY NAMED.
BRIEF DETAILS ABOUT EACH SESSION
ARRIVAL On arrival children register themselves in by finding their velcro
name tag and placing it on the “In” board.
FREE PLAY This continues until story time or outdoor play (weather permitting)
and includes a visit to the snack bar for a drink and snack.
TIDY UP TIME The children are encouraged to assist with tidying away toys at the
end of free play.
STORY TIME/ Each day the children are gathered in large groups for singing,
LARGE GROUP stories, action games, dancing, etc.
TIME
Topics are planned weekly or fortnightly in response to childrens’ interests. Details are displayed on the noticeboard by the entrance to the small hall. A brief outline of the main activities planned can also be found on this notice board together with term dates and other important information.
The session content is flexible and will change from time to time to facilitate visitors
(linked to our topic), special events, fire drills and outdoors play.
SESSION RULES
For the safety of the children and adults it is necessary to have the following rules when in pre-school:
· Running indoors is not allowed – the children will be asked not to chase each other if this should happen during play.
· Toys must not be thrown around or into toy boxes – children will be encouraged to pack away toys carefully.
· All children will be asked to help tidy away the toys.
· Children are encouraged not to make or play pretend weapons.
KEY PERSONS
The pre-school has a key person system. This means that each member of staff has a group of children for whom she/he is particularly responsible. Your child’s key person will be the person who works with you to make sure that what the pre-school provides is right for your child’s particular needs and interests. When your child first starts at the pre-school they will help your child to settle and throughout your child’s time at pre-school they will help your child to benefit from the pre-school’s activities.
DEVELOPMENT RECORDS
The pre-school keeps a record of development for each child. Staff and parents working together on their child’s records of development are one of the ways in which Squirrels Pre-school and parents work in partnership. Your child’s record of development helps us to celebrate together his/her achievements and to work together to provide what your child needs for his/her well-being and to make progress.
Your child’s key person will work with you to compile this record. To do this you and they will collect information about your child’s needs, activities, interests and achievements. This information will enable the key person to identify what stage your child is at and then jointly with you at review meetings decide how to help your child progress to the next stage.
THE ROLE OF PARENTS
The Pre-school Learning Alliance recognises parents as the first and most important educators of their children. Our pre-school aims to support parents in this by welcoming parents to;
· Work in the group with the children
· Assist with fund raising activities
· Take part in the management of the pre-school by becoming a committee member
· Attend training courses, workshops and conferences organised by the Pre-school Learning Alliance
· Contribute towards children’s records
· Contribute to the curriculum planning through a suggestion scheme and newsletter feedback
SNACKS AND DRINKS
Children are provided with a healthy snack and drink during each session. This can be fruit (dried or fresh), breadsticks, savoury biscuits, cheese or other healthy snacks.
The pre-school provides milk and/or water.
PLEASE ENSURE THAT YOU HAVE ADVISED US OF ANY ALLERGY INFORMATION FOR YOUR CHILD.
VOLUNTEER PARENT/CARERS SNACK BAR ROTA
Research shows that children learn better when their parents are involved. Our snack bar rota system gives parents the opportunity to help within the group on a regular basis if they wish to do so. This involves preparing and serving the snacks and drinks to the children. It helps to maintain a high ratio of adults to children in our pre-school, guaranteeing individual care and attention for each child as needed. It also gives parents the opportunity to take an active part in the group to see what happens and to talk about it afterwards with their child. In addition the rota system provides a valuable opportunity for all children to see their own parents/carers in a new role. The rota can be found on the pre-school notice board.
If you wish to come in to play instead, please still sign up and this will be arranged on the day.
CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS
If any child is undertaking outside assistance for speech, hearing or any other medical condition (i.e. eczema/asthma/food allergies) please inform the Special Needs Co-ordinator (SENCO) so that any treatment or support can be continued within the pre-school.
Written permission will be needed for the staff to administer any medication to your child.
PLEASE SEE OUR SPECIAL NEEDS POLICY FOR FURTHER INFORMATION.
TRAINING
Our membership of the Pre-school Learning Alliance ensures that we are constantly updated with new ideas in the field of child education and care. All staff are required to attend courses to ensure their knowledge is kept up to date with the constant changes in childcare legislation.
Training is available through Pre-school Learning Alliance and Local Education Authority Early Years Unit. Informal training is available through local meetings and conferences. If any parent is interested in finding out more about any courses in childcare please ask Niki Lace (supervisor) for more information.
MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION
An elected committee made up from parents of the children who attend the pre-school runs the pre-school. This ensures that major decision-making is in the hands of the parents who use the group. The committee are responsible for reviewing both policy and practice and for the employment and appraisal of members of staff. Our Annual General Meeting at which the committee for the following year is elected is usually held in September. All parents will be informed of the date well in advance so that they are able to attend.
New parents are encouraged to get involved and join the committee or help at fund-raising events. If you would like more information about the committee please ask the supervisors. Without a parent committee it would be difficult to run the pre-school
effectively and some sessions might have to close.
SESSION FEES
Fees are payable for sessions taken up to and including the term in which children have their 3rd birthday. For terms following the one in which they have their 3rd birthday, all children may receive government funding for up to 15 hours per week for 38 weeks of the year. This funding can be split between Squirrels and another setting i.e. nursery. To receive government funding an application must be completed each term by parents and returned to pre-school by the specified date. We will provide these forms to you at the relevant time. Failure to submit an application means you will be liable to pay the full fees. As a setting we are registered to claim 2yr old funding for eligible families. Please speak to Niki if you wish to know more.