For Parents
In this section you will find help and advice for parents, information for the future as well as the policies that shape and inform Early Years development and care for your child.
We are committed to providing you and your child:
A dedicated Key Person, who will be your main point of contact for sharing information and updates with regards to your child and personal information such as new contact details or changes to family structure. Your Key Person will give you regular updates on your child's day to day activities and their progress.
We will follow the Early Years Foundation Stage ensuring your child accesses all areas of learning to support their development.
The First days at Pre-school
Parents/Carers are invited to visit the pre-school before their child starts in order to meet their key person and complete relevant forms. Your child will also be invited to visit the pre-school prior to their start date.
All children are individuals and therefore no hard and fast rules can apply for settling in a child.
A child who is unhappy will not be able to play or learn our aim is to help them feel safe and secure allowing them to become active learners.
It is important for parents and staff to work together to help the child feel confident and secure within the setting. This takes longer for some children than others and if parents/carers are worried about their child's settling they should discuss this with their key person.
What to wear
Please send your child to pre-school in clothes that they can manage themselves and ensure all clothing is marked with child's name, sleeves that can be pushed up and trousers that are elasticated at the waist mean less "accidents" and wet sleeves. Jogging bottoms/leggings are recommended as they are easiest for children when they climb and ride bikes.
If children are really going to benefit from the learning activities that are available, it is expected that sometimes they will get paint, sand and water etc. on their clothes, even though we do provide aprons for them to wear. Therefore please do not send your child in "best" clothes and also provide a change of clothes in case of accidents, which should be left in their bag on their peg.
The pre-school has children's uniform available which is identical to the uniform staff wear, if you would like to order a set please speak to a member of staff.
We have an outdoor area, where the children can play safely whilst under supervision, but please remember to mark their outdoor clothes with their name.
For safety reasons we ask you not to send your child to pre-school wearing jewellery. We reserve the right to remove any item of jewellery until the end of the session.
When you collect your child
All children must be collected from the classroom by a responsible person 16 years or over.
Check with a member of staff for any information regarding your child's day. Contact books are provided to parents/carers who are unable to collect their children in person and staff will record messages and information regarding your child's day
If someone different is collecting your child please ensure they know the password.
Due to our registration and insurance conditions we must stress that all children must be collected on time at the end of their session.
Any late collections will be charged an additional fee. Please see our late collection policy below
Fees
Fees are payable by the session, weekly, monthly or half- termly in advance. Fees are due even when a child is absent. Please give 4 weeks notice if you decide to remove your child from the pre-school or reduce their days. If your child is absent for three weeks without the Manager being informed of the reason, it will be presumed that your child has left, and you will still be required to pay the fees for this period. Please note that the pre-school does not accept cheques. Please ask about the methods of payment available.
Website to Early Years Funding Information: www.familyspacecroydon.co.uk
What happens at pre-school?
Through both pre-planned and spontaneous activities, children are helped to develop and learn in accordance with the Early Years Foundation Stage. Practitioners encourage children to learn at their own pace through their play. We offer a broad range of activities across the seven areas of learning which are:
Personal, Social and Emotional Development. Activities include group games, role play, learning to wipe our own nose, making friends.
Communication and Language. Activities include mark making, sharing stories, singing songs, listening to sounds, learning new words
Mathematics Activities include counting, recognising numbers and sorting objects
Understanding the world Activities include using simple technology, growing things, celebrating people, cultures and communities..
Physical Development Activities include riding bikes, throwing balls, threading objects, dressing ourselves
Expressive Arts and Designs Activities include painting, gluing, musical instruments, dancing
Literacy Mark making, stories, spoken and visual language.
Record Keeping
Each child has an individual folder where observations and notes on their development are kept. This is available in the classroom for you to look at when you wish. Our record keeping system based on observations on your child enables us to build up a complete picture of your child's development and achievement. (Information will be shared with any other settings the children attends)
You are welcome to see or add to your child's record at any time or you can make an appointment to speak to their key person. Your child's transition documents will be passed on to their next setting when they leave
Key Person
Your child will be allocated a key person before they start. This person will introduce you to the pre-school and discuss your child's settling in arrangements during your initial visit.
Parents/carers are welcome to talk to their child's key person at any time. Your child's key person will usually be there each time they attend and will work closely with them. If he/she is not available, you can make an appointment to see them.
Parents/Carers Involvement
Research shows that children learn better when their parents are involved. We aim to build good relationships with children and their families so that we can work together to give your child the best care and education.
Policies and Ofsted Reports
Copies of all our policies and reports are available for you to read at the pre-school. They can also be found in the Policies section on this website. All our policies underpin the good practice used at the pre-school. Policies are reviewed on a regular basis. Comments and suggestions from parents/carers are always welcome.
Toilet Training
We would like the pre-school and parents/carers to work together to encourage your child to become toilet trained when they are ready. During this process accidents will happen, therefore we would appreciate if parents/carers could bring sufficient changes of clothing. Please discuss toilet training with their key person as appropriate (Please see our Toilet Training Policy Below)
People you may want to speak to
The pre-school has a designated member of staff for the following areas of responsibility:
- Special education Needs Co-ordinator
- Behaviour
- Safeguarding Children officer
- Health and safety Co-ordinator
Inclusion
We offer equal access to the pre-school curriculum by ensuring that all children are given an equal chance to take advantage of the range of experiences on offer and that all children feel equally valued within the group. We will not discriminate against anyone on the grounds of race, gender, religion, cultural background or disability.
In order to support the children's learning about other cultures, we will celebrate a range of different festivals.
Health & Accidents
We ask for parent co-operation in preventing the spread of coughs, colds, vomiting and diarrhoea by:
- Keep any child who has had sickness and diarrhoea off for 48 hours after the last bout.
- Informing the manager/deputy of any contact with infectious diseases (e.g. mumps, measles, and chicken pox) also if your child is suffering from head lice.
If a child becomes ill, or has a serious accident, whilst at pre-school the parent/carer or one of the emergency contacts will be informed immediately. We may also call for medical assistance if deemed necessary
Please let a member of staff know if your emergency contact numbers change.
Staff will only administer medicine to children when parents/carers have given their full permission to do so, you must complete and sign the medication book. Please see the Medication Policy
All accidents, however minor, are entered into the accident book. The parent/carer will be informed and will be asked to acknowledge the details by signing the accident report
Snacks and Lunch Club
During each morning session toast/fruit, water/milk will be available for the children. Throughout every session children will be able to access water and there will be the option of milk and a selection of fresh fruits, vegetables etc.
If your child is bringing a packed lunch you should leave it in the designated place when they arrive. We ask that you send a healthy variety of food with a still drink. One small treat is allowed. This will be offered after the healthy options have been eaten.
We promote positive behaviour
At the pre-school we encourage positive behaviour and learning social skills such as being kind to each other, taking care of books and toys, walk indoors, flush toilets and hand washing. Please let us know if you have any concerns about your child's behaviour. In any group of children, behaviour problems may occur, in most cases a quick word and redirection of activity solves the problem. However in extreme cases it may be necessary to separate the child from the situation to calm him/her down.
Children will not be smacked, shaken or treated roughly. All staff working in the pre-school will have full DBS checks carried out on them and will not be left unsupervised with your child until these have been cleared.
Outings
Children are taken on outings throughout the year and these are linked to children's interest, seasons and festivals. Examples might include the local shops, library, and swing park. Only those children whose parents/carers have given written consent will be taken on outings.
Parents/carers are always welcome to volunteer.
Please see our Outing policy.
Religion
We give no formal religious training at the pre-school, however we do acknowledge a wide range of cultures and festivals through craft and cooking activities, stories and displays
Birthdays will be acknowledged by the staff, if you would like your child to have a birthday cake you may supply one, but please speak to a member of staff beforehand. If you do not want your child to take part in the celebrations please speak to a member of staff. Cakes will only be accepted if shop brought and in packaging which shows all the ingredients, in case of any allergies.
Safeguarding Children
In accordance with Working Together to Safeguard Children March 2018. The Learning Tree Pre-School has certain legal responsibilities towards child protection. The welfare of the child is of paramount importance; therefore it is duty of all staff to report incidents, which could be a cause for concern for a child's welfare. This will include all areas of abuse, physical, neglect, emotional, sexual, domestic violence. Our Safeguarding Children Policy is available for you to read in the setting and on this website.
As a professional child care establishment we are legally bound to report any form of abuse or cause for concern which becomes apparent whilst a child is in our care.
Management Administration & Decision Making
The Pre-school is operated by the Management Committee which includes The Chairperson, Manager's/Deputies/Secretary and Treasurer plus parents/carers who meet at least once a term.
The Learning Tree Pre School is a charity and is registered with the Charity Commission No. 1091155
Day-to-day running of the group is in the hands of the pre-school managers, deputies and experienced staff. Any parents or carers who would like to be part of our management committee should speak to the manager / deputy.
Complaints
If you have any concerns over your child's time in pre-school, first see the manager or chairperson. They will look into the matter and work out an acceptable solution with you.
You may also seek advice on any regulatory matter from Ofsted, telephone number: 0300 123 1231, the full complaints policy is available for you to read at the pre-school or on this website
The Pre-school is a member of the Early Years Alliance and takes advice from them as and when required