Introduction
My name is Janet Westfield I am responsible for the
Emmbrook Pre-School meets every morning from 9.00am to 12.00am, in Emmbrook Village Hall, Emmbrook Road, Wokingham during Emmbrook School term
times.
Milk and a healthy snack are provided during the
session. We supply aprons for messy play, but it is not a good idea to send
your child in his/her best clothes. A child’s coat should be clearly labelled with his/her name.
We welcome any help from parents/carers and would be pleased to see you any
morning. This is best arranged with me beforehand so that we only get one
parent per session.
We are registered with Wokingham Unitary Authority and are
inspected by Ofsted. Copies of our Certificate of Registration and Insurance
Certificate are displayed on the notice board.
We were successfully inspected by Ofsted in February 2012.
Fees are £11.00 per morning for 2½ and 3 year old children and are
payable at the beginning of each half term. The term after a child is 3 years
old, the fees are paid for with a Nursery Education Grant. If you are claiming
your Nursery Education Grant with another provider fees are £11.00 per morning.
Where places are available children will be admitted at 2½ years
old, if parents/carers and manager feel the child is ready. The child and
parent/carer will be invited to spend at least one morning at the pre-school
together prior to starting.
All children begin by attending at least 2 mornings. The term
after the child is 3 years old 5 sessions are offered and funded by the
Nursery Education Grant.
It is advantageous for a child to increase his/her sessions at one
Pre-School whenever possible, rather than to attend more that one group.
A term’s notice must be given if you wish to increase the number
of sessions, change your days or withdraw your child other than to go to
school.
We have strong connections with
If you have any concerns about your child at Pre-School or
you feel your child needs special help, please discuss the matter with the
staff who are always pleased to assist.
Aims and Objectives
The aim of the Pre-School is to provide for children aged 2½-5 years a safe, caring and stimulating
environment where they can learn and experience a variety of new activities
through play.
Our children learn through play:
To share and play with
other children.
To trust Pre-School
staff and accept new situations
To experiment with
different materials and activities
To express themselves
in many different ways
To do things for
themselves
To work things out
At the beginning of every term the staff decide on a topic (such
as shapes, colours, stories or animals) for the whole term. Every morning
we plan a project, play games, read stories and sing rhymes that are related to
the topic but are adapted according to the needs and interests of the children.
We cook every Friday morning.
There is an outdoor activity area and garden.
All the activities provided are designed to achieve the Early
Learning Goals as defined by the Department for Education and Skills for
children attending a minimum of 5 sessions per week.
All sessions are for children aged between 2½ and 5 years. There
is an adjoining room for small group interaction where materials and activities
are provided to extend learning opportunities.
Foundation
Stage Profile
All Early
Learning Goals that children achieve, in the school year when they become five,
are recorded in the Foundation Stage Learning & Development Story. These records are available for
you to see, your input is welcomed and when your child leaves they are passed
on to his/her school.
Equal Opportunities
Pre-School is open to every family within our community and we
encourage every family within the group to become involved in activities.
We aim to meet the needs of all children in our care, regardless of ethnic
group, sex or class. As well as providing for able children, we
resolve to provide for those with disabilities or learning difficulties.
Special Needs Children
Pre-School welcomes children with all types of special needs and
provides safe and stimulating play in an integrated setting. We undertake
to address all children’s special educational needs and make special provision
in order to meet those needs and provide access to a broad and balanced
curriculum. We will strive to establish a partnership with parents to
draw on their knowledge, views and experience in order to provide effective
assessment and provision for each individual child.
Behaviour
Unacceptable behaviour and remarks (including those which are discriminatory) are not tolerated in our Pre-School. In the unlikely event of this happening we would talk to the child to help him/her develop self-discipline and the sense of right and wrong.
Health
The health, safety and welfare of everyone in the group are
paramount at all times. A child must not attend the group if he/she has
an infectious disease and the recommended exclusion period will be
enforced. In the case of sickness or diarrhoea we would prefer it if a
child was not brought to Pre-School until at least forty-eight hours after the
condition has stopped and the child is fully fit. Where possible the Pre-School
should be informed as to why a child is away, particularly in the case of
Rubella. Parents will be informed if a case of Rubella/German Measles
occurs. All allergies must be reported to staff - there is space on the
acceptance form for this information. First aid materials are
available and a qualified First Aider works within the group. All staff
have basic first aid training. In the case of the children any accident,
however minor, will be reported to the parent/carer who collects the
child. If the accident is more serious the child's parent will be
informed immediately. If they are unobtainable the child would be taken
to the health centre/hospital. Drugs and medicines cannot be administered
at Pre-School.
Non-toxic materials e.g. glue, paint, crayons and playdough etc.,
are chosen for use in all our activities.
Smoking
is not permitted anywhere in the building.
Safety
Everyone in the group is responsible for safety within the
group. The equipment is checked regularly and children are made aware of
the rules introduced for their own safety. The door to the pre-school is
locked at the beginning of the session and anyone wishing to enter the Hall
during a pre-school session is asked to ring the bell. There is always a member
of staff present at the main door at the end of the session. The
Pre-School staff have a responsibility to record any concerns they may have
regarding a child's welfare. All tools, utensils and equipment provided
for use by the children are chosen with safety in mind e.g. round-ended
scissors.
Fire
Fire Drills are carried out at least each half term. Procedures are
displayed on the notice board and all staff and helping parents are asked to familiarise themselves with these.
Record
Keeping
It is a statutory requirement that full details of the children
attending the group are kept. This may be in the form of an enrolment
form initially. Relevant details must then be transferred to the
register, which is open to regular inspection by the registering authority. A
daily record of attendance is completed at the beginning of each session and
totaled. The Pre-School has a Data Protection Policy.
Staffing
Under the National Standards at least half the staff must hold
relevant qualifications in day care or education, or have completed a specified
training course. Each member of staff has to agree to a police and health
check and to sign a statement of suitability and non-discrimination as laid
down by the Department for Education and Skills. Staff are required to sign the
Pre-School Confidentiality Policy. Staff are given opportunities to undertake
appropriate training to update their skills.
Complaints Procedure
All
complaints from staff and parents should be made to the supervisor/owner. If
this does not bring a satisfactory outcome, procedures shown in the full policy
will be carried out.
Full
copies of all Policies and Procedures are available on request.
First Aider
Alison
Creaby N.N.E.B.
First Aider
Kim Clover First Aider
Kathy Oliver First Aider
Natalia Undrell
All
staff are responsible for recording children’s development in the Pre-School.