Contents. Introduction Dicker House Pre-School Information Payment Free Entitlement (Early Years Provision)

Transcription

1 Contents Introduction Dicker House Pre-School Information Payment Free Entitlement (Early Years Provision) Starting At Dicker House Caring For Your Child and Settling In What Your Child Needs To Bring Your Child As An Individual Your Child s Progress What Your Child Will Do At Dicker House Pre-School - Communication, Language and Literacy - Problem Solving, Reasoning & Numeracy (Maths) - Personal, Social and Emotional Development - Knowledge and Understanding of the World - Physical Development - Creative Development - Extra Activities The Committee Fundraising Further Information Dicker House Pre-School Policies Leaving Dicker House Pre-School - 1 -

2 Introduction Dicker House Pre-School has been running in one form or the other for over 70 years making us the longest established in Burgess Hill. We strongly believe in the value of play as a means of learning, and through this means, aim to help children develop academically, creatively, emotionally, physically and socially within a happy, safe and secure environment. Dicker House Pre-School is a member of the Pre-School Learning Alliance, a national body which helps parents to understand and provide for the needs of their young children. The PLA, together with other academic bodies, assists us with staff training, and also in an advisory capacity. Dicker House Pre-School is also registered and inspected regularly by OFSTED. A copy of the latest OFSTED Report is available for you to read. Dicker House Pre-School Information Dicker House Pre-School is now based at The Community Room in the grounds of the new Birchwood Grove CP School, Birchwood Grove Road, Burgess Hill. Because we are a private preschool, children who attend Dicker House Preschool, however are not guaranteed a place at Birchwood Grove CP School. The emergency contact numbers during Pre-School hours are (connected directly to the school office) or in the first instance, the preschool mobile no Mrs Jacqui Hall, Manager, can be contacted on out of Pre-School hours. For each session, places are available for up to 26 children. We always carry a higher than required staff : child ratio in our setting. We meet Monday to Friday from 8.55am am (with effect from September 2010). We also operate for some afternoon sessions from pm which may give you the option to complete a full day from 8.55am pm, to allow greater flexibility for our parents. We also run a successful LUNCH CLUB on some days, currently Monday, Tuesday and Thursday afternoons, to which all the children may attend, sometimes at additional cost. Payment Our current fees per 3 hour session, and can also be found on the Notice Board or on request. Fees must be paid in full within 28 days of receiving the invoice, or payment can be by prior arrangement on a weekly basis. Unfortunately, we cannot waiver fees if a child is absent or on holiday. Free Entitlement (Early Years Provision) Currently from the term after your child turns three, you will be entitled to up to 15 HOURS OF FREE ASSISTED SESSIONS a week (FROM September 2010) for up to a maximum of 38 weeks in any school year. (You will be asked to complete a form for this, at the appropriate time). These entitlements will of course be subject to availability. There will be a charge for any extra sessions or special events beyond those covered by the West Sussex County Council Free Entitlement Grant. You will also be given a guide for parents and carers leaflet which lays out fully the facts about this entitlement. Starting At Dicker House Pre-School At Dicker House we welcome children from the age of 2 years 6 months to 5 years old. We would encourage children initially to attend two sessions a week, which can be increased at your own discretion. We would prefer it if, wherever possible, the children wishing to attend are toilet trained before starting, as we currently do not have proper facilities for changing nappies. However, we do understand that accidents may happen and will accept children in training pants or disposables (in which case we would ask you to provide spare ones). We would appreciate it if you could dress your child in suitable, comfortable clothing allowing them to go to the toilet unaided

3 Caring For Your Child and Settling In Here at Dicker House our Staff are professionally trained by the Pre-School Learning Alliance and Early Childhood Service of West Sussex County Council, in line with the QCA Standards. The Manager, Supervisors and Assistants update their training to cover all aspects of Pre- School care on a regular basis. When your child is fully settled, we hope that you will be able to help during a session. Parents find this a good insight into what their child achieves in a session. At Dicker House we operate an open house policy, so we always welcome your help. What Your Child Needs To Bring When your child starts at Dicker House, you will be provided with a Welcome Pack and a named plastic work wallet for your child. This work wallet needs to be brought in for each session as your child s paintings, work and any correspondence will be put in it to be brought home. T-Shirts, sweatshirts, fleeces and legionnaires hats with the Dicker House logo are popular with the children and are available in a variety of sizes. An order form is located on the Notice Board and in the Welcome Pack. We may have particular themes from time to time, based around the childrens interests and for these occasions we may ask you to help us in your child s learning by providing information or an item from home to bring in and show to the other children. Any further information for the term can be found on the Notice Boards and in regular newsletters sent home or delivered by e mail. The children will be provided with a drink of milk or water and freshly prepared fruit which they will have access to throughout the session. As these items need to bought, we do ask for a nominal donation each half term in order for us to supply a healthy and nutritious variety of fresh fruit for your children to choose from. Your Child As An Individual On joining Dicker House your child will be closely monitored and assessed by the staff, this helps us ensure that we provide for your child s individual needs. After a short period, a Key Person will be allocated to you and your child. This is, put simply, a member of staff who monitors your child s progress throughout their time with us at Dicker House. You will be able to meet and share information with your child s Key Person when it is mutually convenient. A Learning Journal record will be used and added to regularly whilst your child is at preschool. They will provide a comprehensive record of your child s progress through the key areas of learning achievements your child makes and will contain a variety of information including observational notes made by staff.. photographs and examples of your child s work, These records are kept confidentially at Pre-School, and will then follow your child to school. You are welcome at any time to look at your child s file and discuss this with the Key Person assigned to your child. You will also have the opportunity to speak to your child s Key Person at our regular Parent / Key Person meetings. Your Child s Progress As your child develops, he/she will be encouraged to be involved with more in-depth activities. This in some cases will involve your child receiving a one to one with a member of our staff. These activities can take the form of recognising and learning colours, shapes, letters, numbers, pencil control, group games, ICT etc. All the activities provided are in line with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) being followed by all Schools and Pre-Schools, based around the four commitments: a unique child, positive relationships, enabling environments and learning & development. They will also learn in six key areas of learning which are described in more detail below. Your child will continue this early years stage of learning until the end of their Reception Year at School

4 What Your Child Will Do At Dicker House Pre-School It is the strong belief of Dicker House that children will learn through play. The activities provided within the Pre-School setting provide a sound basis for the National Curriculum and as previously stated. The preschool follows this closely. Dicker House sessions are divided into free play time and group time with stories, singing, activities to complement the children s learning. We encourage the children to play and explore their immediate environment whilst learning to socialise with children within their peer group and adults who are not part of their family. Through a carefully coordinated balance of child initiated and adult led curriculum they will move forward at their own speed depending on their individual stage of development. They are encouraged to listen to and follow simple instructions and join in carefully planned activities. Adult Focus activities are incorporated into the sessions, which are adult-directed but child initiated in the first instance. These may take the form of very small groups, large group play or on a one-to-one basis. All our activities and equipment have been carefully chosen to ensure that your child benefits from a wide range of activities and experiences. These are available both indoors and outdoors. We provide play zones incorporating Book / Cosy corner, Construction and small world, Problem Solving Reasoning and Numeracy (Maths), Sensory / Malleable / Graphics, Creative/ Make Do, Home corner / Role Play, ICT & Science & Investigation and Music, by providing a wide range of appropriate games, resources and equipment - all on a free play, child - initiated basis. dolls, dressing-up clothes, cars, trains, etc stimulate imaginative play and help children learn to share and play together. As part of our Physical Development, we help your child explore through self-discovery. This takes the form of large equipment, drama & dance and exercise routines games. Communication, Language and Literacy (CLL) In a variety of situations children listen attentively and talk about their experiences. Through a growing vocabulary the children will be able to express their thoughts and convey meaning to the listener. They will have the opportunity to listen and respond to stories, songs, nursery rhymes and poems and will be able to take part in role play with increasing confidence. The children will have the opportunity to experience a variety of books and develop an interest in writing. They will begin to understand that words and pictures convey meaning and associate sounds with words and letters. They will also begin to recognise the letters of the alphabet and familiar words, including their own name and start to write their names using appropriate capitals and small letters and be aware of the uses of writing. Mathematics / Problem Solving, Reasoning and Numeracy (PSRN) The children will develop their mathematical language such as circle, square and concepts (like smaller-than), describing shape, position, size and quantity. They will begin to recognise patterns and become familiar with number rhymes, songs, stories, counting games and activities. They will have the opportunity to compare, sort, match, order, sequence and count using everyday objects. They will begin to recognise and use numbers 1 to 10 and become familiar with numbers around them in their everyday lives. Through practical activities the children will be able to understand and record numbers, begin to show awareness of addition and subtraction, and begin to use the language involved. Personal, Social and Emotional Development (PSE) The children will grow in confidence and self-respect and consequently will be able to establish effective relationships with the other children and with adults

5 In a variety of situations they will work as part of a group or independently and will be encouraged to concentrate and persevere in their learning, seeking help when necessary. They will demonstrate increasing independence when selecting activities and in their personal hygiene and dressing. They will be encouraged to be sensitive to the needs and feelings of others and show respect for people of other cultures and beliefs. The children will learn to take turns and share fairly. They will be able to express their feelings and behave in appropriate ways and develop an understanding of what is right and wrong. They will be encouraged to treat living things and their environment with care and concern and express their feelings in response to their experiences of the world. Knowledge and Understanding of the World (KUW) The children will be encouraged to talk about where they live, their environment, their families and past and present events in their own lives. They will explore and recognise features of living things both natural and man-made and begin to notice similarities and differences. They will talk about their observations, sometimes recording them and ask questions to gain information about why things happen and how things work. They will explore and select materials and equipment and use skills such as cutting, joining, folding and building for a variety of purposes. They will use information and technology, where appropriate, to support their learning. Physical Development (PD) The aim of the Pre-School is to ensure children move confidently and imaginatively with increasing control and co-ordination with spatial awareness. They will use a range of small and large equipment and balancing and climbing apparatus, with increasing skill. They will handle appropriate tools, objects, construction and malleable materials safely and with increasing control. Creative Development (CD) Children explore sound, colour, texture and shape through a variety of activities. They will have an opportunity to respond in a variety of ways to what they see, hear, smell, touch and feel. Through art, music, dance, stories and imaginative play, they will show an increasing ability to use their imagination, to listen and to observe. By the use of differing materials, tools, instruments and other resources they will be encouraged to express their ideas and communicate their feelings. The activities and resources children use from which they learn and develop include painting and creative media, puzzles both large for the floor and small on the table top, manipulative and building activities, board games, a home corner/shop/puppet theatre, water play, cooking, bikes, rockers and a climbing frame, as well as all sorts of imaginative play opportunities (eg a play farm, a zoo, a doll s house, cars and garages etc). Singing, action/number rhymes, games and stories are an integral part of our daily sessions. Team activities and sports skills are included in the timetable regularly outside when the weather permits or in the hall. Throughout the year, we try to arrange enjoyable educational visits, for example, to the library, the fire station, nature walks, and a summer outing. We also teach children about safety, health and hygiene and have other visits to or from members of the community. Children do not always have something concrete to bring home at the end of each session to prove they have been busy. This does not mean they have not joined in or enjoyed themselves. Many of the activities do not involve sitting down and doing. The child s integration and social skills are equally as important at this age as their concentration and fine motor skills

6 Extra Activities At Dicker House we like to give the children as much variety as possible. To achieve this we have added parties, outings, sports days and other activities e.g. cooking in the sessions. We also have annual Christmas and Easter events. Details of these along with term dates and other information can be found in our half-termly Newsletters. Your Child s Health When your child joins Dicker House, you will be asked to complete a Registration Form that includes a requirement to fill in medical details and also an Emergency Treatment Form. In the unlikely event that your child requires urgent medical attention, and we are unable to contact you, this allows us to act on your behalf. We would ask you that your child should not attend Dicker House if they have been unwell in the last 48 hours. We would also appreciate it if your child is kept away if they have come into contact with an Infectious Disease (e.g. Chicken Pox) to reduce the chances of cross contamination. If your child is unable to come in for any reason, we would appreciate a telephone call as soon as possible. Your Child s Safety At Dicker House your child s safety is our primary concern. Our staff are Qualified in First Aid. In our actions we hope to deter the need for first aid, through being vigilant in our attitudes to childcare, accident prevention and general safety. For the safety of all the children in our care the Supervisor of the day will be at the entrance door at the beginning of each session with the register and the children will also self register themselves on entry. A second member of staff will guard the entrance gate and will padlock this approximately 10 minutes after the start of the session or when all parents have left the site. After this time entry can only be accessed through this gate which will be unlocked by us on request. This helps to ensure that whilst parents are entering and leaving the building, all the children remain safely in the premises. At the end of each session, parents will be allowed into the premises and each child will be signed out one at a time, while they are marked out of the register. If you are late arriving at the preschool please ring the door bell and a member of staff will let you in and see you out. You may also need to telephone to gain access through the main school gate. Fire Drill At Dicker House Pre-School we hold regular fire drills. The fire drill is called the Fireman Sam Game and encourages the children to line up and leave the building as quickly as possible to a place of safety. Full details of the evacuation and pick up point will be given to you when your child starts. It is from there that you will be notified and asked to collect your child. Full details of our procedures are on our notice board. The Committee Dicker House Pre-School is managed by a Committee of parents (sometimes called the Management Committee) who are responsible for the fundraising, finance, policy making and staffing of the Pre-School. As the Pre-School needs a full Committee in order to run, we therefore encourage you to join the Committee if you are able to as new ideas are warmly welcomed. Meetings are held at regular but not frequent intervals, usually at a Committee member s home in the evenings. Being involved with the Committee is not all hard work, and parents find that it is a good opportunity to become actively involved in all aspects of the Group. Full details of the current Committee are on the Notice Board

7 Fundraising As we try to keep our fees as low as possible, it is also necessary to fundraise to cover expenses of running Dicker House. These events are organised by the Committee and staff. As well as regular events involving the children such as our Easter Parade, Christmas Play and Sports Day these can take various forms including Quiz Nights, Coffee Mornings, Bingo events, Jumble Sales and Barbecues to name but a few. Although each event may involve a lot of hard work, they often turn out to be great fun too! Further Information In caring for your child we want you to be kept as informed as possible. We have the following ways of keeping you in touch: Notice Boards: These are regularly updated and contain the latest Parents Rota, Registration details, Insurance Policies, termly topics etc. Newsletters: These are issued at least every half-term, it will detail what will be happening each term with term dates included. Letters: From time to time you will be given letters regarding forthcoming events which we were not able to put in the Newsletter. On line: If you prefer you can now be sent details and access some through the Dicker House website address: or e mail address dickerhouse@googl .com. Personal Contact: Through your child s own Key Person, Manager, Supervisor or any other member of staff. We believe a two-way communication between us and you as the parents is vital for the well being of your children. Dicker House Pre-School Policies Dicker House has a folder of policies ranging from Admissions, Discipline and Equal Opportunities through to Student Placements and Staff Training & Development. If you would like to see any of the policies a copy is on the premises. Please see Mrs Jacqui Hall, Manager or look in the policies file in the black folder. Leaving Dicker House Pre-School When you choose to send your child to School will depend on a number of factors, including their emotional, social and academic readiness, and their birth date. The decision is entirely yours although it is usually for the children to start school in the September after their fourth birthday. Dicker House will give you every assistance in preparing your child for school. We will be happy to discuss your child s readiness for school with you nearer the time and will arrange transitional visits to the local feeder schools in the Summer Term