Introduction
We would like to welcome you and your child to Barlow Pre-school. This information is designed to provide some basic information about us, although further details of our policies are contained in the Barlow Pre-school Operating Policies and Practices folder held at the Pre-school. You are also invited to ask the staff or committee members for any further information.
Barlow Pre-school is a non - profit making charitable organisation, run by a committee of parents. We depend heavily on parent participation and support.
As an approved Early Years Education Establishment we receive funding from Derbyshire County Council Education Service for 3 and 4 year olds.
The Pre-school’s location is Barlow Village Hall and we are open from 9.00am to 12.00 Monday —Friday, during school term. Registration is at 9.10am.
Communication
We will keep you regularly informed on your child’s progress by verbal reports and additionally for funded 3 and 4 year olds with the child’s key worker file.
Pre-school topics, activities, meetings, fund raising events, social activities and outings are be notified by newsletters and posters.
We produce a half-termly newsletter to keep parents informed, of future events, changes at pre-school etc. Committee meetings are held each half term and each October there is an annual general meeting, which all parents are invited to attend.
Current events and news is put up on notices on the door and on the outside notice board, please keep your eye out for these notices so you don’t miss out!
The aims of Barlow Pre-school are to provide a happy, caring and stimulating environment for your child. By providing such an environment, your child will be motivated to learn and develop linguistically, intellectually, physically and socially from play-based activities, while working towards the early learning goals.
Through interaction with adults and other children our hope is that your child will develop a wealth of early learning skills and social skills, which will allow for a smooth and confident transition to primary school.
We also acknowledge and respect the parents/carers role in a child’s early development and aim to work in partnership with you to make your child’s time at Barlow Pre-school a successful and enjoyable experience.
We no longer have a formal parent rota, but if you would like to help during a session, please see the Pre-school Supervisor. We will need extra help in order for us to provide certain activities; a notice will be posted on the notice board for volunteers when required.
If you have a child younger than 2 and half years they will not be able to attend the pre-school session. This is for insurance purposes.
Committee
Barlow Pre-school is a registered charity, run by a voluntary committee. Its positions and members are elected at the Annual General Meeting each October.
The committee meets the first Monday after each half term and is responsible for the employment of staff, collection of fees, fund-raising for equipment and ensuring the smooth running of the Pre-school.
Getting involved is a great way to meet other parents and contribute to your child’s pre-school education. If you are interested in joining the committee or have skills you would like to share with the children (e.g. music, dance, art or crafts), please let us know.
Admissions
Barlow Pre-school caters for pre-school children in the local community. The minimum age is 2 years and 6 months. It is helpful if Children are fully toilet trained, if your child is not toilet trained we are happy to discuss your child’s needs with you before starting Pre-school. The waiting list for available places is held by the Pre-school supervisor and is prioritised according to Barlow Pre-school admissions policy. Children absent for more than two weeks without prior notification will not be guaranteed their places.
Before a child is admitted the registration form must be accurately completed and emergency telephone numbers provided.
Fees
There is no extra charge for children eligible for 3 and 4 year old funding choosing to use their funded session with us, as the session is charged at the current funded rate.
The fee for children below the age of funding (under three’s) is £5.75 per session. This is payable each half term in advance (where necessary, other arrangements may be made). As long as a child’s name is on the register, fees will be due whether or not the sessions are attended. Fees will be waived and a refund given on the next bill if:
· A child develops a contagious disease
· A child has been in hospital
· The committee approve other unavoidable absences
All 3 and 4 year olds are eligible for funding. If these funded sessions are used at another nursery/pre-school parents will be charged at £9.00 per session.
Arrivals and Departures
Children should not be brought into the main hall before 9.00am. If you choose to arrive before the session begins, we ask that you remain with, and supervise, your child as our insurance cover does not start until the beginning of the session and the staff may still be setting up the equipment for the day. In the morning, the children sit down for registration at 9.10am, it would be helpful if the children have arrived and are settled by then.
The Supervisor must be informed if your child is to be collected by someone other than yourself. We now have a departures book which you must complete if anyone other than a parent or regular carer is to pick up your child. If an unfamiliar carer is dropping off your child and picking them up they will be asked to fill the departure book on arrival at Pre-school. Prior notification of unfamiliar adults picking up children would be appreciated as they may be asked for identification and if staff have not been informed in advance they may contact you for confirmation that you are happy for us to allow your child to leave. We have your child’s safety in mind and treat it with great importance.
Repeated late collection of a child could result in that child being removed from the register.
Please ensure that you do not allow an unattended child to leave the building as you arrive and leave. There is a child security lock on the inside door please lock it after entering and leaving.
Premises and Equipment
The Village Hall provides ample car parking space, an outdoor play area, park area, suitable toilets, kitchen facilities, storage space and a pay phone. The premises also conform to the appropriate safety standards for under five year olds.
Unlike some other playgroups and nurseries, the premises are not solely for the use of Barlow Pre-school. Therefore, all the equipment and provisions for the day have to be set up before the start of the session and packed away before the end.
We continually review the equipment used to ensure it is safe for use by children and is suitable to encourage learning at all stages of development.
Educational Programme and Activities
For all funded 3 and 4 year olds we aim to work towards the early learning goals for the foundation stage of the children’s education.
We work towards desirable outcomes in the following areas;
· Personal social and emotional development
· Communication, language and literacy
· Mathematics
· Knowledge and understanding of the world
· Physical development
· Creative development
The everyday activities and topic work planned, provides a balanced programme and includes art and craft, number work, music, singing, movement, baking, science and technology, games, story time, reading, writing etc.
When your child receives funding they will be allocated a Key worker. A Key worker is a member of staff who has special responsibility for your child. The Key worker will have responsibility for overseeing your child’s development, through observation, interaction and parent feedback.
We may wish to take your child out on a nature walk or a trip to a local farm. You will be asked for consent to take your child out of the premises. For these excursions we require adults to help with supervision, a list will be posted for volunteers.
We have use of our outdoor play area and the local school outdoor play area and will take children when weather and staffing permit us to do so. We sometimes allow outdoor play in the summer months on the village green area, when the grass is dry and we have adequate adult supervision. Please ensure you send your child with a name labelled coat, so they don’t miss out on outdoor play.
We organise an annual summer trip for children and their parents and siblings and trips to indoor play areas for children and their parents during term times.
Drinks and Snacks
The children have a break each session when they are offered water or milk and a healthy snack, so it is not necessary to send any refreshments with your child. This is a social time for the children and an opportunity to have group discussions and songs.
If however, your child does have any special dietary requirements, please send an alternative clearly marked with your child’s name and please specify any allergies on the registration form.
Clothing
The Pre-school does provide overalls for messy activities but accidents can still happen. We therefore advise that you don’t send your child in their best clothes. Please remember to send you child with a name labelled coat for outdoor play times.
Pre-school has its own sweatshirts available which parents can purchase for £6.50.
We have our own sun hats which we put on the child for outdoor play. We do ask that you put sun cream on your children prior to coming to Pre-school if it is a sunny day.
Discipline
Our aim is to achieve a situation in which children can develop self-discipline and respect for each other. All staff and helpers will encourage kindness, willingness to share, friendliness and courtesy.
Acceptable behaviour is actively encouraged. The children have helped in drawing up the Pre-school rules which are regularly discussed with them. Whilst physical punishment will not be used or threatened, physical restraint will be used if the child’s behaviour is likely to endanger them, another child or damage property. The staff act as positive role models and good behaviour is praised.
Any kind of discriminatory behaviour will be challenged and will not be allowed to continue within the play setting.
Recurring problems will be discussed in partnership with the child’s parent/carer to try to understand the cause and work together towards achieving a positive outcome.
If a child continues to demonstrate behaviour unacceptable to the Pre-school environment the committee reserve the right to remove the child from the register if it is satisfied that all possible steps and advice from supporting bodies has been taken. It is the committee’s responsibility to provide a happy and safe environment for all children.
Health and Safety
Illness Parents are asked to keep their children at home if they are ill. If a child is unwell during the morning, every effort will be made to contact the parents / carer or whoever is named on the registration form.
Please let us know if your child is unable to attend due to illness, and notify us of any contagious disease they may have contracted
Accidents All accidents are noted in the accident book held by the Pre-school supervisor
There is a First Aid kit on the premises.
All Staff are first aid trained.
Fire Smoking is prohibited. A fire drill is practised each half term.
Safety Children are supervised by adults at all times. The toys and equipment are checked regularly.
Cleanliness General Rules of cleanliness apply. Paper towels and tissues are provided for the children.
Child Protection
A note is made in the accident book of any existing injuries a child may have on entering the Pre-school, as required by OFSTED.
Our policy is to create an environment safe from abuse and to respond to any suspicion of abuse.
In accordance with OFSTED directives, if a child enters Pre-school with an injury, the cause and description of that injury is detailed in the accident book. The parent/carers and supervisor then both sign the entry.
Any suspicion of abuse, neglect or ill treatment will be reported to an appropriate authority if necessary and will be dealt with in the strictest confidence.
Our child protection policy summary and full policy are available from the Pre-school Supervisor.
Special Educational Needs
Barlow Pre-school aims to have regard to the DFEE Code of Practice on the Identification and Assessment of Special Educational Needs.
We aim to ensure that wherever possible all children within the community have access to Pre-school with reference to the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.
We have a Special Needs co-ordinator responsible for the liaison between Pre-school and outside bodies. We work in liaison with expertise outside the group, including therapists, health visitors, psychologists, social workers and paediatricians to help meet children’s specific needs.
Our system of observations and record keeping enables us to monitor children’s needs and progress on an individual basis.
Equal Opportunities
We believe that Barlow Pre-school’s activities should be open to all children and families. We aim to ensure that all who wish to work in, or volunteer to help with the group, have equal chance to do so. When employing personnel the Pre-school will appoint the best person for each job and will treat fairly all applicants.
We aim to show respectful awareness of the cultural diversity in our society: both locally and on a wider basis.
