On arrival, a member of staff will welcome you and your child.  The children are encouraged to join in an activity which gives parents the opportunity to speak to staff.  When most parents have left, the children sit while the activity leader takes the register.  We talk about the day’s theme and share items that the children have brought in for the theme table.  For example, if the theme is water, we might discuss dew, rain, keeping dry, weather and rainbows during the course of the week.     

We then enjoy a variety of activities that have been appealingly set out for free play and a creative media such as painting or making something. Halfway through the morning, the children sit in small groups to have a snack and a drink.  Children are encouraged to help pour their own drink and help themselves to the snack, which might be toast, fruit or food relating to a theme or time of year. 

After snack time, play takes on a more physical form, with bikes, slides, climbing frame and games – indoor or outdoors if the weather permits.  We have fun experimenting with water, sand, lentils, cornflour etc.  We have waterproof fleeces and wellington boots at the preschool and encourage the children to play outside for part of the morning whatever the weather!

We also have a laptop and try to ensure that all the children have the opportunity, individually, to learn basic keyboard and mouse skills. A child friendly mouse (basically a giant mouse with a very large trackball!) allows children with less developed motor skills to move the cursor around the screen. A member of staff or parent helper supervises this activity. The morning ends with music and movement, and a short story, which gives the children time to calm down before they are collected by their parents.

Some of the activities we do can be messy so we do recommend that the children are wearing clothes that are easily washable.  We do sell Little Acorns t-shirts and sweatshirts that are ideal for exploratory play!

A budding David Attenborough!

LUNCH DAYS

Every day, the children can stay for an optional lunch session and bring a packed lunch.  This is a good social experience for the children; they eat with the staff, who encourage good table manners.  We do ask that you provide a balanced lunch box (i.e. sandwiches, yoghurt, fruit but no sweets etc).

AFTERNOON SESSION

On a Tuesday, we offer an optional afternoon session until 3pm.  This allows the children to get used to the full day they will experience when starting school.

and here is Bob the Builder, carefully constructing with cardboard boxes!