The House consists of the downstairs ‘play room’ and the upstairs ‘school room’. Children spend time in both rooms throughout the day. The House is used by all children over the age of 3. The staff-children ratio for this age range is 1:8 or 1:13.

Staff, with both teaching and childcare qualifications, supervise carefully planned sessions designed to develop each child’s social and educational skills. Time is spent in pre-school work with number, letters, colours and shapes as well as using computers and art and craft sessions.

There are also free play (child initiated learning) sessions where they can enjoy the many toys available both indoor and out. These include, amongst others, a sandpit, water tray, dolls house, balancing beam and sit on toys, together with many books, jigsaws etc.

Children are encouraged to be independent and access their own morning snack and drink, as well as serving themselves fresh drinking water throughout the day.

Children in this room have a ‘starry sky chart’ to which stars are added when staff feel a child has achieved something, tried hard or been helpful or kind. The children love to show parents where they placed their star and, at the end of each term, the child with the most stars has an added bonus of receiving a certificate and prize!

Each child receives a ‘termly report’ which outlines to parents how we feel their child is progressing. These reports are written by the child’s keyworker and summarise what has been recorded in the child’s ‘all about me’ development folder, which uses the Early Years Foundation Stage as its development guide.

Children and their families are supported as the transition to ‘big school’ is made. Teachers are invited to meet their new pupils in the nursery environment and records and reports are passed on.

The preschool children benefit from having people in to visit the setting such as dentists, firemen and local sportspeople. We also offer trips throughout the year – trips include going to plays at the local schools, farm visits, a local radio station and Williams Den.

Parents of children in the pre school room are asked to provide at least one change of clothing and appropriate outdoor clothing such as sun hat and cream (when the sun comes out) or raincoat and hat (for the more frequent colder days!).

We ask that parents label their child’s belongings!