Grove Pre School Stanway Archives
The Learning Environment
We have a large playroom and there are always many activities on offer. Half of the room is carpeted. On this side of the room we have our book corner, the computer, our puzzle table and small world toys including train track and cars. There is also a dressing up area.
The other half of the room has a wooden floor and is suitable for messy play including craft and junk collage, painting, playdough, and water play.
We are lucky enough to have a garden. For most of the session we offer free flow between the garden and playroom allowing the children to choose where they want to play. Outside there is space for sliding, digging, riding sit in cars and tricycles, music making and much more.
Our toilets are set at the end of a corridor and we accompany the children here. We monitor hygiene, ensuring the children wash their hands and are able to assist the younger children with clothing etc. We have facilities to change nappies, a potty and child toilet seats.
Our Staff
The Staff Team
We are proud of our staff and together we have more than fifty years experience of working in childcare. We are all Mums ourselves and understand the joys and challenges of raising children.
We have high level qualifications which are approved by the Children’s Workforce Development Council. Currently we have three members of staff qualified to, or working towards, level 4, two undertaking level 3 training. Two existing staff hold and another member is working towards level 2. Additionally members of staff participate in a variety of training provided by Essex County Council and professional consultants.
There is always, at least, one member of staff at every session who holds a relevant and up to date First Aid certificate, practitioners are also qualified in Food Hygiene, Health and Safety and Child Protection, meeting all regulatory requirements.
Our staff ratios are high; we have four or five staff at each session with a maximum of twenty children per session. This exceeds the minimum requirements of
Children under 3: 1:4
Children over 3: 1:8
At regular meetings we undertake curriculum planning and discuss children’s progress and current needs. Ongoing training, support and development of staff enable us to provide quality care for each child.
All staff and volunteers at The Grove Pre-School are police checked and have CRB clearance.
Opening Times and Charges
From September 2011 our sessions will as follows:-
Monday:
Monday Morning 9.15a.m. until 12.15p.m.
Monday Afternoon 12.45p.m. until 3.45p.m. (flexible collection times available in the afternoon)
Tuesday:
Tuesday Morning 9.15a.m. until 12.15 p.m.
Tuesday Afternoon – Rising 5’s session for those children who will shortly be going to school 12.45p.m. until 3.45p.m (flexible collection times)
Wednesday:
Wednesday Morning 9.15a.m. until 12.15p.m.
Wednesday Afternoon 12.45p.m. until 3.45p.m. (flexible collection times)
Thursday:
Thursday Morning 9.15a.m. until 12.15p.m.
Thursday Afternoon 12.45p.m. until 3.45p.m. (flexible collection times)
Friday:
Friday Morning 9.15 a.m. until 12.15p.m.
Our 30 minute Lunch Club operates daily on a pay as you go system. Children may stay all day linking their morning and afternoon sessions, they can be collected after lunch or arrive early for the afternoon session. There is an additional cost of £1.50 for this service.
Prior to your child’s third birthday we make a charge of £8.50 per session, flexible payment terms are available and we can also arrange to accept childcare vouchers. In exceptional circumstances you may be able to claim funding prior to your child’s third birthday, so please ask.
Funded places begin the term after your child’s third birthday.
OUTINGS AND VISITORS
During the year our children benefit from many visitors to our group and we arrange some outings for the children.
Visitors include the local policeman, who brings his patrol car, and the local lollypop lady, who sets up a role play scenario to help the children practice road safety. We have also had visits from musicians, teachers, the local vicar, and many pets and their handlers.
Outings include a visit to the local allotment to gather home grown vegetables and fruit, visits to the local library, local schools, the playground and the local pet shop. (We visit places that we can safely walk to and during outings increase supervision to one adult to every two children. Parental assistance is always welcomed)
Once a year we have a whole group outing. For the last two years this has been to Highwoods Country Park where the children have taken part in activities such as bug hunting with the aid of the forest ranger and have then enjoyed a family picnic.
There are a number of other events throughout the year including ‘obstacle course day’ which again includes a family picnic which is held in our garden.
Registered number: 203797
Registered Charity: 1144690
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