Preschool

Our preschool helps provide an excellent early years learning environment for young children, but through our ‘Get Set for School’ programme, we also fulfil an additional purpose – preparing children and parents for the transition to school.
 
Preschool education plays a valuable role in helping children develop and learn new physical, mental, and emotional skills. It helps children to be prepared to listen, follow instructions, to get along in a group and to manage conflict in a positive manner.
 
Our ‘Get Set for School’ initiative ensures that children take part in a wide range of different activities including structured and free choice play, physical activities, basic reading through phonics and introductory reading schemes (Oxford reading Tree), writing and numeracy as well as sharing stories and learning skills such as information technology and cooking. As children join in a wide variety of activities these have both a practical and positive effect in helping children prepare for the structured learning environment of school. It also prepares them to take direction from adults outside the circle of family and friends.
 
Mixing with other children regularly helps children to develop essential social skills, especially when playing and sharing with others, and making friends.
 
Our preschool children are encouraged to make independent decisions, from where they want to play and what with, to what they want to eat at snack time. Meal times in preschool are sociable but also educational and we combine discussions on healthy eating with activities such as growing fruit and vegetables and cooking. Children become used to eating as a group and to trying new foods with different tastes and textures.
 
Children who attend preschool are used to spending time away from family and this can assist them with attending school and being away from family or carers for longer periods of time, and on a more regular basis. The ‘Get Set for School’ programme also helps children to get used to the idea of wearing uniform (this may be optional)and the sense of belonging this provides, whilst carrying book bags in which they can take home their favourite books gently prepares them for homework. Parents become more confident about leaving their children and to working with a school style routine. Parents also benefit from the assistance of the preschool team in coaching them to help their children to learn and to continue the learning from preschool in the home environment.
 
Our preschool helps children to understand what school is about and builds children’s confidence in a variety of ways, including talking about school, visiting schools to look round or join in assemblies, holding events such as sports days there, having visits from school teachers and school children. This takes away the fear of the unknown. We also celebrate children progressing to school by holding a preschool graduation ceremony with associated fun activities. These all help children to gain a positive opinion of school and the changes which lie ahead.
 
Parents of children approaching preschool age will be invited to an information evening when we will explain in detail the curriculum, facilities and benefits our preschool offers. An information pack is available and the Nursery Manager or preschool team are happy to discuss the details at any time.  Parents also receive regular feedback and are invited to attend parent’s evenings.
 
It is always a big step for children to move from preschool to school but our ‘Get Set for School’ initiative can ease children through this transition and provide them with the skills and learning to give them a good foundation for life.