Pre-school
At Stanbridge we value every child as an individual and welcome the experiences and cultures of all children in our local community into our school.
- We aim to provide high quality care and education for all children in
our school. - Work in partnership with parents/carers to help children learn and develop and believe
that parents should be actively involved in their children’s learning. - Value all children in our local community and welcome their experiences and culture into our school aiming to value individuality, celebrate diversity and promote equality.
- To provide interesting, fun & challenging play opportunities both indoors and outdoors
offering an individual learning pathway for your child. - Ensure your child learns basic skills in order to give them a good start to their education and build on their personal, social and emotional skills whilst also developing basic literacy, numeracy, creative, physical and knowledge and understanding skills.
Here is a photographic tour and welcome to our school. We invite you to read our book called The Story of Stanbridge to introduce you to our school: Stanbridge School Story Book
Pre-school is open daily during term time from 9am – 3.30pm. Due to staffing ratios we do not offer before and after school care to Pre-school children. All extra hours are chargeable. Please see the Pre-school fees and Collection of fees Parental Agreement Form below.
We offer…..
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- 15 hour funded places
- 30 hour fully funded places (if you meet the criteria
- Cooked lunches (these will be charged separately)
Early Years Foundation Stage in the Pre-school
Our Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum is based on seven areas of learning with the main emphasis on the prime areas of learning:
• Communication and Language
• Personal, Social and Emotional Development
• Physical Development
• Maths
• Literacy
• Understanding of the World
• Expressive Arts and Design
We have worked successfully to introduce and work hard to maintain a Hygge ethos within our Pre-school. Learning focuses on nature and the natural world around the children, which we know is of great interest to them. Weekly topics focus on such things as E.g. tulips, snow, trees, the sun, ducks, etc and this helps us to provide the children with a lot of all weather outside learning.
Hygge (pronounced hue-guh not hoo-gah) is a Danish approach to living well that focuses on being in the moment and embracing the feelings of warmth, simplicity and togetherness.
It’s about a space that promotes emotional well-being, togetherness and friendship. It’s a place children, can feel comfortable to snuggle down or explore with confidence and learn.
Miss Hughes the Early Years Leader at Stanbridge and Mrs Biggs the Pre-school Leader have worked hard to bring this approach into our school and take learning from the outside inside and vice versa. Our environment is a calming, cosy space for children to feel comfortable, secure and happy. We have strong links to nature where children are nurtured to learn and explore the world around them. Miss Hughes says “”Our provision is thoughtful and inspiring as we help children learn through their play”
Hygge in Early Years Theory and Development Plan for Pre-school
Within a Hygge setting, there will be a calm relaxed feel to the play space with areas for children to retreat and get comfortable or cosy.
- View the environment through the eyes of the child.
- Invite children to create dens or cosy corners, with the use of drapes, voiles and blankets.
- Set up thoughtful nooks and well-appointed retreats, position them away from the main traffic within your setting.
- Provide children with a place to retreat away from the hustle and bustle of the main movement of the setting, allowing children privacy to talk, chat and interact.
- Provide plump cushions and blankets which enable children to get cosy when reading books or engaging in a provocation.
- Well appointed twinkly lights to add a sense of magic and wonder
- Lighting is soft and muted.
- Artificial light is kept to a minimum, use of table or standard lamps
- Reduction of noise levels, through soft furnishings.
- A range of textures.
- Provide opportunities to crawl inside an enclosed area where they feel secure.
- Provide seating where children can curl up with a nice book.
Children have opportunities to explore, enquire and to take risks through practical, hands-on learning experiences. At Stanbridge we have a high quality outside learning environment which the children are able to use throughout the day to take part in activities that are self initiated or directed by the teacher. There is a strong emphasis on play in our setting. We also teach early phonic skills, focusing on phase 1 and phase 2 Letters and Sounds.
Settling Your Child into Pre-school
When your child starts their educational journey at Stanbridge, we encourage children to come into the Pre-school independently. We have found that children settle more quickly and engage with other children more readily.
Key Persons and your Child
At Stanbridge we have a key person system. This means that each member of staff has a group of children for whom they are particularly responsible. Your child’s key person will be the person who works with you to make sure that what we provide is right for your child’s particular needs and interests. When your child first starts at Stanbridge they will help your child to
settle and throughout your child’s time at Stanbridge they will help your child to benefit from the learning, play and activities which we offer. Pre-school staff also work closely together to support and get to know your child and to support them with their learning across their time in Pre-school.
Special Educational Needs
At Stanbridge we endeavour to provide learning that meets the needs of each individual child. We take account of any special needs a child may have and will work closely with parents/carers to ensure the needs are met. Miss Hughes is the SENDCO both in our main school and in Pre-school. Please ask to speak to her if you have a concern about your child.
Policies
Copies of out school policies are available for you to look at on this website in the Policy section.
Starting Pre-school
1. Registration: We have a special registration form for you to fill in and return to the school office with proof of date of birth. This can either be in the form of a passport or birth certificate. Included in this pack will be a permission to be photographed letter, permission to taste and permission to go on visits to the local area eg church. Please speak to Mrs Davies (Family Liaison Officer or Mrs Biggs (Pre-school Leader) on 01525 210328 if you would like to register your child at our Pre-school or alternatively email tdavies@stanbridge.beds.sch.uk.
2. Clothing and Jewellery: No special clothing is required for Pre-school. We encourage children to wear clothes that won’t get spoiled and to wear comfortable footwear. We provide protective clothing for the children when they take part in messy play. In accordance with school policy and for health and safety reasons children are only allowed to wear stud earrings to Pre-school.
3. Toilet Needs: We encourage parents to ensure that their children are fully potty trained before starting Pre-school. However we recognise that this is not the same for all children and we encourage parents to work in partnership with us to develop this skill with the children as quickly as possible. Please ask to see our policy which gives further clarification about this matter. Please speak to Mrs Davies (Family Liaison Officer) or Mrs Biggs (Pre-school Leader) if your require support with toileting.
4. Fees: Parents are entitled to up to 15 hours or 30 hours funded child care each week. These can be used flexibly across the week. The hours can be claimed for in different settings, but extra hours must be paid for. In order to staff sessions and claim funding parents will need to state what hours they would like and how they would like to use them (based on availability). These can be changed subject to prior written notice being given by either yourself or the school. Any hours or sessions that are allocated (in excess of 15 hours or 30 hours if you are eligible) must be paid for whether your child attends the sessions or not. The only time this does not apply is if the school is closed for any reason. All fees are subject to change and parents will be notified in writing prior to the change in fees. Ad hoc sessions can be requested and these will be charged.
5. Pre-school Fees New Starters: All children who start at Stanbridge Pre-school in the term of their 3rd Birthday are not eligible for funding until the term after their 3rd birthday.
Child Protection
At Stanbridge we have a duty of care towards all children. We endeavour to keep all children safe and free from harm. If we have concerns about a child this is dealt with by our designated member of staff for child protection. The designated member of staff for child protection is Miss R Godwin, Head Teacher. All concerns are dealt with professionally and parents/carers are kept informed of all situations regarding their child.
Only in circumstances where we consider children to be in immediate danger or harm is a referral made directly to Social Services.
Transferring from Pre-school to our Reception Class
All children are welcome to transfer into our Reception Class in the year of their 5th birthday. Parents should contact Central Bedfordshire Local
Authority in order to register their child for a place in the Reception Class on 01234 718120 or via the website on www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk . Parents and children are welcome to visit the Reception class and appointments should be made via the school office on 01525 210328.Children transferring into the Reception Class are invited into school for 2 sessions during the summer term to stay and play. Parents are invited to attend the Parent’s Meeting where essential school information is shared by the Head Teacher. These also take place in the Summer Term.