Bridgwater Pre School Welcome Pack 2012

THE SALVATION ARMY PRE-SCHOOL BRIDGWATER www.salvationarmy.org.uk/swe/Bridgwater_Pre_School

WELCOME PACK Tel: 01278 445682 Updated 12 September 2012

The Salvation Army Central Trust: Registered Charity No. 214779, and in Scotland SC009359

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THE SALVATION ARMY PRE-SCHOOL BRIDGWATER WELCOME to The Salvation Army Pre-School.

For many children starting at pre-school it will be their first steps towards independence and there are important lessons to be learned.

That it is possible to feel safe and happy while parents are not present for a while.

That other adults can be a source of authority, help and friendship.

That new play and learning experiences can be enjoyed in the group and shared with parents afterwards.

Give your child a chance to learn these lessons by working with the pre-school staff to make settling in period as easy as possible.

Here are some tips to help you: Brief visits to the group before your child starts attending, will make the place and people feel familiar.

Avoid starting at a time when there has been a disruption of routine at home.

A new baby, a spell in hospital or even a long holiday can require a settling down period before the child tackles anything else new.

Children are ready to part from their parents at different ages. If your child is going through a very “CLINGY” patch, it may be better to delay admission for a while unless a parent or trusted friend can stay in the group with your child.

Before starting pre-school talk to you child cheerfully and positively, about the good things that will happen there.

Be prepared to stay with your child in the group until he or she is ready to be left.

When you judge that your child is ready to be left, say GOODBYE do not be tempted to creep away while the child is occupied. This might seem easier at the time but it can cause your child to feel let down and mistrustful.

It is easier for a child to accept a parents departure if there is a clear explanation of what is going to happen e.g. “ I am going to the shops and I will be back after “story time” can help a child envisage where you will be and understand the timescale involved.

For children who are finding parting hard, it might help to have a brief separation at first, just post a letter or go to the kitchen. Separation time can then be extended gradually. During this period it is important to be punctual.

Do not worry children develop quickly at this age, and a child who cannot seem to manage alone for a second, can have a different attitude in a week or two.

The Salvation Army Central Trust: Registered Charity No. 214779, and in Scotland SC009359

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The Salvation Army Central Trust: Registered Charity No. 214779, and in Scotland SC009359

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THE SALVATION ARMY PRE-SCHOOL BRIDGWATER When your child starts the pre-school you will meet the key person that will be working with your child. They will tell you about the pre-school and be happy to answer any of your questions.

We suggest that you stay with your child until he/she feels settled. This may take several sessions; the supervisor will discuss with you the best time to leave your child.

Parental/Carers Involvement.

Parents/carers are welcome to stay and play (see supervisors). We hope parents/carers will support the pre-school and assist us with fund raising and help the pre-school in any other way they can.

The Salvation Army Central Trust: Registered Charity No. 214779, and in Scotland SC009359

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THE SALVATION ARMY PRE-SCHOOL BRIDGWATER TIME TABLE

MORNING SESSION

AFTERNOON SESSION

9.00 Arrive and Play

12.30 Arrive and Play

9.15 News time

12.45

News time

9.25 Playtime

12.55

Playtime

10.30 Tidy up time

2.00 Tidy up time

10.40

2.10 Song time

Song time

10.50 Snack time 11.10

Outside

11.40 Story time 12.00

Home time

2.20 Snack time 2.40 Outside 3.10 Story time 3.30 Home time

If you wish to stay and play with your child and the other children you are most welcome. Please help out with any activity and basically join in the fun.

We do not allow the children on the slide or trampoline with dressing up clothes on. These activities should be supervised at all times.

We have a no smacking policy and this includes your own child when on the pre-school premises, reinforced by the P.P.A. Association.

No children are allowed in the kitchen even your own for safety reasons.

Parents are not allowed to take children to the toilet.

The Salvation Army Central Trust: Registered Charity No. 214779, and in Scotland SC009359

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THE SALVATION ARMY PRE-SCHOOL, BRIDGWATER We now follow the revised Early Years Foundation Stage Programme.

THE EARLY LEARNING GOALS The Prime Areas Communication and Language Listening and attention: children listen attentively in a range of situations.

They listen to stories, accurately anticipating key event and respond to what they hear with relevant comments, questions or actions. They give their attention to what others say and respond appropriately, while engaged in another activity.

Understanding: children follow instructions involving several ideas or actions.

They answer ‘how’ and ‘why’ questions about their experiences and in response to stories or events.

Speaking: children express themselves effectively, showing awareness of listeners’ needs. They use past, present and future forms accurately when talking about events that have happened or are to happen in the future. They develop their own narratives and explanations by connecting ideas or events.

Physical Development Moving and handling: children show good control and co-ordination in large and small movements. They move confidently in a range of ways, safely negotiating space. They handle equipment and tools effectively, including pencils for writing.

Health and self-care: children know the importance for good health of physical exercise, and a healthy diet, and talk about ways to keep healthy and safe. They manage their own basic hygiene and personal needs successfully, including dressing and going to the toilet independently.

Personal, Social and Emotional Development Self-confidence and self-awareness: children are confident to try new activities, and say why they like some activities more than others. They are confident to speak in a familiar group, will talk about their ideas, and will choose the resources they need for their chosen activities. They say when they do or don’t need help.

Managing feelings and behaviour: children talk about how they and others show feelings, talk about their own and others behaviour, and its consequences, and know that some behaviour is unacceptable. They work as part of a group or class, and understand and follow the rules. They adjust The Salvation Army Central Trust: Registered Charity No. 214779, and in Scotland SC009359

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their behaviour to different situations, and take changes of routine in their stride.

THE SALVATION ARMY PRE-SCHOOL, BRIDGWATER Making relationships: children play co-operatively, taking turns with others.

They take account of one another’s ideas about how to organise their activity.

They show sensitivity to others needs and feelings, and form positive relationships with adults and other children.

The Specific Areas Literacy Reading: children read and understand simple sentences. They use phonic knowledge to decode regular words and read them aloud accurately. They also read some common irregular words. They demonstrate understanding when talking with others about what they read.

Writing: children use their phonic knowledge to write words in ways which match their spoken sounds. They also write some irregular common words.

They write simple sentences which can be read by themselves and others.

Some words are spelt correctly and others are phonetically plausible.

Mathematics Numbers: children count reliably with numbers from 1 to 20, place them in order and say which number is one more or one less than a given number.

Using quantities and objects, they add and subtract two single-digit numbers and count on or back to find the answer. They solve problems, including doubling, halving and sharing.

Shape, space and measures: children use everyday language to talk about size, weight, capacity, position, distance, time and money to compare quantities and objects and to solve problems. They recognise, create and describe patterns. They explore characteristics of everyday objects and shapes and use mathematical language to describe them.

Understanding the World People and communities: children talk about past and present events in their own lives and in the lives of family members. They know that other children don’t always enjoy the same things, and are sensitive to this. They know about the similarities and differences between themselves and others, and among families, communities and traditions.

The world: children know about similarities and differences in relation to places, objects, materials and living things. They talk about the features of The Salvation Army Central Trust: Registered Charity No. 214779, and in Scotland SC009359

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their own immediate environment and how environments might vary from one another. They make observations of animals and plants and explain why some things occur, and talk about changes.

THE SALVATION ARMY PRE-SCHOOL, BRIDGWATER Technology: children recognise that a range of technology is used in places such as homes and schools. They select and use technology for particular purposes.

Expressive Arts and Design Exploring and using media and materials: children sing songs, make music and dance, and experiment with ways of changing them. They safely use and explore a variety of materials, tools and techniques, experimenting with colour, design, texture, form and function.

Being imaginative: Children use what they have learnt about media and materials in original ways, thinking about uses and purposes. They represent their own ideas, thoughts and feelings through design and technology, art, music, dance, role-play and stories.

The Salvation Army Central Trust: Registered Charity No. 214779, and in Scotland SC009359

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THE SALVATION ARMY PRE-SCHOOL, BRIDGWATER FESTIVALS Name of Child ........................................................................

As part of the Foundation stage curriculum we introduce children to a range of cultures and beliefs. We tell stories, listen to music, dance, eat food and use everyday resources, which reflect a wide range of cultures.

We will be discussing different people’s beliefs and cultures.

Your answers to the following questions will be kept confidential and will help us adopt an inclusive and sensitive approach when incorporating the celebrations of festivals into our practice.

Which festivals do you celebrate?

If you celebrate a festival how do you celebrate them?

How do you feel about the festival(s) being celebrated?

How would you like us to support/reflect your festivals(s)?

The Salvation Army Central Trust: Registered Charity No. 214779, and in Scotland SC009359

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If yes, would you be happy to come into the pre-school and show the staff and children how you celebrate your festival(s)?

THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING THIS INFORMATION. THE SALVATION ARMY PRE-SCHOOL BRIDGWATER The Salvation Army Pre-School welcome all families in the area. Children are able to start pre-school at the beginning of the half term in which they will be 2 years and 9 months. The pre-school will have details of the waiting list. We are able to take 26 children per session. The pre-school is open during school terms.

Morning sessions: Monday/Wednesday/Thursday/Friday - 09.00 am – 12.00 pm Afternoon sessions: Monday/Thursday/Friday - 12.30 pm – 15.30 pm If you arrive at pre-school early please wait in the entrance until 9.00 am and 12.30 pm this is when the pre-school doors will be opened.

Individual children with additional needs or special circumstances should be discussed with supervisors prior to admission to the pre-school, so that the appropriate action can be taken for the child’s needs.

The fee from the funding period after your child is three will be charged at the same rate as the Early Years Entitlement. Fees are paid at the first session for each half term in advance 6–8 weeks. Once you have agreed your child’s sessions, we will require half a terms notice if you wish to decrease or cancel the amount of sessions they attend. Consequently the half terms invoice that you have been issued with will have to be paid in full for that half term. For the pre-school to claim your child’s funding, please could you let us have a copy of your child’s birth certificate. If no birth certificate is provided we will bill you at the funding rate.

PLEASE NOTE: The Early Years Entitlement will begin in the funding period after your child’s third birthday. Please look at the table below which shows when funding is available for your child. (This can also be found in the Early Years Entitlement for 3 & 4 Year Olds – Information for Parent leaflet).

IF YOUR CHILD IS BORN BETWEEN 1st April - 31st August 1st September - 31st December

FUNDING CAN BE CLAIMED FROM 1st September following their third birthday 1st January following their third

The Salvation Army Central Trust: Registered Charity No. 214779, and in Scotland SC009359

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st

st

1 January – 31 March

birthday 1st April following their third birthday

If your child is ill or for any unforeseen circumstances, eg. Holiday (excluding bank holidays), weather etc and cannot attend, unfortunately fees must still be paid. This is because wages and other expenses still have to be paid and it is also a condition of the funding policy.

If you have any financial worries it is essential that you discuss this in confidence with the supervisor. IF no payment of fees is made for 2 weeks you will be asked in writing to discuss this in confidence with the supervisor or treasurer.

The Salvation Army Central Trust: Registered Charity No. 214779, and in Scotland SC009359

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THE SALVATION ARMY PRE-SCHOOL BRIDGWATER REGISTRATION Could all parents/carers please sign their child in on arrival at pre-school.

ACCIDENTS If your child obtains an injury at home before the start of pre-school, it is a requirement of the pre-school in the best interest of your child to inform staff when you register your child into the session and fill in the appropriate form.

MEDICATION It is a requirement of the pre-school in the best interest of your child to inform staff when you register your child into the session, if you have administered your child’s inhaler or any other medication before preschool, so that it can be entered in the medication book.

LATE COLLECTION OF CHILDREN Persistent lateness in collecting a child from pre-school amounts to abandonment and could be reported to the local Safeguarding Children Board. Like wise if any adult collecting a child is in an unfit state to be in charge of that child, they could also be reported to the Local Safeguarding Children Board.

Pre-schools have a duty under the Safeguarding Children Act 1989 and the Human Rights Act to protect children and act in their best interests.

If a parent is unavoidably delayed due to an emergency they must contact the pre-school to say they will be late collecting their child and arrange with the staff what to do.

Persistent lateness in collecting your child amounts to abandonment and will result in the following steps being taken: 1. A verbal warning will be given. If it persists 2. A written warning will be given. If it persists 3. A report will be made to The Somerset Safeguarding Children Board

The Salvation Army Central Trust: Registered Charity No. 214779, and in Scotland SC009359

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THE SALVATION ARMY PRE-SCHOOL BRIDGWATER PROCEDURE FOR ‘ABANDONED’ CHILD Children should be collected promptly at the end of the pre-school session.

If the parent/carer cannot collect the child, they should provide the name and phone number of the person who will be collecting the child. In the event of a child not being collected at the end of the session, the following procedure applies.

If the child is not collected within 30 minutes of the end of the session and the parent/carer emergency number cannot be contacted by staff the duty social worker will be contacted by the staff and child concerned will be reported as an ‘abandoned’ child. The child will then be handed over to the social worker.

A child who is not collected promptly will stay in the care of two staff until either the parent/carer collects the child, or the child is handed over to the duty social worker.

HEALTH Parents will have the opportunity to discuss health issues with preschool staff and will have access to information available to the preschool.

The pre-school will maintain links with health visitors and gather information and advise from the local health authority information services and /or other health agencies.

HYGIENE To prevent the spread of all infections, adults in the group will ensure that the following good practices are observed.

PERSONAL HYGIENE Hands are washed after using the toilet.

Children are encouraged to blow and wipe their own noses when necessary. Soiled tissues are disposed of hygienically.

Children encouraged shielding their mouth when coughing.

Individual paper towels/tissues/wet wipes are available to use and disposed of appropriately.

The Salvation Army Central Trust: Registered Charity No. 214779, and in Scotland SC009359

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Hygiene rules relating to bodily fluids followed with particular care and all staff and volunteers aware of how infections, including H.I.V. can be transmitted.

Children with pierced ears are not allowed to try or share each other’s earring.

THE SALVATION ARMY PRE-SCHOOL BRIDGWATER CLEANING AND CLEARING Any spills of blood, vomit or excrement wiped up and flushed away down the toilet. Rubber gloves always to be used when cleaning up spills of body fluids.

Floors and other affected surfaces cleaned using anti-bacterial solutions.

Fabric contaminated with body fluids thoroughly washed in hot water.

Spare laundered underwear and other clothing are available in case of accidents and polythene bags accessible to wrap soiled garments. All surfaces cleaned daily with appropriate anti bacterial cleaner.

FOOD The pre-school will observe current legislation regarding food hygiene, registration and training.

The Salvation Army Central Trust: Registered Charity No. 214779, and in Scotland SC009359

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THE SALVATION ARMY PRE-SCHOOL BRIDGWATER STAFF DETAILS Officers in Charge - Majors Neil and Cheryl Davies - Major Neil Davies is the pre-school’s designated OFSTED Registered Nominated Person.

The Salvation Army, The Crest, Moorland Road, Bridgwater, Somerset, TA6 4JS. Telephone Number: 01278 422568 The Salvation Army Officers are available to offer pastoral care & support to the parents/carers of pre-school children. They can be contacted on the number above or via the supervisors of the pre-school staff.

Supervisor – Mel Millar NVQ Level 3 Paediatric First Aid Safe and Sound Various Workshops Foundation Food Safety Somerset Total Communication SENCO Childcare Provider Persona Doll Awareness Supervisor – Sharon Chidgey Cache Diploma Level 3 Safe and Sound Various Workshops Foundation Food Safety Paediatric First Aid Somerset Total Communication Child Protection Health and Safety Level 2 Childcare Provider Pre-School Administrator - Hayley Russell BCS Level 2 Certificate in IT User Skills (ECDL Extra) (ITQ) CACHE Level 2 Teaching Assistants Edexcel Adult Numeracy Edexcel Adult Literacy

Pre-School Key Worker – Lucy Marker Paediatric First Aid Level 2 Food Safety in Catering Edexcel Level 3 BTEC National Diploma in Children’s Care Pre-School Assistant – Lorraine Cummings Pre-School Assistant Diploma in Pre-School Practice First Aid/Safe and Sound Various Workshops Paediatric First Aid Foundation Food Safety Somerset Total Communication ENCO Pre-School Assistant – MariaWoodley NVQ Level 3 Early Years Care and Education TOP Tots/Start Paediatric First Aid Foundation Food Safety Somerset Total Communication

All copies of staff details and qualifications are kept locked in Officers in Charge Office.

The Salvation Army Central Trust: Registered Charity No. 214779, and in Scotland SC009359

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The Salvation Army Central Trust: Registered Charity No. 214779, and in Scotland SC009359

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THE SALVATION ARMY PRE-SCHOOL BRIDGWATER COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE All parents and carers with any concerns or complaints regarding pre-school should be put in writing through the following chain (see Complaints Policy): 1. KEYPERSONS 2. SUPERVISORS 3. THE SALVATION ARMY COMMANDING OFFICERS The Crest Moorland Road BRIDGWATER Somerset TA6 4JS Telephone: 01278 422568 (office hours only) 4. The National Business Unit OFSTED Piccadily Gate Store Street MANCHESTER M12 WD Telephone: 0300 123 1231 SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN As part of the Christian Church, The Salvation Army together with other Christians holds the belief that children are to be respected, loved and valued as unique individuals. It also recognises their vulnerability and their need for protection.

Any concerns relating to safeguarding children issues will be referred to the designated person Mrs Sharon Chidgey who will liaise with the: 1. The Commanding Officer in Charge on 01278 422568 who is also the nominated person for Ofsted.

2: The Somerset Local Safeguarding Children Board for Safeguarding Children on 0845 345 9122.

It is a legal requirement that all incidents are reported. Any minor issues will be recorded and monitored.

The Salvation Army Central Trust: Registered Charity No. 214779, and in Scotland SC009359

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