History | Staffing | Finances | Admission | Insurance | Complaints procedure | Aims | Curriculum | Behaviour management | Parental involvement | Management committee | Other policies and procedures
Old London Road Pre-School, a registered charity since 2000, offers children aged 2-5 a secure play environment in which they can learn and develop into happy, confident, competent children.
Originally set up in the early 1970s, the pre-school closed down briefly before re-opening in September 1999, registered for 12 children. Janet Audley-Charles and Androulla Georgiou Scott have run the pre-school since, and today provide a caring environment for a maximum of 26 children.
We always aim to have above the minimum required ratio of staff to pupils. At least 50% of staff on duty at any time have a childcare qualification above NVQ level 2, and there is always at least one first-aider on duty. We may occasionally employ additional staff to work with children who have specific special needs. The pre-school leader is also a registered child minder, and can provide emergency childcare cover when needed.
We are a non-profit-making organisation. Income from fees is used to pay the rent, staff wages, and insurance, and helps to maintain the group’s financial viability. Bills are issued half-termly, and fees are payable at the beginning of each half term. We are registered to receive childcare vouchers from several organisations, including Accor and Busy Bees. All absences, whether planned or due to ill health, must be paid for, and half a term’s notice is required if a child leaves the pre-school. As a registered charity, we hold fundraising events to provide extra funds for new equipment. We also collect supermarket vouchers which we can exchange for equipment.
We take children from age two. Admission is on first-come-first-serve basis, although priority may be given to children older than two years and six months. To apply a pre-school place, parents should complete an application form. All families must provide evidence of their child’s date of birth (birth certificate or passport) when they register at the pre-school – we will keep a photocopy for administration purposes.
We have appropriate public liability insurance, organised through the Pre-School Learning Alliance. The document is on display on back of the door inside the main entrance. We regret that we cannot be held responsible for loss or damage to children’s property or clothing.
Parents who are unhappy about any aspect of the pre-school should discuss their concerns with a member of staff immediately. Our complaints procedure is designed to ensure that all concerns are dealt with effectively and swiftly. In the event of a complaint, parents should arrange a meeting with the pre-school leader, who will make every effort to resolve the matter. In the unlikely situation of it not being resolved at this stage, the matter will be referred to the chair of the management committee. You are invited, where appropriate, to discuss any concerns you may have with OFSTED.
We aim to ensure that all children are offered equal opportunities to develop their full potential, endeavouring to help and encourage all children to develop a well-rounded sense of their own value and worth. We celebrate diversity, welcoming children of every race, creed, culture and ability; an approach that we believe enriches the life of the pre-school for children, staff and parents alike.
The children’s welfare is paramount. As such, we have a legal duty to report any concerns – particularly those about the protection of a child – to the relevant authorities.
For most of our children, pre-school offers them the first opportunity to meet and socialise regularly with adults and other children outside of the family unit. We help them make the most of this opportunity, by providing a happy and secure environment in which they can gain valuable self-respect and self-confidence through various activities.
We fully appreciate the importance of these early years in a child’s longer-term development, and aim to provide warm and consistent care that is flexible and sensitive to their individual needs; allowing them to progress at their own natural pace in a stimulating environment. This, together with our practical understanding of the physical, emotional, social and intellectual needs of pre-schoolers, provides our children with an ideal springboard from which confident, secure and successful schooling can follow.
Our curriculum encompasses every experience that occurs throughout the pre-school session. However, the formal curriculum (for children over three) is arranged under six headings: creative; physical; mathematical; language and literacy; personal, social and emotional development; and knowledge and understanding of the world. These areas of learning are set by the Department for Education and Skills and the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority. We have had three OFSTED inspections to date: the latest was in September 2004.
We have clear boundaries for staff and children, and hope that children will learn by example to be considerate and kind to each other. We involve them in making rules (agreements), to give them a sense of ownership, and teach them to take responsibility for their own actions. There are stages in a child’s development when they can be quite antagonistic – we work through these, identifying a programme in partnership with parents, to ensure a consistent approach to any inappropriate behaviour. We never smack children or use any form of physical punishment and we try very hard not to shout! We believe that a calm but ordered environment leads to relaxed and settled children.
Children are happier when the adults in their life work together as part of a team. As parents, you are part of a two-way process of sharing knowledge and information about your children. We want to work closely with you, drawing on your detailed knowledge of your child. We ask you to fill in an admission form, providing details about your child and any relevant medical history, as well as a home information form, which establishes a starting point for your child’s learning. We operate an ‘open door’ policy, and encourage parents to volunteer their time to help out from time to time. If you are unable to volunteer during the session, you may be able to help in other ways – regular newsletters are sent home with details of current news and future events. We are always looking for new ideas for new fundraising ideas too!
Parents make up the Old London Road Pre-School Management Committee, which oversees the management of the organisation, according to the constitution of the Pre-School Learning Alliance.
All parents are invited to join the committee and become involved with the running of the pre-school. There is an AGM in the autumn term, and committee meetings every half term. The three main roles on the committee are: chair, treasurer and secretary – details of all roles and responsibilities are available from Janet. Photos of the present committee are displayed on the notice board in the entrance.
It is not possible to include all details about pre-school life here. Parents are welcome to view the constitution, along with all the pre-school policies and latest newsletters in the parent’s tray in the hall. For further information about health and safety, fire drills, policies and procedures, do feel free to contact us.
Our OFSTED report
Charity
Commission
Pre-school Learning
Alliance
Day-to-day pre-school
information
Our
management committee
Our full prospectus
Application
form