How we run
our sessions
South Hill
Park Pre-school is open for two sessions a day, five days per week,
38 weeks per year. The morning session is attended by two and a half
to three year olds and runs from 9.05 to 11.35 a.m. The afternoon session
is split into two groups; rainbows for children aged three to four and
kites for the older children until they reach school age. The afternoon
session runs from 12.30 to 3.00 p.m.
How many
sessions can my child attend?
During your
child's first term at Pre-school, we aim to offer children a minimum
of two sessions per week. At the beginning of each term you will be
asked to decide whether you need your Pre-school place for the following
term and if so, how many sessions you require. Any extra sessions are
not guaranteed but we will do our best to accommodate your wishes. If
your child is over three you may also be asked if you would like them
to attend afternoon sessions.
What will my child be doing?
Through a
carefully planned curriculum we provide a variety of activities to enhance
and encourage your child's emotional, physical, and social development.
These activities include sand and water play, creative activities such
as varied and unusual painting methods, themes and projects to promote
awareness of the diversity of the world about us, books and music which
encourage speaking and listening skills and a chance to experiment with
dough, paste and paper, puzzles and construction toys, to name a few!
Do not be concerned if your child does not have anything to 'bring home
with them' at the end of the session, they could have been doing something
that could not be taken home, like making patterns in the sand, pouring
and measuring water, sequencing with sizes, colours or shapes, moulding
dough or simply making a new friend.
The Morning Routine
- 9:05 -
Pre-school doors are opened. The children take their name label to
our Welcome Board to be registered and then a member of staff spends
a few moments discussing the activities available for that session
whilst the children are seated in a large group. This exercise assists
the children in making their activity choice.
- Mid Morning
- Refreshments are offered in a way that promotes and encourages social
skills and independence. The theme of the week is discussed at the
table with an adult to develop speaking and listening skills.
- After
snack - the children are always encouraged to take part in phyiscal
activities. If the weather is too bad for outdoor play we do indoor
activities such as dance, music & movement, obstacle courses or
other energetic games.
- 11:20
- Story time and singing - this is valuable time for the children
to take part in a large group activity and develops listening, rhyming
and musical skills.
- 11:35
- You are invited into Pre-school to collect your child. Our routine
is very flexible and takes the individual needs of the children into
account at all times. During the summer months we frequently use the
outside play area to maximise use of large equipment and activities.
Afternoon Sessions
Once your
child reaches the age of three they may be invited to attend afternoon
sessions (if spaces permit), Some children may start in the afternoon
sessions straight away if they are already over three. The afternoon
sessions are run slightly differently, in two groups of 15 rather than
one group of 26, with a minimum ratio 1:6. With careful planning we
enable your child to prepare for school life with adults and an environment
he/she already feels confident and comfortable with. The activities
during the afternoon sessions are planned with approaching school life
in mind and include PE sessions for children to gain confidence dressing
and undressing. Further, more intense development of Pre-school skills
and activities, such as cooking, projects, scientific experiments, along
with letter and number recognition, name recognition and listening skills.
This is only possible due to the high ratio of adults to children. More
detailed information regarding our afternoon sessions is available on
request.
The Afternoon Routine
The afternoon
children are split into two groups, each with 15 children. These groups
are called 'Rainbows' (the younger children) and 'Kites' (the older
children). The routine for the two groups is as described below:
Rainbows:
- 12:30
Registration
- 12:40
Activities in the messy play area (may include cooking, science, creative
work, sand & water, paint)
- 1:30 Snack
Time
- 1:45 Group
time - in the book corner - Letter of the week / themes / interest
table
- 1:50 Activities
in the carpeted play area (may include imaginative play, construction
toys, drawing table)
- 2:45 Story
& song time in book corner
- 3:00 Children
collected
Kites:
- 12.30
Registration
- 12.40
Activities in the carpeted play area (may include imaginative play,
construction toys, drawing table)
- 1.30 Snack
Time
- 1.45 Group
time - in the quiet room - Letter of the week / themes / interest
table
- 1.50 Activities
in the messy play area (may include cooking, science, creative work,
sand & water, paint)
- 2.45 Story
& song time in quiet room
- 3.00 Children
collected
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