Little Angels

Marie McDonagh is the Pre School Teacher
She is qualified up to FETAC Level 6 in Childcare Supervisory Skills.
Staff ratios are in keeping with good practice

Our Pre School Day

The Daily Routine
We will be following the same routine every day. It provides the children with security as they always know what is going to happen next. During the daily routine children have opportunities to play alone, with a friend, in a small group and in large groups. For your child to take part in each part of the daily routine it is important to arrive on time each day.

Curriculum
The pre-school is working on an eclectic (traditional) approach, in line with early years practice. The benefits of this approach in line with the new framework for Early Learning, harnesses the diverse nature of the children and staff in the service e.g. staff are not tied to ‘best practice’ or methods they are not happy with.

Greeting Time
When the children arrive at the pre-school they meet in a group to share news about the day. This provides children with a smooth transition from home into the group. They will then choose where they want to play.

Playtime
Children carry out their plans and make new or different plans if they want to. They move around the play areas as they want or find interesting. The Teacher engages with the children by playing, talking, listening and then challenge their thinking during the session

Tidy-up Time
The children are encouraged and helped to return equipment and materials to their proper place.

Snack Time
Snack time is to provide a pleasant and relaxed sharing of food for all the children. The children meet in a small group with an adult there to help. The children are encouraged to do as much as possible for themselves, pouring their own drinks etc. The Pre School encourages a healthy eating programme and no fizzy drinks will be provided.

Large Group Time
The children come together for fun in a large group for activities such as stories, dancing, finger rhymes, movement or music.

Small Group Time
The children meet in smaller groups. They get involved in an activity which has been prepared by the adult, but may have come from the interests of the children. Although the adult prepares the activity the children are encouraged to work with materials in their own way and discuss their work with the other children and the Teacher.

Outside Time
Children engage in vigorous, noisy outdoor play. Adults participate in and support the children’s play in an outdoor setting.

Learning Environment
Our school is divided into a number of areas.
Each area has its own sign, showing the type of activities on offer. The materials are kept in containers that the children can reach.
Each container is clearly labelled to encourage children to choose and put away equipment by themselves.

What your children will learn
We recognise that children learn hands on by interacting with their environment adults and their peers, your child will learn and play in a holistic setting where s/he will be able to participate in a variety of experiences that are fun interesting and challenging. Every aspect of the curriculum offered to the children is geared towards the learning process and not the final product. Children are encouraged to explore and investigate, to make mistakes and to find out things about themselves.

The curriculum is based on children learning through well being, identity and belonging; through communication, exploring and thinking.

Settling in
The pre-school staff is happy for the parents to stay as long as it takes to settle their child. Comfort objects belonging to children may be brought to pre-school and each child will have a box with their own name and a symbol in which to put their belongings. We may also have a “Welcome box”.

Codes of practice
A full set of codes of practice is available on request. Policies and procedures are available for all parents to see.

Dress
Please send your child to pre-school wearing suitable clothes. Pre-school cannot accept responsibility for paint stains, etc. We encourage children to try out all areas of play. Please do not send children in with belts/buckles as we encourage them to be able to help themselves at the toilet etc.

Fundraising
During the year there will be fundraising events, to enable us to buy new and replace damaged equipment. Your support will be greatly appreciated.

Food
Children take in their own lunch, and we ask that this is in line with healthy eating guidelines. Please do not send any sweets or fizzy drinks in with your child.

Health and safety
In the interest of health and safety the pre-school operates a strict “No Smoking” policy in the presence of all children, indoor and outdoor.

Outings
During the year we hope to have an outing/s. The pre-school will operate a strict code on the signing of permission slips to attend this outing. We request co-operation from parents in this matter and insurance requires one adult to two children.

Photographs
Photographs are taken of children at group activates and outings. Observations may also capture children’s learning through a learning story approach and be used to inform the learning and assessment process. If anyone has any objection, they should make these known to the pre-school leader.


Child Protection Policy

• The pre-school service undertakes to promote the general welfare, health and full development of children and protect them from harm of all kinds, in line with articles 19 and 34 of United Nations convention on the Rights of the child.
• The service has and will continue to develop procedures to respond to accidents and complaints and to alleged or suspected incidents of abuse.
• The service has commitment to the empowerment of all the children to describe and express their feelings in an acceptable way. This will enable children to develop self-confidence and the skills and vocabulary to deal with inappropriate approaches.
• Copies of the Local Health Board Policy will be available for all. The service will have the name and telephone number of the Children’s First officer in their area and information on local family support service.