Prospectus

Introduction
Sheering Village Pre-school is situated in the Village Hall of Sheering. There is ample parking and it backs onto the recreation playing fields. We enjoy very close links with Sheering C of E Primary School and even have a path linking the two. The Pre-school has access to one small hall, a small room (used for listening skills), a large hall and a computer room.

Sheering Village Pre-school became Commitee run and a charity in 1989, because of this we are non-profit making. All fee monies pay for wages and the hall, equipment is paid for out of fund-raising which is carried out by the Commitee.

Children can be accepted from 2 years old until they enter school.

Times of Opening
09:00am until 12:00pm monday to friday
(holidays are mostly as local schools - term dates will be issued to you anually).

Parents
Parents are welcome to help on Pre-school mornings. if you would like to please speak to the Pre-school leader.

Please consult the notice-board for details of special events which may require volunteer helpers i.e trips to the local church.

Any ideas for fund-raising suggestions are most welcome.

All parents are invited to join the Commitee, It's a very good way of finding out what goes on and how things are run.

Commitee
The Pre-school is run on a charitable basis with a constuition and Management Commitee.
The main aim of the Commitee is to ensure the pre-school runs efficently and it is responsible for
the financial running of the pre-school. If you are interested in joining the Commitee,
please contact a Commitee member. Details of Commitee members are on the notice board.

Staff
Beryl Gurteen - Pre-school Leader
Janet Wederel - Pre-school Deputy
Maria Camp - Pre-school Assistant
Caroline Humphreys - Pre-school Assistant
Jo Lynch - Pre-school Assistant

Joining
We are registered for children aged from 2 years until school entry. Please be prepared to
stay for the few first sessions, if necessary. We also like you to come twice with your child for
visits before starting Pre-school. Appointments should be arranged with the Pre-school leader.

Fees
Fees are payable a half term in advance by requested date and cover the cost of the hall, staff salaries, consumable and sundry items. Large items of equipment are paid for by fund-raising. If fees are not paid by the requested day, or alternative arrangements have been made with the Treasurer, your childs place may be reliquished. Notification of fee increases will be given with plenty of notice (usually at least 6 weeks) and are payable whetheror not the child attends all their allocated sessions. It is a requirement to give a half term notice to change days of attendance or if a child is to leave Pre-school. If a half term notice is not given, full payment in lieu is required. If payment is not received Pre-school will be obliged to take legal action. New starters will be issued with a bill following a two-week settling in period.

Collection
Please notify the Pre-school staff member on door duty when someone else is collecting your child so that it can be entered in the diary (this is a legal requirement), that person may be asked to sign the diary before the child leaves.

Illness
If, through illness, your child is not benefiting by being at Pre-school then the Pre-school leader may telephone you to collect your child before the end of the session. Please keep your child at home if he/she had bad coughs or colds, or seems unwell before the start of Pre-school as stated in the Pre-school Policies.

Clothing & Jewellery
Children are incouraged to explore and learn through paint, playdough, sand, etc and aprons are used but please dress your child in suitable clothing. Whilst we do not agree with children wearing jewellery if a child is wearing jewellery and an accident/injury occurs as a result of it, then the Pre-school cannot accept responsibility.

Problems
If you have any problems concerning your child, feel free to talk to a member of staff or Commitee Member (preferably during Pre-school hours or at a pre-arranged time).

Notice-board
Matters relating to Pre-school activities are posted on the main Village Hall notice-board, just inside the main door and please read it regularly.

Visitors, Outings & Special Occasions
We like to arrange for other people in the community, eg. Fireman, Policeman, Dental nurse to visit the Pre-school. We also like to take the children for walks around the village to promote road safety, nature walks, community awareness i.e. danger signs and different types of houses. A consent request is included in the Registration Form. This takes place around the local housing estate where the roads are quiet. The children are allowed to play on the adjacent Recreation Ground under the supervision of the Pre-school staff. Occasionally, we may take the children to the church, when we do we may ask for volunteer helpers to escort the children.

Policies & Procedures
We have clear written policies/procedures regarding the following:

Copies of these policies/procedures are available on request to the Pre-school leader or commitee secretary.

Pre-school Learning Alliance
We are members of the Pre-scholl Learning Alliance who keeps us informed of meeting/topics/courses of the interest for those involved with the under fives. The PSLA also provides us with a PSLA Development Worker to ensure we have access to the training we may require, they can also advise us of correct procedures where necessary.

Ofsted
Being involved with the Early Years Partnership and being able to accept Early Years funding we are regularly inspected by Ofsted. Our most recent inspection took place January 2003 which resulted in a very good report and we are not due another inspection for three to four years. All staff are familiar with the Curriculem Guidance for the Foundation Stage and The Birth to Three Matters Framework as set out by the DfEE/QCE. Staff have attended the following courses especially designed for those involved in Pre-school care:

Beryl Gurteen

Janet Wederel

Maria Camp

Caroline Humphreys

Jo. Lynch

What are Pre-school Activities

Adventure Play
Using large play equipment such as a climbing frame, trampoline, or sit and ride toys, helps develope bodily strength and co-ordination, and build self-confidence.

Make Believe
Children engage in make-believe by dressing up, using the home corner, with small scale models, construction toys, dolls and puppets.

Sand & Water, Dough/Clay
Children find these fascinating and they are able to explore and learn through their senses, whilst enjoying soothing, calming play. In using these materials, children gain ideas about solids and liquids, weight and volume, shaping and moulding.

Painting & Drawings
Children can paint and draw freely, and are not limited in the amount they do. They are not shown how to paint and may simply wish to cover the paper with colour. After a great deal of experiment they may begin to paint or draw marks that represent objects, at their own place.

Collage/Model Making
Using a range of materials, children find out how to cut, stick and decorate, experimenting with size, shape, colour, matching and measuring.

Games & Puzzles
Pre-school offers a wide range of games and puzzles so that each child can find challenge and interest at his/her own level of development. They can be used individually or co-operatively.

Music & Sounds
As well as learning songs and rhymes together, children can explore a range of sounds with our musical instruments.

Books
A range of suitable books is always available which children can choose from to look at alone, with an adult or in a small group, as well as listening to stories at 'story time'.

Building & Construction
A varity of materials for assembling and building are available, such as interlocking bricks, wooden blocks and construction sets. Woodwork tools are used on a one-to-one basis.

Cookery
This is always a popular activity which is supervised by an adult in small groups. Children are usually able to take their creations home, unless eaten beforehand!

Computer
We have two computers to help the children become computer aware.

The Green Room
When children are close to entering school they are given the opportunity of going to the Green Room where they can experience more structured activities and take part in more involved listening skills to get them ready for school. In the Green Room the children play 'rule' games, listen to more involved stories (with or without pictures) they also carry out pen control exercises.

Government Funding

At present all children are funded from the term following their 3rd birthday. The government funding is for 33 weeks per year (spread over 3 terms) of two and half hour sessions. We open for 37 weeks per year and offer three hour sessions we have therefore had to introduce 'add on' fees. This means if a term is longer than 11 weeks you will be given a bill at the start of the term for the additional weeks (no more than two weeks) we do not charge for the extra time.
As mentioned previously we are registered with Ofsted and folllow the Government Guidelines as set down by the DfEE. This means the planning of the curriculum is broken down into 6 developmental areas:

These areas are broken down still further providing the Foundation Stage. Each child has a key-worker which allows us, through observations, to provide the best start for your child. Each child is treated as an individual and is challenged according to their stage of development not their age.

Sheering C of E Primary School

Children who will be attending Sheering Primary School are invited to join the Reception Class (usually on Wednesday mornings) for singing, this is a useful way for the children to become familar with the school and the class teacher before entering school. We are also invited to attend the Schools Pantomime, Mothering Sunday service, Harvest Festival, Concerts and Christmas services. Details of the school can be obtained by ringing the school office on 01279 734210.