The children at Willow Bank Pre-School are working within the Foundation Stage of their education. Our Learning and Development Programme is play based and planned within the guidelines set by OFSTED, DFE and the Early Years Development Team. Children are placed in groups with shape names when they start at Pre-School and each group is linked to two key persons. We would like to briefly explain the structure and some of the activities that take place.
A typical session would run as follows:
08.45 or 12.30 Welcome time: Please wait outside until we open the door at the start of each session to give us time to be ready. When you arrive, you should encourage your child to hang up his/her coat and collect their name card off of the table and stick it to the magnetic board by the quiet room entrance (this activity is for name recognition, please do not find your child's name and hand it to them, they will soon learn to recognise it when pointed out to them). Children then proceed into the quiet room where we sing songs, talk about the day, weather etc. and inform the children of any changes to the daily routine i.e. visits from police, fire fighters etc. The children then join their key person in their groups for group registration.
09.00 or 12.40 Registration: Children are marked in on group registers informally whilst chatting with their key person about what they have done since last being in Pre-School.
09:05 or 12:45 Small Group Activity and Plan: Small Group Activity is an adult led activity based on different areas of learning - Knowledge & Understanding of the World, Creative development, Problem Solving, Reasoning and Numeracy, Physical development or Communication, Language & Literacy. The children work in their small groups with one of their key persons each day. The groups rotate daily to cover the areas of learning.
09:25 or 13:05 Child Initiated Work Time:
Snack time: This is incorporated into child initiated work time in the form of a snack table. An area is set aside for children to take their snack at a time of their choosing, supporting their Personal, Social and Emotional development skills. The children are encouraged to take turns pouring drinks (milk or water) and sharing the snacks (fruit or breadstick) remembering 'Please' and 'Thank you'.
Story time: The children come together for a story.
Large Group Activity: An activity encouraging whole group participation that could include role play, music and rhythm, ring games, parachute games or something similar. Occasionally this time may be split into two groups.
Outside play (weather permitting): Children can access a range of activities available in our garden area (if weather is inappropriate child initiated work time is extended or we will play ring games/role play.) Children are encouraged to help tidy the outside area before going back inside.
Library time: This is currently held on Mondays and Thursdays with children given a Library card, folder and book at the beginning of each term and on return of the book the key worker will encourage the child to talk about the book they have returned and to choose a new book to enjoy at home with their family.
11:45 or 15:30 Home time: Children return to their tables and any parent helper is thanked.
11:45 to 12:30 Lunch Club: Children will be encouraged to eat a healthy lunch bought from home. (No fizzy drinks, sweets or nuts allowed.)
A fun PE session is held one day a week for both a.m. and p.m. children.
On Friday, our teddy bears "Bramble" and "Willow" choose a child to spend the weekend with.