Sessions




Our pre-school sessions

We are open during term time, 38 weeks of the year. Our pre-school holidays follow the pattern of Surrey County Council, although occasionally there may be a slight variation.

Morning sessions: 3 - 5 years for children with their 4th birthday between 1st September and 31st August. Our opening times are 8.45am - 11.45am Monday to Friday. Children also have an option to stay for Lunch Club, which is bookable and payable in advance, from 11.45am - 12.15pm.

All-day sessions: 3 - 5 years (6.5 hours). We offer a limited number of places for all-day sessions which are from 8.45am - 3.15pm. These are for children who are in their last year before starting infant school. These places are popular and are initially offered to children who are already attending the pre-school (i.e. spent their first year in afternoon sessions). If any places remain unfilled, then they are offered to children on our waiting list.

Afternoon sessions: 2 -3 years for children with their 3rd birthday between 1st September and 31st August. (3 hours) Our opening times are 12.15pm - 3.15pm Monday to Friday.

During the sessions, children are supported by practitioners in all aspects of play and learning. We use an online learning journal, known as Tapestry, to record your child's learning and development at pre-school. As the most important and influential teacher of your child, we encourage parents/carers to contribute to Tapestry. A collaborative approach between home and school enhances the learning and development of every child through shared information and working together.

Our practitioners follow the "In the Moment Planning" philosophy to provide a rich stimulating learning and environment within which every child can follow their own interests and learn through play.

Using our online learning journal, Tapestry, our practitioners make regular observations, including photographs of children at play, to track their individual progress in line with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS 2024) "Areas of Learning".

Overarching principles of the EYFS

"Four guiding principles should shape practice in early years settings. These are:

• every child is a unique child, who is constantly learning and can be resilient, capable, confident and self-assured

• children learn to be strong and independent through positive relationships

• children learn and develop well in enabling environments, with teaching and support from adults, who respond to their individual interests and help them build their learning over time. Children benefit from a strong partnership between practitioners and parents and/or carers

• importance of learning and development. Children develop and learn at different rates. (see “the characteristics of effective teaching and learning” at paragraph 1.18)

The framework covers the education and care of all children in early years provision, including children with special educational needs and disabilities."

EYFS (2024, p.7)



According to the EYFS there are seven areas of learning and development which inform the activities and experiences offered at pre-school.


Personal Social and Emotional Development

"...involves helping children to develop a positive sense of themselves, and others; to form positive relationships and develop respect for others; to develop social skills and learn how to manage their feelings; to understand appropriate behaviours in groups; and have confidence in their own abilities." EYFS 2024

Communication and Language

"....development involves giving children opportunities to experience a rich learning environment; to develop their confidence and skills in expressing themselves; and to speak and listen in a range of situations" EYFS 2024

Physical Development

"...involves providing opportunities for young children to be active and interactive; and to develop their coordination, control, and movement. Children must also be helped to understand the importance of physical opportunity, and to make healthy choices in relation to food." EYFS 2024

Literacy

"...development involves encouraging children to link sounds and letters and to begin to read and write. Children must be given access to a wide range of reading materials (books, poems, and other written materials) to ignite their interest." EYFS 2024

Mathematics

"... involves providing children with opportunities to develop and improve their skills in counting, understanding and using numbers, calculating simple addition and subtraction problems; and to describe shapes, spaces, and measure." EYFS 2024

Understanding the world

",,,, involves guiding children to make sense of their physical world and their community through opportunities to explore, observe and find out about people, places, technology and the environment." EYFS 2024

Expressive arts and design

"... involves enabling children to explore and play with a wide range of media and materials, as well as providing opportunities and encouragement for sharing their thoughts, ideas and feelings through a variety of activities in art, music, movement, dance, role-play, and design and technology." EYFS 2024

Early Years Foundation Stage 2024. Available at:

EYFS statutory framework for group and school-based providers

A few words from a parent...

We are so grateful to have been part of the community and will miss the Pre-School greatly. A truly wonderful place, staffed by dedicated, nurturing and caring people.

- A parent, summer 2018

Contact Us

If you have any questions, please let us know and we would be happy to help.

Parents/carers are welcome to visit us with their child. We have many visitors and therefore like to arrange appointments.

You can contact us each weekday, between 8.30am and 3pm on:

01372 721111

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