Our Prospectus

Thank you for showing an interest in Peachcroft Pre–School, a registered charity and non profit making organisation. Peachcroft Pre-school provides developmentally appropriate play activities and a high child initiated play. We work with in the early Years Foundation stage (EYFS) which leads to nationally approved learning outcomes for from birth to five years. We are inspected by OFSTED to ensure that we follow the EYFS. For an application form click here.


Our Pre-School:  Top▲  
         
       Aims
 •   To enhance the development and education of children under statutory school age in a parent involved, community based group
 •   To provide a safe, secure and stimulating environment
 •   To work within a framework that ensures equality of opportunity for all children and their families
 •   To provide a specially tailored curriculum that leads to approved learning outcomes
 •   To provide a high adult to child ratio
 •   To create a wider community by including family members in pre school activities

         But above all to have fun and build friendships, children and adults alike

Assistant - Janine Tonkin - Equal Opportunities:
 

	Qualifications: Training:	NVQ3 Children’s Care Learning and Development First Aid for Child Carers Jun 08 Family Breakdown How children cope Mar 08 Epipen Oct 08 Gastrostomy Training Oct 08 Equality & Diversity Jan 09 Safeguarding Children Feb 09 Face Painting Feb 09 The Sky’s the Limit Mar 10
	Mother of 1 boy and 1 girl.  Both Children attend Rush Common Primary School. Previously worked for Lloyds TSB Private Banking for 20 years. Joined Peachcroft Preschool in February 2008.

Assistant - Zena Pratley - Key person co-ordinator:
 

	Qualifications: Training:	NVQ 2 & NVQ3 in Children’s Care, Learning Development Gastrostomy Oct 08 Face Painting Feb 09 Safeguarding Children Feb 09 EYFS Observations and Assessment Planning June 09 Key person Training Mar 10
	Mother of 1 boy and 1 girl.  My son is at Fitzharrys and my daughter attends Rush Common Primary School, Joined Peachcroft Preschool in September 2008.

Assistant: Annette Child's
 

	Qualifications: Training:	ASET Diploma in Child Day Care Gastrostomy Training Oct 08 Safeguarding Children Feb 09 Face Painting Feb 09
	Mother of 1. Appointed as member of staff in September 2009.

Assistant: Fiona Milne

The Role you can play as a Parent:  Top▲

As a parent run management committee and as a charity we do ask for parents to get involved at Peachcroft Pre-school. Anything from helping with fund raising(!!), becoming a committee member, parent helper, making cups of tea, cleaning toys and equipment or distributing posters- there are many ways to help sustain the group. We are always thrilled to receive useful objects for craft sessions such as yoghurt pots, off cuts of material or small cardboard boxes. Please let us know if you know anybody who has access to off cuts of unused plain card, paper or other stationery items, we are always very grateful.
Research shows that children learn better when their parents are involved. We would love any parent who wants to help out to do so whenever they want to. This helps to maintain the high ratios of adults to children in our pre school.


Childs Development Records:  Top▲

We operate a key person approach. Due to the good ratio of adults: children we are able to implement an excellent record keeping system in which observations of the children are used as a basis for drawing up a curriculum for each child and to help with the transition to school. We operate a key worker system where a child is linked into a small group with a member of staff. At the end of the Summer when a child leaves you will receive a report from your child’s key person.  Parent surgeries are incorporated once a term to enable parents to discus their child's progress and to look at their profile.


Curriculum:  Top▲

Language and literacy:
Children are encouraged to extend their vocabulary and fluency by talking and listening in group activities and by hearing and responding to stories, songs and rhymes. We have introduced Phonics to the children and concentrate on a letter per week, singing songs with the letter in and an interest table in which the children are encouraged to bring in items from home relating to that particular letter. Children are helped to understand that written symbols carry meaning, to be aware of the purpose of writing and, when they are ready, use drawn and written symbols for themselves. A well stocked and comfortable book corner gives every child the opportunity and encouragement to become familiar with books, able to handle them and aware of their uses as a source of reference, as well as stories and pictures.  We also use imaginative play, games, puzzles, music, domestic play, and computer.


Personal and social development: Top▲

Within a nurturing environment children are individually supported in developing confidence independence and self respect. They are encouraged to work and concentrate independently and also take part in the life of the group, sharing and cooperating with other children and adults. Through activities, conversation and practical example, they learn acceptable ways to express their own feelings and have respect for the feelings of others. All children are given the opportunity, as appropriate, to take responsibility for themselves and also for the group, its members and its property.  This is evidenced by snack time, story time, singing, role playing games, physical play, choosing activities, settling into Pre-school, tidying up and making friends.


Problem solving, Reasoning + Numeracy:  Top▲

By means of adult supported practical experience, children become familiar with sorting, matching, ordering, sequencing and counting activities, which form the basis of early mathematics. As they use their developing mathematical understanding to solve practical problems, children are assisted to learn and use the vocabulary of mathematics and identify objects by shape, position, size, volume and number. Songs, games and picture books all combine to help the children become aware of number sequences and use simple mathematical operations, e.g. addition.  Also available to the children are beads, mosaics, construction activities, sand and water play, games and puzzles, cooking and the computer.


Knowledge and understanding of the world:  Top▲

A safe and stimulating environment allows children to explore and experiment with a range of natural and manufactured materials. They learn to observe the features of objects and substances, such as recognising differences and similarities and to share and report their findings. Children are assisted in exploring and understanding their environment, both within the group and also the community. A range of safe and well maintained equipment enables the children to extend their technological understanding. Through using simple tools and techniques they can learn to achieve technological objectives and solve problems.  This can be demonstrated by using sand and water play, computer, remote control cars and Beebots, different types of dough, cooking looking at the natural world and the weather.


Physical Developments:  Top▲

A range of indoor and outdoor play equipment allows children to develop confidence and develop their motor skills. A high level of adult supervision enables children to safely create and meet physical challenges, developing increasing skill and control in moving, climbing and balancing. At the same time children are supported in the development of the fine motor skills needed to manipulate pens and pencils and to handle small objects with increasing skill and precision.


Creative Development:   Top▲

Children are encouraged to use a wide range of resources in order to express their own ideas and feelings and to construct their own individual response to experience in two and three dimensions. Art equipment including paint, glue, crayons and pencils as well as natural and discarded resources provides for an open ended exploration of colour, shape and texture and the development of painting, drawing and collage skills. Children join in with and respond to music and stories, and there are many opportunities for imaginative role play, both individually and as part of the group.  Evidenced by painting, drawing, craft activities, music, dough and clay, the role-play area such as zoo, farm, airport and trains etc…


Links to Rush Common Primary School:  Top▲

Links to Rush Common Primary School our rising 4’s visit the school once a term.  They have the use of Clare’s Garden, a special play ground available to the Reception children of the school.  Mrs Bosley the head of Reception at Rush Common visits the pre-school on a regular basis in order that the children get to know her.  The children moving on to the Primary School will visit on three separate occasions as they near primary school age, for play and story time and to meet the rest of the children in their class (parents will be informed). We incorporate footsteps into theses visits by teaching the children road safety on our walk to the school. Our staff also have good links with the school.  Karen, Jackie, Janet, Afsheen, Janine and Zena all have children that attend the school.  Most of the Committee have older children at the school and younger ones at the Pre-school.  All these links aid smooth and happy transition when the time comes for your child to move from pre-school to primary school.


Policies:  Top▲

Our policy statements are kept in the operational plan in the hall during pre-school sessions. All our policies are designed to offer the best possible experience for the children and families in the group. Our policies are reviewed on a regular basis and comments and suggestions from parents are always welcome. We ask all parents to read the policies. The operational plan can be found on the table just inside the entrance door. To see and download the policies. New EYFS Policies Menu


Inclusion Support:  Top▲

The number of adults present enables us to provide individual attention for each child. Each child is able to progress at his/her own rate in all areas of development and this is true of children with or without disabilities or learning difficulties. All children are welcome. We are experienced in working in close liaison with professionals across the range of special needs. If you would like to discuss the groups ability to meet your own child’s special needs please talk to Jackie Bailey who is appointed as the Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO). Special funding is sometimes available for additional needs.


Health and wellbeing:  Top▲

We ask for information regarding allergies, health, immunisations and emergency care. This information will be kept by the Supervisor and play staff are made aware of. If your child becomes unwell during the session you or your emergency contact will be informed and your child will need to be collected if deemed necessary. Our sickness policy is: Any child with an infectious illness should not attend until fully recovered, although minor coughs and colds need not necessarily prevent attendance. However we do ask that your child not attend preschool for a minimum of 48 hours following diarrhoea and vomiting. Should your child not be attending pre-school then please phone to let us know.
Please keep staff informed about any change in circumstance such as a change of address, phone number, emergency contact number or doctor. It would also be helpful that the Supervisor be informed of any circumstance that may emotionally affect your child’s wellbeing e.g. bereavement, moving house, separation or an illness in the family. All such information will remain strictly confidential.


Accident Book:  Top▲

Any accident at Peachcroft Pre-school is recorded in the Accident Book. Parents will be asked to view and sign the book should their child suffer any accident. This not only ensures that accidents can be monitored but that parents are kept informed of any knocks and bumps.


School Gates/Alarms:  Top▲

The doors are locked and alarmed when the last parents have left the pre-school, the gates are padlocked before the children go out for outside play.


Helping to prepare your child for pre-school: Top▲

Peachcroft Pre-school offers education and care for children below school age and over 2 ½ years.  We accept children with nappies and will help in the progress  of toilet training by encouraging them to use the potty/Toilet. 


The first days: Top▲

A child who is tense or unhappy will not be able to play or learn properly so it is important for parents and pre school staff to work together to help the child feel confident and secure in the group. This can take longer for some children than others and parents should not feel worried if their child takes a while to settle. If your child has a particular comforter please bring it along. The preschool policy for settling in is available during sessions for anyone to see. While your child is going through the settling in process, we ask that you consider your child's needs and stay and settle them if necessary, as you know your child best. We understand that each child is different and may need time.


What to wear: Top▲

In order to feel free to explore and experiment with all kinds of materials (including messy ones) it is best to send your child to pre-school in clothes that are easily washed or not too new. Simple clothes that children can manage themselves enable them to go to the toilet when they want to and put on and take off out door clothes without assistance and enable children to practice skills that further their independence.


Management and Administration: Top▲

Decision making
Our pre-school is run by an elected committee (generally parents/relations) which ensures that major decision making remains in the hands of the parents. The committee is responsible for reviewing both policy and practice and for the employment and appraisal of staff members. Peachcroft Pre-school is a registered charity and is linked to the pre-school learning alliance and we adhere to the Charity Commissions Constitution. Our Annual general meeting is held at a time to coincide with end of year accounts and parents will be informed of the date in good time so they are able to attend.


Fees:  Top▲

The current cost per session is £8.00 (This is  subject to annual review).  Government funding is currently available in Oxfordshire for children starting at the beginning of the term following their 3^rd birthday, until they go to school.  This means the Local Education Authority provide a free place for your child to attend a recognised early years education provider for up to 5 sessions per week.  We are, of course, a recognised early years education provider.

A charge of £3.50 per term will be made per child to cover the cost of fruit provided by the pre-school for the children’s snack time.


The current committee members:  Top▲

The current committee members’ names are on the notice board just inside the main hall within Pre-school. Please feel free to talk to any of them or a member of staff if you have any questions. Please also ask if you would like to see our latest OFSTED report.
Peachcroft Pre-school quick information for parents

We are open Mon – Fri 8.45am to 14.45pm

Our Address:

Peachcroft Pre-school
Community Centre
Lindsay Drive
Abingdon
Oxon
OX14 2RT

Our Phone number: 01235 555808

Admissions: 01235 532338

Website Address: www.peachcroftpre-school.co.uk

Email Address: karen@peachcroftpre-school.co.uk

We are members of the Preschool Learning Alliance
Membership number 25572

We are registered with OFSTED No: 133406

Registered Charity No: 1022442

Our Pre-school Supervisor is Mrs Helen Day.

Location:
We can be found in the Community Centre. Please use the disabled entrance at the back of the Centre and ring the doorbell a member of staff will identify you and hand you over to the Supervisor.


Parking:
Please use the Car Park in front of the centre.
 

Community Centre, Lindsay Drive, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 2RT  
Telephone: Abingdon (01235) 555808 Email: karen@peachcroftpre-school.co.uk
Charity Commission Registration Number: 1022442
 
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