SELSDON BAPTIST CHURCH PRE-SCHOOL

PRE-SCHOOL COMMITTEE

The Pre-School is run by a committee and all our policies have been agreed at committee meetings. The committee members are elected each year at the Annual General Meeting in January. Committee meetings are usually held between 9.30 and 10.30 because this has proved the most convenient times for members. This is however, a flexible arrangement and can be changed to suit the current members. The committee decides on such matters as fees, staff appointments and fund-raising events. All members are made most welcome.

FUND-RAISING

The Webb Ivory catalogue is used for fund-raising and issued twice a year. Orders are received promptly and any queries are dealt with immediately.

Home-made cake sales, face painting and fancy dress weeks are planned regularly. Along with Sutton Seeds and yellow moon catalogues.

PARENTS ROTA

There is a rota for you to sign against a morning you would be willing to help during Pre-school session. This help is greatly appreciated and the children like to see a 'new' adult to play with.

SETTLING AT PRE-SCHOOL

Starting at Pre-school can be difficult for both the child and the parents. We would like you to stay with your child for the first session

You may wish to stay a short while on your child's second session but once you decide to say 'goodbye' do so fairly quickly as lingering farewells make a child anxious. Any worried children will be looked after immediately and no child is left to cry.

Pre-school open each weekday morning in term time - 9.30-12 Noon.. A list of term dates is available.

Children are admitted to the Pre-school after their second birthday, providing they have reached the physical and mental maturity to operate without their parent or carer for a few hours, and providing they are mature enough and a place is available.

The Pre-school is open to every family in the community. There is always a waiting list. The list is operated strictly on date of registration order, reviewed each term.

Fees are fixed by the Pre-school committee. The current fees are £6.50 per session. Fees are payable for each half term. Please speak in confidence to one of the staff if you have a problem with paying fees. If your child is absent from Pre-school for 4 weeks or more during half term due to illness, we will charge half fees on production of a doctors certificate.

The hall doors are open at 9.30am. A member of staff will always be at this door while it is open to both greet you and your child, and to make sure no child leaves the building without their parent or carer.

The hall doors open at 12noon. Two members of staff are on duty at this door to take the register and to make sure no child leaves unattended. If a different person from usual is collecting your child, you MUST inform us of this. Please collect your child promptly. If you are going to be unavoidably delayed, please telephone and let us know. If a child is not collected we have a duty to contact Social Services.

Should you need to return to the halls at any other time, there is an intercom entry system inside the outer doors. An office member will contact the Pre-school to come and meet you.

PVC aprons are worn for messy activities. Our paints are mixed with soap to facilitate laundering. Please do not send your child to Pre-school in new or expensive clothing because accidents do happen. Any items left in the cloakroom should be named.

For health and safety reasons the children may wear only stud earrings. Necklaces, bracelets and rings are not to be worn to pre-school.

The National Curriculum Foundation stage begins when children reach the age of three and is not intended to limit the experience of children in pre-schools and nurseries. This does not mean that pre-school learning experience are unimportant. On the contrary, the basis for all future learning established in early play. Attitudes are acquired during the pre-school years. The curriculum for the foundation stage should underpin all future learning by supporting, fostering, promoting and developing children's:

Personal, social and emotional well-being: in particular by supporting the transition to and between settings, promoting an inclusive ethos and providing opportunities for each child to become a valued member of that group and community so that a strong self-image and self-esteem are promoted;

Positive attitudes and dispositions towards their learning: in particular an enthusiasm for knowledge and learning and a confidence in their ability to be successful learners;

Social skills: in particular by providing opportunities that enable them to learn how to cooperate and work harmoniously alongside and with each other and to listen to each other;

Attention skills and persistence: in particular the capacity to concentrate on their own play or on group tasks;

Language and communication: with opportunities for all children to talk and communicate in a widening range of communication skills they use and to listen carefully;

Reading and writing: with opportunities for all children to explore, enjoy, learn about and use words and text in a broad range of contexts and to experience a rich variety of books;

Mathematics: with opportunities for all children to develop their understanding of numbers, measurement pattern, shape and space providing a broad range of contexts in which to explore, enjoy, learn, practise and talk about them;

Knowledge and understanding of the world: with opportunities for all children to solve problems, make decisions, experiment, predict, plan and question in a variety of contexts, and to explore and find out about their environment and people and places that have significance in their lives;

Physical development: with opportunities for all children to develop and practice their fine and gross motor skills and to increase their understanding of how their bodies work and what they need to do to be healthy and safe;

Creative development: with opportunities for all children to explore and share their thoughts, ideas, feelings through a variety of art, design, and technology, music, movement, dance and imaginative and role play activities.

SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS POLICY

Our Pre-School aims to have regard to the D.F.E.E. Code of Practice on the identification and assessment of S.E.N. To provide a welcome and appropriate learning opportunity for all children. Children with S.E.N. like all other children are admitted to Pre-School after consultation between parents, Pre-School leader and keyworker. Our system of observation and record keeping, which operates in conjunction with parents, enables us to monitor children's needs and progress on an individual basis. If it is felt that child's needs cannot be met in Pre-School without the support of a one to one worker, funding will be sought to employ one. We work in liaison with staff outside the group including Therapists, Health Visitors, Psychologists, Pediatricians and portage to meet children's specific needs. Our staff attend whenever possible in-service training on S.E.N. arranged by Croydon Pre-school Learning Alliance and other professional bodies.

RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION AND CELEBRATIONS

Selsdon Baptist Church Pre-School is 'under the umbrella' of the church. We aim to give children an awareness of Christian values and the story of Christianity. We are however sensitive to other religious beliefs. We celebrate Christmas with a week of related activities and a nativity tableau on the last day of the autumn term. We ask parents to dress the children as shepherds or angles for this, and to stay for the Christmas story and carols. A party and entertainer for the children follows the tableau. Any parent has the right to withdraw their child from any such religious instruction or celebration. The Pre-school leader will arrange this with you.

BIRTHDAYS

A child's birthday is celebrated by wearing a special hat which is a cake and singing 'Happy Birthday' to them.

ANNUAL OUTING

Each year Pre-School go to an exotic location, usually Godstone Farm. The farm offers a wide variety of experiences for the Pre-school child and each year has something new. Parents or carers come along with their child, so it is a great social occasion.

PHOTOGRAPHS

In October we have a visit from the photographer who will take individual or family photographs. They are usually available in early November, and extra prints can be ordered for Christmas. At the end of the Pre-school year we have a whole Pre-school photograph taken, which is an ideal momento of earliest friends and first steps towards independence.

HEALTH & SAFETY

Illness - Some illnesses develop very quickly and a child, who arrives felling well, may need help before the end of session. Pre-schools are not suitable, enjoyable places when a child is ill. An unwell child should be taken home, so we contact the parent or carer at once. We will lie the child down in a quiet corner with an adult sitting close by, until the child is collected.

Infectious diseases - Children are not allowed to attend Pre-school with an infectious disease. The length of the minimum period of exclusion can be obtained from the Pre-school leader or your doctor. We will inform you if one particular infection is 'going around' the Pre-school.

Other health problems - There are other several conditions that can easily spread by close contact among children. These include the viruses and bacteria that cause diarrhoea and vomiting, conjunctivitis and impetigo, and parasites like head lice and worms. Once the child has started treatment and is well, they may return to Pre-school. Please give at least 48 hours since an attack of diarrhoea or vomiting before returning the child, to help prevent the spread of infection.

First Aid - Pre-school has a fully equipped First Aid box and many of the staff hold a St. Johns Ambulance certificate in emergency first aid.  Minor accidents and incidents are logged at the time, and the parent or carer will be asked to sign the book as proof that you have been told of the accident. If a carer collects your child, they will be told of the accident and asked to sign the book as usual but written notification will be forwarded to you, together with a return slip to confirm you have been informed.

Medicines - You will be given a leaflet with your 'welcome pack' that details the strict conditions under which we can administer medicines. These conditions cannot be waived.

Wet knickers/pants - For those children who are not completely toilet-trained we advise parents to dress their child in 'pull-ups'. In cases of a child soiling themselves we will contact the parent/carer to either come and change their child or take them home. Children should be able to ask or indicate to an adult that they need the toilet. Children are always accompanied to the toilet as we share the halls with other groups. A toilet reminder is sometimes given before storytime, as a constant stream of children leaving the group can be distracting.

EQUIPMENT

Our equipment is constantly checked for safety and cleanliness. Towels and washing water are changed as necessary during the session.

FIRE DRILL

We practice fire drill regularly in a manner that does not frighten the children. We leave by the main or side door fire exit. The children are under constant supervision at all times. We meet in the alleyway next to the church drive for the fire drill register, then return to the hall.

DISCIPLINE

All children in our care are treated with respect. A child is never smacked, shaken, treated roughly or humiliated. Everybody, however, needs discipline, a system in which a child knows what is acceptable and a framework that it understands. We expect a mutual respect for property and other children.We reward good behaviour with praise. If a child misbehaves we will talk to them about socially undesirable behaviour so that they understand why they should not behave in a particular way. We label the behaviour as naughty, not the child. Should any specific concerns arise due to unacceptable behaviour, we will consult the parents.

GUNS

We do not allow children to bring guns to the Pre-school, neither do we permit them to make guns out of the construction equipment.

DRINKS

Water is available throughout the session. A drink of milk or water is available at group time at 10.30am, together with a biscuit, fruit or toast.

SWEETS AND CHEWING GUM

Please do not send your child to Pre-school with sweets or chewing gum.

TOYS

A basket is provided in the large hall for toys brought from home. The children are not allowed to touch anyone else's toy on that table. A soft comfort toy is often very helpful for a child who is still settling in. These toys are, of course, are left at your own risk.

COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE

Should you have any complaints about any aspect of the Pre-school please see the Playleader so the matter can be resolved. Any committee member will also be able to help. If you wish to take any complaint further, please contact the Pre-school Learning Alliance Branch Office on 020 8656 6012. If this fails to resolve the problem and there are still concerns, please contact OFSTED (The Office of Standards in Education) at Ofsted National Business Unit, Royal Exchange Building, St Ann's Square, Manchester, M2 7LA. Tel No: 08456 404040

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES POLICY STATEMENT

Selsdon Baptist Church Pre-school takes positive steps to eliminate discrimination in all areas, offering equal chances to all children in its care, their families and staff.

CHILD ABUSE POLICY STATEMENT

As a professional childcare establishment we are legally bound to report any forms of abuse which become apparent whilst a child is in our care.