SPAN

Prospectus
Span Pre-School 178 Easton Road Easton Bristol BS5 0ES Telephone: Pre-School 07917 871985 Office 0117 9522712
Registered Charity Number: 109 2929

CONTENTS:

Welcome Our Aims Are Our Staff Key Persons and Your Child Records of Achievement Additional Needs Admissions Procedure Sessions and Opening Times Lunch Fees Arriving and Leaving Pre-school Attendance The Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum Daily Routine and Activities Milk/Snacks What to bring when your child starts Pre-school Settling In Parents Health & Safety Safeguarding Children Complaints Procedure

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Welcome to SPAN Pre-school.

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SPAN is a Non-Profit organization and a registered Charity. The Pre-school is managed by a Board of Trustees who are accountable to Ofsted and have overall responsibility for reviewing policies and practice, employing staff and strategic decision making. The condition of our registration means that Ofsted regularly inspects us in order to ensure that we are meeting the standards required by Ofsted. Our Pre-school offers sessional care for 16 children aged 3-5 years old and 8 children aged 0-3 years old. We are situated in a purpose built setting with an enclosed outdoor play area within the grounds of Silai for Skills. We aim to ensure that all sections of our community have access to the Pre-school and that each child is fully included.

Our Aims Are:

to provide high quality care and education for children in a safe, secure and stimulating environment. to work in partnership with parents to help children to learn and develop to offer children and their parents a service that values diversity and works within a framework that promotes equality for all children and families. to encourage independence, develop self-esteem and self-confidence.

Our Staff
SPAN Pre-school has a suitably qualified and friendly staff team who maintain the ratio of adults to children in the setting that is required by Ofsted. They are: Childcare Manager Abeje Chinangwa Pre-School Leader Sabina Zilul Deputy Leader Rahela Hussain, Pre-School Practitioner - Folasayo Kudehinbu Administrative Assistant Andrea Grant We also have support from a team of qualified sessional staff when necessary. All members of staff are experienced childcare practitioners and are qualified in Pediatric First Aid and basic Safeguarding Children. All members of staff have enhanced police checks by the Criminal Records Bureau and adhere to the policies and procedures of Span Pre-School. You will be able to see details of staff on the Pre-school notice board We recognise the importance of continuing professional development for all staff. As well as gaining qualifications in early years care and education, the staff at our Pre-school take part in further training, to help them to keep up-to-date with thinking about early years care and education. The Pre-school also keeps itself up-to-date with best practice in early years care and education through the Nursery World magazine. 3

Key Persons and Your Child

Our setting uses a key person approach. This means that each member of staff has a group of children for whom she/he is particularly responsible. When you first start Pre-school, your key worker will discuss with you your childs likes and dislikes, any routine your child may have and will help your child to settle. Your childs key person will be the person who works with you to make sure that the care and education we provide is right for your childs particular needs and interests. They will be responsible for observing and monitoring your childs development and this will be recorded in your childs development portfolio. Parents should be confident that any matters discussed with any member of staff would remain confidential, as is our policy.

Records of Achievement
The Pre-school keeps records about each child, including observations about their experiences and achievements at Pre-school. These help us to celebrate together her/his achievements and to work together to monitor progress and plan the next steps in line with your childs interests. We believe that parents know their children best and we ask them to contribute to their learning, by sharing information about what their children like to do at home and how they, as parents, are supporting development. All information within the setting with regard to your child is subject to our Data Protection and Confidentiality policies.

Additional Needs
Children progress at their own rate in all areas of development and this is true for children with and without disabilities or learning difficulties. In accordance with the SEN Code of Practice (2001), we aim to make the appropriate provision for a child who has a special need. We have a designated member of staff who is responsible for Special Educational Needs (SENCO). This means that we will consult with parents or carers concerning any child who is not progressing as well as expected and if necessary we shall alert the appropriate professionals.

Admissions Procedure
Admission to Span Pre-school is open to every family in the community and to families from surrounding areas when places are available. SPAN Pre-school is registered to care for 24 children aged 2 to 5 years old. We accept registration forms from birth and maintan a strict waiting list criteria that take into consideration birth order, length of time since registration, siblings currently in Pre-school and exceptional circumstances. Our registration form asks you to state your preferred days and sessions. We will do our best to accommodate your wishes, however this is not always possible. We will try to offer alternatives whilst keeping your childs name on the waiting list for your preferred day or session. A letter confirming your preferred days, along with an invitation for a short visit, is sent during the term prior to your child/children taking up a place. 4

Sessions and Opening Times

We are open Monday to Friday during normal school term time from 9.00am 3.00pm.

Our sessions are:

Morning 9.00am Afternoons 12.00pm Full Day 9.00am 12.00pm 3.00pm 3.00pm

Funded 3s are required to attend the maximum of 5 sessions per week and fee paying children under 3yrs a minimum of 2 sessions.

Lunch
You will need to provide a packed lunch for your child if they are attending the afternoon session or staying all day. Small lunch boxes are preferable, and should be clearly marked with your childs name. Can you please include a cold pack during warm temperatures. Please provide your own milk feeds and suitable foods for very young children. To help us to promote healthy eating, we suggest you do not include any of the following in your childs lunchbox: Fizzy drinks Sweets/chocolate Please also dont include: Glass containers Food containing nuts or nut products.

Fees
We are in receipt of Nursery Education Funding for children who are 3yrs and 4yrs old and we can claim this grant for you. This is your free entitlement to 15 hours per week of Pre-school education for 38 weeks of the year. At the beginning of each term you will be issued with a Parental Declaration Form which must be signed and returned promptly in order for funding to be claimed. Any extra hours will be charged as shown below. Fees for additional hours are payable in advance by cheque or cash by the first day of each half term when an invoice will be be provided. Fees will continue to be payable if a child is absent for any reason and no refunds can be given. For your child to keep his/her place at the Pre-school, you must pay the fees. Cheques should be made payable to SPAN Study Centre. Waged 4.00 an hour Unwaged/studying 2.50 an hour 5

If anyone is experiencing any difficulties in paying their fees, please speak to the Childcare Manager or Administrative Assistance to try and arrange a flexible framework for payments. We also charge a 10 registration fee to be paid when you take up a place at Pre-school; this is waived for sessions covered by the free education grant. Your child will not be able to take up their place until we have seen their birth certificate, and the the registration fee and first half- terms fees have been paid.

Parents/Carers in Receipt of Grants for Training

Prior to the child attending a Setting session, written confirmation must be provided by the training provider that they will pay for the childcare booked. This must include details of payment to be made including when the paid childcare will start.

Arriving at,and Leaving, Pre-school

Arrivals and departures can be busy times, and parents must take responsibility for their child and any siblings that may be with them, until their child is settled and they have left the building. Please arrive with your child just before the beginning of a session and wait outside until we open the door at the start of each session to give us time to be ready. The door is opened at 9.00 and 12.00 when you and your child will be welcomed into the Pre-School. Please endeavour to collect your child/children on time The door remains locked during the session and is unlocked and monitored during collection times. Please ring the bell to gain access at other times. It is essential that you telephone the Pre-School to let us know if you are delayed. If we have not heard from you within 15 minutes of the collection time, we will make every effort to contact you using the telephone numbers provided on your registration form. If after 30 minutes we have had no response from any of the numbers, we will be obliged by law to contact Social Services who will take responsibility for your child. If you have arranged for another adult to collect your child, please write these arrangements in the diary and also notify a member of staff. Your child will only be allowed to leave with someone if we have been informed.

Attendance
Please give us as much notice as possible of any absence. If your child is absent without an explanation for more than two weeks, their place will be offered to another child. Please note. If you are in receipt of Nursery Education Grant and wish to give up your childs place we will require 1 terms notice in writing. Fee paying places will be required to give 1 months notice. 6

The Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum

We plan activities and experiences which will encourage and support all children, based on the framework within the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum 2012. There are seven areas of learning and development that must shape educational programmes in early years setting. The Prime Areas Communication and Language Listening and attention: children listen attentively in a range of situations. They listen to stories, accurately anticipating key events and respond to what they hear with relative comments, questions or actions. They give their attention to what others say and respond appropriately, while engaged in another activity. Understanding: children follow instructions involving several ideas or actions. They answer how and why questions about their experiences and in response to stories or events. Speaking: children express themselves effectively, showing awareness of listeners needs. They use past, present and future forms accurately when talking about events that have happened or are to happen in the future. They develop their own narratives and explanations by connecting ideas or events. Physical development Moving and handling: children show good control and co-ordination in large and small movements. They move confidently in a range of ways, safely negotiating space. They handle equipment and tools effectively, including pencils for writing. Health and self care: children know the importance for good health of physical exercise, and a healthy diet, and talk about ways to keep healthy and safe. They manage their own basic hygiene and personal needs successfully, including dressing and going to the toilet independently. Personal, social and emotional development Self-confidence and self-awareness: children are confident to try new activities, and say why they like some activities more than others. They are confident to speak in a familiar group, will talk about their ideas, and will choose the resources they need for their choosen activities. They say when they do or dont need help.

Managing feelings and behaviour: children talk about how they and others show feelilng, talk about their own and others behaviour and its consequences, and know that some behaviour is unacceptable. They work as part of a group or class, and understand and follow the rules. They adjust their behaviour to different situations, and take changes of routine in their stride. Making relationships: children play co-operatively, taking turns with others. They take account of one anothers ideas about how to organise their activity. They show sensitivitiy to others needs and feelings, and form positive relationships with adults and other children.

The Specific Areas Literacy Reading: children read and understand simple sentences, They use phonic knowledge to decode regular words and read them aloud accurately. They also read some common irregular words. They demonstrate understanding when talking with others about what they have read. Writing: children use their phonic knowledge to write words in ways which match their spoken sounds, They also write some irregular common words. They write simple sentences which can be read by themselves and others. Some words are spelt correctly and others are phonetically plausible. Mathematics Numbers: Children count reliably with numbers from one to 20, place them in order and say which number is one more or one less than a given number. Using quantities and objects, they add and subtract two single-digit numbers and count on or back to find the answer. They solve problems, including doubling, halving and sharing. Shape, space and measure: children use everyday language to talk about size, weight, capacity, position, distance, time and money to compare quantities and objects and to solve problems. They recognise, create and describe patterns. They explore characteristics of everyday objects and shapes and use mathematical language to describe them. Understanding the world People and communities: children talk about past and present events in their own lives and in the lives of family members. They know that other children dont always enjoy the same things, and are sensitive to this. They know about similarities and differences between themselves and others, and among families, communities and traditions. 8

The world: children know about similarities and differences in relation to places, objects, materials and living things. They talk about the features of their own immediate environment and how environments might vary from one another. They make observations of animals and plants and explain why some things occur, and talk about changes. Technology: children recognise that a range of technology is used in places such as homes and schools. They select and use technology for particular purposes. Expressive arts and design Exploring and using media and materials: children sing songs, make music and dance, and experiment with ways of changing them. They safely use and explore a variety of materials, tools and techniques, experimenting with colour, design, texture, form and function. Being imaginative: children use what they have learnt about media and materials in original ways, thinking about uses and purposes. They represent their own ideas, thoughts and feelings through design and technology, art, music, dance, role play and stories. We observe childrens play, learning and progress and record them in each childs portfolio. Parents are invited to look at their childs portfolio regularly and if they so wish are invited to add comments, observations or photos of their progress.

Daily Routine
The Pre-school has a routine, which includes free play, structured activities, songs and stories, physical play and refreshment breaks. Children under 3yrs are provied with stimulating activities, encouraged to share with others and integrate with the older children at various times throughout the day. More information about the timing of the day can be found on the Pre-school notice board.

Choice of Activities
The Pre-School organises its sessions so that the children can choose from, and work at a range of activities and, in doing so, build up their ability to select and work through a task to its completion.

Group activities
The children are also helped and encouraged to take part in adult-led small and large group activities that introduce them to new experiences and help them to gain new skills, as well as helping them to learn to work with others. 9

Outdoor Activities
Outdoor activities contribute to children's health, their physical development and their knowledge of the world around them. The children have the opportunity and are encouraged - to take part in outdoor child- chosen and adult-led activities.

Milk/Snacks
The setting makes snacks a social time at which children eat together and each child is provided with a drink of milk or water and fruit, vegetables or dried fruit during the session. Water is available throughout the session for your child to access if needed. Please tell us about your childs dietary needs and we will make sure that these are met.

What to bring when your child starts Pre-School

Fruit/Vegetable Donation
As part of our healthy eating policy, we ask families to donate at least one piece of fruit or vegetable a week. A fruit bowl is available on the cabinet by the front door in which to place your donations. The fruits and vegetables are shared in our Snack-Time during the morning and afternoon sessions. You will be notified of any fruit we cannot accept due to allergies.

Spare clothes/nappies
Children will need to bring in a bag of spare clothes in case of accidents or if they become wet or dirty. This bag can be left on their coat peg. If your child is in nappies, please remember to bring in spares, wipes and creams.

Name Labels
We would be grateful if you could put your childs name in their clothing, especially their coats. A lost property box is provided.

Sun Cream and Sun Hats

We tend to stay outside longer on sunny days. Please ensure that on warmer days your child is wearing sun cream on arrival and have a suitable hat to wear. We will request permission to reapply sun cream for children staying for the full day.

Comfort Items
Comfort items are welcomed at Pre-School and we have trays to keep them safe during the sessions. Children can have access to or keep hold of, their comfort items during the session.

Settling In
It is important for parents and staff to work together to help your child to feel confident and secure in the group as an unhappy child is unable to play or learn properly. This can take longer for some children than for others and parents should not feel worried if their child takes a while to settle. 10

Please be prepared to stay with your child in the Pre-school or within easy reach by mobile phone, until your child is happy and secure. We hope that your childs time at SPAN Pre-school will be a very happy and productive one. If you have any queries, or if we can be of any help, plase contact a member of staff at any time.

Parents
SPAN Pre-school recognises parents as the first and most important educators of their children. All of the staff see themselves as partners with parents in providing care and education for their child and parental involvement is considered to be an essential part of our Pre-school. There are many ways in which parents can take part in making the setting a welcoming and stimulating place for children and parents such as: exchanging knowledge with the staff about your childrens needs, activities, interests and progress being involved and helping occasionally at one of the Pre-school sessions sharing your own special interests with the children

Health & Safety

We cannot look after sick children at the Pre-school, or administer nonprescribed medication. For further information, please see our policy on administering prescribed medication. Please inform the staff about any allergies or medical conditions. If your child has head lice please treat promptly to ensure they dont spread to others. Please do not bring children to Pre-school if they have an infectious disease or have suffered diarrhoea or vomiting in the past 48 hours. If a child becomes unwell in Pre-school we will make every effort to contact the parent or the alternative contact number. There is always a recognised First Aider on duty during a session. We will keep parents informed of any accident that has occurred to their child whilst in our care and an accident/incident book will be signed by the parent/carer of any child with an injury. Please inform us of any injury your child has sustained whilst in your care as this needs to be recorded in our records.

Safeguarding Children
SPAN Pre-school aims to create an environment which promotes and safeguards the welfare of children which includes protecting children from maltreatment, preventing impairment of childrens health or development and ensuring that children are provided with consistent, safe and effective care.

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We have a duty to refer any allegation, complaint or concern received relating to a child to Social Care or the Police. A nominated member of staff is responsible for Safeguarding issues. A copy of our Safeguarding Childrens Policy and Procedures and all other Pre-School policies are available on request.

Complaints Procedure
SPAN Pre-School aims to deliver a high quality service in the care and education of your children. We hope to provide children with the best possible start whilst enabling parents to work, study or volunteer in the community. We promote a supportive, happy working environment for staff and encourage parental involvement. However, there may be something that you are unhappy about and if this is the case, the following procedure exists for your guidance. 1. In the first instance, you may wish to approach your childs key person to discuss issues concerning play activities, lost clothing etc. The majority of concerns are settled at this stage. 2. If the issue is not resolved at the first stage or you feel unable to discuss the problem with the person concerned, a complaint can be made to the Childcare Manager (Abeje Chinangwa), Deputy Manager (Sabina Zilul) or SPAN Study Centre Director (Tove Samzelius). Parents and staff are entitled to an informal confidential discussion before making a formal complaint. 3. By this stage the Childcare Manager (Abeje Chinangwa), Deputy Manager (Sabina Zilul) or SPAN Study Centre Director (Tove Samzelius). may have received an official complaint; this may be verbal or written. You are entitled to a written response within five working days. 4. If you are still unhappy, having received a reply from the appropriate member of staff you should contact the Chair of SPAN Personnel Group. A complaint at this stage will be acknowledged within three working days and (if necessary) a hearing will be arranged within fifteen working days. You are entitled to bring a friend to any hearing arranged. You are entitled to a full explanation and details of any action taken within twenty working days. If this is not provided, a full explanation of any delay will be given. Any complaint concerning a breach of Ofsted Regulations under the Childrens Act can be reported to Ofsted. Chair of SPAN Personnel Group SPAN Easton Community Centre Kilburn St. Easton Bristol BS5 6AW OFSTED Early Years Directorate National Business Unit Piccadilly Gate Store Street Manchester M1 2WD Helpline 03001231231 Complaint line 03001234666 Email: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk 12

Please write PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL on all letters of complaint

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