Cherry Tree Pre-school
Cherry Tree
Pre-school
Contact Information:
Leader: Siobhan Miles
Holmer Green First School
Watchet Lane
Holmer Green
Buckinghamshire
HP15 6UG
Mobile: 07532 312058
School Office: 01494 712050
Enjoying the outside play area
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.holmergreenfirst.bucks.sch.uk
Page 1
Cherry Tree Pre-school
Index
Welcome
Page 3
We Provide
Page 3
Our Staff
Page 4
Contact between Parents and Pre-school
Page 4
General Information
Page 5
Fees and Funding
Page 5
Visits and Settling in
Page 5
Clothing
Page 5
Our Routine
Page 6
Themes
Page 7
Code of Conduct
Page 7
Infectious Diseases
Page 7
Curriculum Planning
Page 8
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Cherry Tree Pre-school
Welcome to Cherry Tree Pre-school
We hope to welcome you and your child to our Pre-school and
anticipate a successful and happy partnership with you. Our aim is
for your child to make a successful transition from home to Preschool and then finally to school. We believe that learning through
play in a happy, safe and secure environment is how children will
develop and flourish. We provide a warm and friendly atmosphere
where we encourage the children in our care to explore the world
around them, to feel confident to try new things and to develop
their independence and social skills.
Siobhan Miles
Pre-school Leader
We Provide:
 Qualified, experienced and dedicated staff
 A wide range of learning activities
 Outdoor areas
 A warm and friendly atmosphere
 A safe and secure environment
 Spacious areas within Holmer Green First School
 OFSTED registered
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Cherry Tree Pre-school
Our Staff
We work on OFSTED guidelines for adult to child ratios which are 8:1 for
those under 5 and 4:1 for those under 3.
The staff are qualified, experienced and have a caring attitude. We operate a
key person system and your child’s carer is available to discuss his/her
progress at any time. All staff are vetted by the Criminal Records Bureau and
the majority are first aid trained.
Siobhan Miles
(Pre-school Leader)
Rhonda Macintyre
(Deputy Pre-school Leader)
BA in Supporting Learning and
Development
Foundation Degree in supporting
Children’s Development and
Learning
Level 3 in Children’s Learning and
Development.
Diploma in Pre-School practice
Certificate in Pre-School practice
Linda Veasey
Certificate in Pre-School practice
Helen Owen
Diploma in Pre-School practice
Belinda Amatt
NNEB Level 3
Eloise Carter
Pam Toovey
Introduction to Pre-School practice
Louise Vickery
Natasha Lugli
Contact between parents and Pre-school
A successful partnership needs a two-way flow of information: parents are
welcome to discuss any point regarding their child at any time. We have
formal parent interviews twice a year, when we discuss the child’s
assessment record and ask parents for their comments and observations.
Half-termly newsletters are sent to keep parents up to date with themes and
forthcoming events. Parents and other family members will be invited to the
Christmas play etc.
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Cherry Tree Pre-school
General Information
The Pre-school is open from 9am –
3.05pm Monday to Friday during
term time only.
Children aged from 2 and a half to
4 plus can attend Pre-school. 2 and
a half year olds will be offered a
place as soon as they are 2 years
and six months old.
Every child that joins the Preschool must have a fully completed
application form, detailing anything
we need to know, such as medical
requirements for example. We also
need to see a birth certificate.
For information about places either
visit our website or contact us in
the school office.
Fees and Funding
The Pre-school receives 15 hours
funding per week for 3 and 4 year
olds. This is allocated on a termly
basis the term after they are 3
years old. The fees for children
under 3 are £14.00 per session and
£13.65 for over 3s. Refunds cannot
be given due to illness, holidays,
etc. Please ensure that all fees are
paid promptly.
Visits and Settling in
Visits and show rounds of the Preschool are by appointment only
between 9.15am and 10.00am.
Settling in periods are also offered
between these times to ensure the
smoothest transition as possible
Clothing
Children should wear simple practical clothing. Aprons are provided for
painting, water and other messy activities, but this does not always prevent
paint and glue getting on their clothes.
Each child should have a named
bag (preferably drawstring) that
can either be left at Pre-school or
brought in daily containing:
- shoes/slippers/plimsolls
- a change of clothes
- spare pants if toilet training
- nappies
The children will go outside in the
majority of weather, so they will
also need
- suitable outdoor clothing
relevant to the weather
- a sun hat in the summer
- sun tan cream applied
before coming to Preschool
- all items should be named
Circle games on the playground
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Cherry Tree Pre-school
Our Routine
On arrival there is a period for settling in and Registration, followed by
Controlled free play
This takes place in the main room and covered outside area with the
opportunity to free flow inside and outside.
Activity choices include:

Sand/Water/Messy play

Malleable activity – e.g. play dough

Literacy area – book corner and mark making

Numeracy area – shape, colour activities

Large and small construction activity

Role play/Home corner area

I.C.T

Physical

Art and Craft
Making Bread!
Snack Time
After washing their hands, the children are given the choice of milk or water to
drink, a selection of fruit and a healthy snack, such as breadstick, pitta bread,
melba toast, cracker etc. Drinks cannot be brought in from home. Please
inform us of any food allergies your child has.
Group Time
Badgers and Squirrels
Outdoor Play
The children go outside on the playground /field
for a 20 minute session each day in the majority
of weathers (as in line with the EYFS)
Singing Time
Home Time
“Magic” painting the wall!
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Cherry Tree Pre-school
Themes
Every month we have an overall theme, which is then broken down into
weekly topics. The children are encouraged to bring in relevant (named) items
to discuss at group time.
Code of Conduct
Hands are for helping not hurting
Share and take turns
A tidy place is a safer place.
Books and toys are for us all to enjoy – please look after them
Say please and thank you
Walk don’t run indoors
Infectious Diseases
If your child has an infectious illness please inform us as soon as possible. Do
not send your child back to Pre-school within 48 hours of having sickness or
diarrhoea as they may still be contagious.
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Cherry Tree Pre-school
Curriculum Planning
The Pre-school follows the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum which
goes from birth to the end of the reception year at school. When planning for the
curriculum the aims for the children are to develop the following six areas of
learning.
Personal, Social and
Emotional Development
Developing
skills
to
help
understand the world in which we
live in and help children be aware of
their own needs and those of the
people
around
us.
To
be
independent, self-confident and a
valued member of the group. To
learn social skills such as how to
play alongside and co-operate with
others, share resources, take turns,
respect
property
and
their
environment. To respect differences
and consider the consequences of
their words and actions to others
and themselves.
Sleeping lions
Communication and Language
To respond to adults and each other, to practice and develop their vocabulary and
communication skills and to listen attentively. Listening, speaking and written
language are key skills that children show competencies in. To give children
opportunities to experience a rich language environment.
Expressive
Design
Arts
and
To explore and share their thoughts,
ideas and feelings through a variety
of art, design and technology, music,
movement, dance and imagination
and role-play activities. Using a
broad selection of materials a child
should be able to express and
communicate their feelings and
ideas. This also helps the child to
understand the connection between
one area of learning and another.
Creative water play
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Cherry Tree Pre-school
Physical Development
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. Encourages skills such as:
balancing, co-ordination, movement, manipulation and control can contribute to maintaining an
active and healthy lifestyle, which in turn will have a positive impact on young children.
Understanding the World
To solve problems, make decisions,
experiment, predict, plan and question in a
variety of contexts, and explore and find out
about their environment and people and
places that have significance in their lives.
Developing a child’s observation and
investigation skills are crucial to raising
awareness
and
understanding
their
environment. This helps to form the basic
foundations for future work in other subject
areas such as Science, Design and
Technology and ICT.
Our pasta theme week
Mathematical Development
Covering such areas as: number recognition, pattern making, relationships and developing
mathematical ideas with methods to problem solve. Maths is also useful as a discussion tool to
describe things such as shapes and sizes. To develop their understanding of number,
measurement, pattern and shape, matching and sorting by providing opportunities in which
they can explore, learn, practice and talk about them.
Literacy
Involves encouraging children to link sounds and letters and 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.
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