Pre School

A Parent's Handbook

Welcome to Pre-School

 

The Pre-School Teacher is:

Mrs. J. Smith

Her assistants are:
Mrs. D. Rae

Getting ready for Pre-School

1. Before the first visit:

· Talk about the visit as an enjoyable event.

· Visit the classroom on Mother and Toddler mornings.

· Leave your child with friends or relatives.

· Tell your child that Parents leave their children at school to play with others.

· Reassure your child that you will return.

· Provide opportunities for your child to play with groups of children as well as with individuals.

· Let your child share both toys and play space with others.

2. Your child will need:

· School uniform (listed at the end of this handbook.

· A smock with a coloured loop at the top for hanging on your child's peg.

· Mittens on tapes for cold days.

· Boots for snowy days as well as shoes.

· A towel with a coloured loop at the side for hanging on your child's peg.


PLEASE LABEL, WITH WOVEN NAME TAPES, ALL POSSESSIONS, INCLUDING SHOES, WITH YOUR CHILD'S NAME

3. It is helpful, but not essential, if your child can:

· Manage clothing and footwear - buttons, snaps or zippers. Velcro fasteners are very much easier for a child to manage and are recommended.

· Give his/her name and telephone number.

· Understand and use basic safety rules.

· Wash and dry his/her hands.

· Follow simple directions.

· Eat with a knife and fork or at least know what they are for.

· Drink from a standard cup or glass.

4. Appearance and presentation:

Boys' hair must be cut to fall above the collar. We suggest Parents also avoid very short hair - it can lead to difficulties in the playground.

Girl's hair may be long but it must be tied back to prevent it falling forward over the face as they bend forward to write. Ribbons, hair-bands, slides and bobbles must be royal blue. Girls may not wear nail varnish in school. Earrings are not allowed in Pre-School: they are dangerous and may cause injury to your child.

Please encourage your child to walk into school - DO NOT CARRY THEM IN (or out). This is particularly important if your child is reluctant to come into school.

 

Under no circumstances are children accepted into Pre-School if they still need a dummy or are not yet dry.

School Health Services

The Area Health Authority School Services do not attend children in Independent Schools. Parents must visit their own doctor or the Area Health Authority to have the pre-school medical examinations.

About your child's health

Care of the teeth is important to the proper development of the permanent teeth. You should have your child's teeth examined regularly and any defects corrected.

Nutrition plays an important part in the life of a growing child. Help your child to get a good start to the day by providing a well-balanced breakfast. During the mid-morning break the children are given milk or orange drink and a biscuit.

Our lunches are carefully designed to appeal to small children whilst being nutritious and enjoyable. Children may bring in a small snack to eat during their break time. If it is too big the children will not eat their lunch. The school provides a mid morning drink in Pre-School.

Parents of children requiring special diets should discuss their requirements with the Registrar.

Adequate sleep allows your child to grow and to gain the most from the day. It is better to have your child in bed and reading, preparing for sleep, than running around the house.

Enclosed with this handbook is a personal questionnaire. Please complete it fully and return it to the school as soon as possible.

AN EMERGENCY NUMBER (NOT YOUR OWN) MUST BE GIVEN. In the event of illness or accident we must be able to contact someone who is prepared to look after and take responsibility for your child. If no one is available the school, acting in loco parentis, will take the necessary decisions and actions.

When your child is ill

Children should be kept at home if they are unable to participate fully in all of the Pre-School activities. One sick child returned to school whilst still ill will infect all of the other children in the class and possibly the school. Please telephone the school, after 8.30am, if your child is unable to attend through illness.

Return to School

Children may not return to school unless they are able to fully take part in the school day. This includes outdoor play. The school will not allow children to remain unsupervised in a classroom.

What happens on the first day of school?

We recommend that Parents arrive with their child between 8.30 a.m. and 8.40am and go immediately to Pre-School where the teacher will be awaiting the children. When the teacher receives the children and takes them into the class do try to say ‘goodbye' at the door. You may be invited to remain if your child is distressed.

Once you leave do not come back into school ‘just to see if they are alright'. It upsets the children and makes it more difficult for the staff. If you are anxious, please telephone the school during the morning and we will be happy to check on your child and give you a report.

If your child fails to settle we may invite you to stay for longer periods, gradually weaning your child away from you. Alternatively we may suggest that your child is not yet ready to leave you and that a fresh attempt should be made after a half term of further maturity at home. The class teacher will happily discuss these options with you.

Playing, Learning or Both?

Play/learning takes many different forms in Pre-School. Free painting is available most of the time and controlled painting, i.e. painting various objects also takes place. This teaches the children co-ordination skills, visual skills, colours, shapes and consistencies.

Playdough, clay and plasticine are used to teach early maths and letter formation and recognition as well as modelling the usual animal and cake shapes. Cooking is a very good and enjoyable maths lesson involving counting, weighing, estimation and measuring.

The class computer is available for most of the day with simple dictionary or other suitable English work available. Lessons may be instructive or investigative with the children leading the work according to their interest.

Creative work follows a theme and, as much as possible, is linked into the class topic work for the term. The work produced is used to decorate the classroom and reminds the children of the lessons delivered. Colours, textures, counting and number and letter recognition, vocabulary expansion and discussion of less familiar objects are all incorporated into the creative work.

Thus the children learn through play without realising that it is all part of the teaching and developmental process.

May my son wear long trousers?

Short trousers are worn all year. Long trousers are only permitted in the Spring Term (January to Easter). This rule is usually relaxed if the weather becomes sufficiently cold. Parents are informed by notices at the school entrance and by Pre-School staff.

What do the children have for lunch?

The children may stay to lunch as soon as they are ready and this is often one of the great developmental steps for them. It is the first step towards a full day's attendance and demonstrates the child's enjoyment of school and their confidence in us and the learning environment. Older children in Pre-School all stay to lunch.

We provide lunches containing as much fresh produce as possible. The menus are designed to be wholesome and attractive to the children. Menus are varied and carefully balanced to conform to the new Government regulations and contain several choices. The Registrar or Headteacher is always happy to discuss the menus with Parents.

Parents with children who may have special dietary requirements should discuss these with the Registrar. Our aim is to make the dining experience as enjoyable as possible for all children.

We are here to help you!

Your first and most frequent contacts with the school will be through the school office. The Registrar and Bursar are always available to answer questions that may occur during your child's time at this school. Educational matters will be referred to the teacher concerned or to the Head Teacher and the Principals.

The Head Teacher is always available to see Parents, by appointment, during school hours.

Teaching staff are always available to see Parents when necessary and at short notice if the problem is immediate. Appointments to see teaching staff should be made through the Registrar or directly with the Pre-School teacher.

Please do not attempt to discuss lengthy problems with the Pre-School staff first thing in the morning. They must register the class and settle the children. As a guide, any discussion which is likely to take more than five minutes will require an appointment to be made.

IT IS A POLICY OF THE SCHOOL THAT STAFF ARE MADE AVAILABLE TO PARENTS AT THE EARLIEST OPPORTUNITY.

Pre-School

When will my child move on to Kindergarten?

The class teacher will be constantly evaluating your child during his/her time in Pre-School. Your child's time will have steadily increased from mornings to full days and they will have become quite happy to stay with us for lunch. The introduction to any academic work will have been covered to ensure that your child is ready for the transfer.

To deliver the Pre-school curriculum we follow the Early Years Foundation Stage framework and time allocation. This ensures the proper progress and achievements of a very diverse group of children with differing ages. Some children are ready for full time school at an early age and others are much more reluctant to leave their Parents.

Children in Pre-School are expected to attend for a minimum of two mornings at the age of two and a half, although a full week's attendance is allowed. By the final term in Pre-School, space permitting, the children may be attending for five full days to prepare them for entry into Kindergarten in the following September. Thus, there is a very gradual build of attendance time as the children grow and mature. Parents should be guided by the class teacher about readiness for more attendance and by the Registrar for available additional time in class.

Parents who are unwilling to allow their children to extend their attendance may opt not to do so but may find additional time later in the Pre-School year is unavailable. These children will transfer to the full time Kindergarten class in the September of the academic year in which they will attain five years of age. The Registrar will be pleased to assist Parents with this decision.

What will my child do in the second year of Pre-School?

The syllabus for the second year in Pre-School explores the topics covered much more fully whilst expanding the children's knowledge of their world. Much emphasis is still placed upon social integration and learning to work and share within a group. The teaching remains very individual with work produced being marked and corrected whilst the child is with a member of staff. Many different topics will be covered during the year, each designed to broaden and extend the children's knowledge.

Reading will continue with every child being heard to read every day. Parents have the opportunity to share their child's school day by helping the children with their reading every night. A home/school book will give Parents the information to assist in this way.

Written work continues the high standards set in the first year with the children gradually developing the skills learned and beginning to expand the amount written to simple ‘news' stories.

Mathematics will be covered in very practically based mathematical games and computer work. The children quickly learn to add and subtract, using singing games and nursery rhymes and fingers where necessary. Curriculum areas covered are art and creative work, simple technology, computer assisted learning, science and cookery, singing, P.E., Music and Movement and a variety of other subjects.

Where appropriate the class will go on visits to suitable places of interest such as the farm, the Fire Station or the Aquarium. These visits will expand the children's understanding of the class topic for that term

Questions often asked

Is my child ready for Pre-School?

The Pre-School curriculum and activities are designed to meet the needs of children who are aged from two and a half years and over. If you have questions about your child please talk to the teacher responsible or to the Headteacher. They are there to help and advise you.

You will also be invited to come to the school to hear a talk from the Pre-School teacher. Following the talk and any subsequent discussion you will be able to ask the teacher about your child and how well s/he has settled to the class routine.

Is there communication between the pre-school staff and the Kindergarten teacher?

The class teacher will monitor all children's progress during their time in the Pre-School Department. In the final term before moving on to Kindergarten there is discussion and observation of the children to ensure a smooth transition to Kindergarten. The children will usually spend some afternoons in the Kindergarten class to accustom them to their new surroundings and to their new teacher.

What happens during the first days in school?

The first priority is to make the children feel secure, relaxed and happy and to integrate them quickly into the class with their new friends. The children find this atmosphere very conducive to learning in both structured and free choice play.

Social graces are considered an important part of Pre-School education, as are good manners and discipline. The children learn to play and share together with their peers, both through communication and in more practical ways.

The teachers and their staff use this time to become better acquainted with the children and to assess and plan for their individual needs.

The introductory visits

Prior to your child joining the school you will be invited to visit the class on one or more of the of the Mother and Toddler mornings that are usually held half termly. Here the children meet each other with the security of Parents present. (Parents also forge friendships on these afternoons).

A child destined for Pre-School will usually also spend an afternoon in with the class helping them to integrate easily when they finally join the school.

This first visit does much to allay the fears that your child may have about being left with strangers. You may be asked to leave for a short period to show your child that you will return to collect them later. Do talk about the visit later and remind them of the new friends waiting to play next time that they visit.

What if my child needs a special diet?

The school must be informed of any child who needs a special diet. We cannot prepare special food for such children although the wide choice available usually means that all children can take school lunches. If this is not the case then lunches for them will be supplied by their Parents. Parents must make every effort to prepare food which is similar to ours. Children on special diets may also ‘mix and match' if they are able to eat some of the food that the school provides.

What are the school holidays?

The dates of the school holidays are attached. Where possible we try to match the dates of our half terms to those of the local maintained schools.

Parents are advised to try to fit holidays during the school holidays. There is always some loss of learning when holidays are taken during term time.

What about in-term holidays?

When children reach legal school age they are allowed to be legally absent for no more than two weeks during the school year. Permission for this absence must be obtained from the Headteacher and Parents are required to show it to any authorised person.

What are the school hours?

The school doors are opened at 8.15 am each morning. The school does not accept responsibility for the children until the bell rings at 8.45 am, although a member of the school Senior Management Team is usually on duty in the top playground from 8.30a.m., At 8.30 a.m. the staff will collect the children and take them into the classroom for registration. Parents are responsible for the behaviour of their children until the first bell rings and the staff accept the children.

Please do not let the children be late - these are bad habits for full time school.

THERE ARE NO LATE CHILDREN - ONLY LATE PARENTS!

Please be on time to collect your child. Pre-school classes finish at 3.25 pm. The children become most anxious if there is no one waiting to collect them in the playground at home time.

If you need to send someone else to collect your child please be sure to inform the school by letter or telephone. We will not allow the children to leave school with a stranger, including taxi drivers.

When may I telephone the school?

Please do not telephone the school before 8.30 am or after 4.30 pm each day.

May the children bring toys to school?

The children may bring a small toy to school initially if this comforts the child. Do not send precious cuddly toys - if they become lost or damaged the repercussions can be too terrible to contemplate. Dummies are not allowed. We do encourage a suitable storybook that could be read to the class just before home time but it must be clearly named and handed to the teacher.

When may I visit the Pre-School?

We welcome Parents into the Pre-School classes to see the children's work when the school day has finished.

This is the time to find out how your child has spent his/her day: very few three and four year olds want to tell you about the school day when they have left. Visiting the classroom keeps you in touch with what is going on and you will be able to reinforce the work at school with discussion at home.

What should I do if my child is ill?

Your child should be kept at home if they have any of the following symptoms:-

Vomiting, sore throat, earache, runny nose, enlarged glands, coughing, red or discharging eyes, headache, chills or fever, pain or skin rash. You will be called if your child develops any of these while at school.

These rules are for the good of all, including the teaching staff! Children brought to the classroom who are clearly unwell or, in the opinion of the staff, may be infectious, will be refused admittance.

Children in school must take part in all of the activities of the school day including all breaks and playtimes. Children are not allowed to stay in classrooms unsupervised during breaks.

Does the school give medicine to children?

The school is willing to give medicines to children, where prescribed by a doctor, but cannot guarantee to do so. If it is vital that your child has medicine and Parents wish to assure themselves that the medication has been given during the school day then they must come to the school to give the dose at the correct time. A consent form, which permits the school to give a child prescribed medicine, must be completed by the Parents for each illness. Forms are kept in the school office. Certain medicines, which are for long-term use, may have a single form that will last for a full term.

Children, for whom failure to give medication may have serious results, are treated differently and specific arrangements will be devised to ensure the safety of the child. We do not administer eye or ear drops.

It is imperative that all medicines of any kind, including tablets and any other simple remedies, are handed to the class teacher as soon as they are brought into the school. Certain ointments, which can be applied by the child when needed, are also permitted. They must be collected by an adult at the end of school each day. All medication must be clearly marked with the child's name and contain complete dosage instructions. A spoon must be supplied with each bottle of medicine.

Children who need inhalers for any breathing difficulties may carry them on their person. Current medical thinking is that this is the safest and fastest way for the child to have immediate access to their medication. There is no possibility of damage being caused to a child who, by mistake, uses an inhaler belonging to another child.

The school must be informed, in writing, of any inhalers carried by the children.


No child is allowed to carry any other medication, tablets or proprietary remedies on their person whilst in school. This includes allergy medicines, hay fever remedies or any other non-prescription or herbal medicines.

A simple remedy for your child could be fatal to someone else's!!!

Head Checks

The school performs head checks for head lice during periods of high infestation. These are now a feature of modern day school life. Where a child is found to be infested the Parents are advised so that the child may be treated by whatever current proprietary medicine is in use. The school, your doctor or pharmacist will be able to advise about suitable treatments.

Parents should also make regular checks for infestation.

Should a Parent find that a child has an infestation the school must be advised so that we can perform our own checks to clear the school.

What happens if my child does not settle?

Often children give the appearance of not settling to Pre-School by crying, tantrums and stories of other children who are unkind to them. These are the children who will be thoroughly absorbed in the class activities before you, feeling wretched, have gone out of the school gate. Some even remember to cry again just as it is time to go home.

Do not be fooled..... it is their way of making sure that you think constantly about them during the school day. It sometimes shows that they are finding it difficult to dominate and run the class as they run things at home.

Mother and Toddler mornings have largely done away with this difficulty but if your child is really distressed it may be suggested to you that you remain for a little longer until they settle.

Sometimes we suggest that they need to attend for shorter periods of time to get used to the new day. These periods of time are slowly lengthened, until they are able to cope with a complete session.

In the rare event that they continue to be distressed it will be suggested to you that your child is not yet ready for Pre-School and that they remain at home for an agreed period, a month, perhaps a half term before a re-introduction to the class. If this does occur your child will not lose their place and fees will usually be credited against their return.

IF YOUR CHILD IS UNHAPPY WE WILL CALL YOU -
IT ACHIEVES LITTLE KEEPING AN UNHAPPY CHILD AND THE OTHER CHILDREN BECOME DISTRESSED

Goals for Pre-School children

To develop a positive self image by:

experiencing success

learning to cope with feelings

being needed and wanted

relating to other children in their peer group.

To develop understanding by:

learning about self and others

exploring and making choices

becoming more self directing

becoming a responsible group member.

To increase information skills through:

listening, tasting, touching, seeing, smelling,

collecting, observing, identifying and naming objects

enjoying books, pictures and first‑hand experiences.

To broaden interests through:

getting ideas from others

using many materials

evaluating what has been done

exploring in the classroom

What your child will be doing in Pre-School...

· Learning about rhyming, letter names and sounds

· Discovering differences in colours, shapes, letters and sounds

· Writing, using upper and lower case letters, to form words and simple sentences

· Learning to read and enjoy books

· Playing in creative ways with classmates. Listening to and following directions

· Learning new words, new ways to make sentences and expression of ideas

· Looking at children's books and pictures

· Beginning scientific explorations by becoming aware of the "why" and "how" of the world in which we live.

· To count and recognise numbers (0‑10 or more) and early mathematical principles

· Looking for patterns and relationships

· Learning positional terms; on, above, beside, below

· Using terms of comparison such as: longer, shorter, more, less, larger, smaller

· Comparing shapes and sizes

· Expressing feelings and creative ideas by painting, sculpting, drawing and constructing

· Participating in musical activities: singing, rhythms, creative responses. Practising principles of health and safety

· Engaging in activities that will help develop gross & fine motor skills. (P.E. and Games)

· Special subjects:

Learning to recognise colours

Learning social independence i.e. put on and fasten own coats, hats etc.

Participate in small group discussions.

· Communicating with their peers and adults. Reinforcing social graces.

· Learning to share with others.

Reporting pupil development:

Each child has a comprehensive attainment and development report which covers their first years in Pre-School and which is returned to the school at the beginning of each term. A complete picture of your child's progress is thus gained. You will also be invited to attend an open evening during the year where a verbal report on your child's progress will be given and any questions you may have will be answered.

The class teacher is always willing to see Parents, by appointment, to discuss specific difficulties that the child may have encountered or worries that Parents may have.

The Principals or the Headteacher are always available to see Parents, by appointment, to assist in any way that they can.

Manners:

The children are expected to practise good manners on all occasions. Parents must reinforce these vital lessons at home to ensure continuity of education.

Care of our environment:

We take great pride in the school and its gardens. The children are taught to take care when in the playgrounds.

Parents are expected to encourage the children in this attitude. Parents must also control small children in their care and prevent damage to the school environment.

Dogs may not be brought onto the school premises.

Home routine:

Please inform the Pre-School staff of any change in the normal pattern of home life, (Business trips, house moves, serious illness or bereavement etc). This information ensures that the staff are able to make allowances for behavioural problems and take any necessary action.

Enjoy your child's school life

Visit your school

Learn about the Pre-School programme

Confer with your child's teacher

Regularly visit the classroom at the end of the school day

Enjoy your child's start at school

Take an active part

Any school is as successful as the sum of its component parts and the effort each puts into the school's daily life and work. The Parents form an important part of this dynamic equilibrium. Parents who take a keen interest in their children's progress and who volunteer to help within the school gain much from the association.

All Parents should join the Parents Association. This enables them to meet other Parents on social occasions organised by the committee. Money raised by these events benefits all children in the school. The Parents Association is always looking for help and willing volunteers.

Attend school‑sponsored events

Volunteer your help...

If you have the time! Not all Parents are able to help: they too have commitments.

Assist your child's teacher on request if you are able

Help with class visits to places of interest (you may enjoy it too!)

The Parents Association always needs willing helpers.

Contact the school office for information about voluntary help

If you have any special talents that you would like to share with the

Pre-School class please speak to the teacher concerned.

Sharing your child's day

It is important to show that you value your child's learning experiences.

Have a quiet time alone with your child where you can encourage your child to talk about their school day. Talk about any special things that happened that day. Please wait until you are at home unless they volunteer the information. Do not put pressure on your child for details of their day.

Be a good listener. Let your child talk. Ask questions that take some thinking before replying such as: "Why do you think so?" "What do you think is happening?"

Go through your child's papers that are brought home each day. Look at all the papers and notices and comment on them. If papers are just thrown out, your child will feel that their efforts are neither valued nor important.

Select a special place in your home where your child can keep books and papers. This can be a shelf or drawer. It helps to have a place where younger brothers and sisters cannot reach to tear up a child's possessions.

In order to avoid confusion in the morning you should assemble all your child's things for school the night before. Get into the habit of a calm arrival at school and in good time. It is better to be late and calm than to have the whole family in uproar for want of a little planning and routine. It takes a long time to calm a child before learning can begin.

Allow your child time for unstructured play.

A daily experience with books is vital to encourage your child's interest in reading. READ TO YOUR CHILD EVERY DAY. Your local library has books for young children and will assist in book selection if asked. Parents may also become members of the Danbury Library.

Most children enjoy television. It is a good idea to sit and watch selected programmes with your child and decide whether they are appropriate for regular viewing. Violent programmes may cause violent behaviour in the playground.

There are many opportunities every day to enhance your child's language skills. Some basic language skills include:

· naming objects and things ‑ (food, animals, clothing)

· telling the use or function of things ‑ (food is to eat, a stove is to cook on, a house is to live in, a doctor is to help people stay well)

· sorting or classifying ‑ (shapes, foods, jobs)

· knowing general information such as (age, birthday, last name, body parts, colours, telephone number and ,if possible, their address)

· answering who, what, when, where, how questions

· describing common events ‑(getting dressed, visiting the dentist)

· discuss children's news programmes.

Newsletters

The school produces newsletters regularly. Please read them carefully, they contain news, information about forthcoming events and much more. Parents should check satchels each night for reading homework if applicable, notes, information and newsletters.

Imagination

Children are inventive and imaginative. They will tell you many stories as they grow and develop, and fantasy is as real to them as is truth. They will tell stories which are patently fantasy. They will also tell stories which sound very true......


REMEMBER, REMEMBER, REMEMBER, REMEMBER!

WE promise not to believe everything they tell us about you,

IF

YOU promise not to believe everything they tell you about us.

. . in closing

As your child's first teacher, you have played a vital role in your son or daughter's emotional, social and intellectual development. Now, as your child enters Pre-school we form a partnership with you to continue that development and to promote new learning.

Pre-school is a time of encouraging the curiosity and joy of learning that children bring to school. It is an exciting time when children have an opportunity to explore language, numbers, art, music, movement and their environment. The key to the success of our Pre-School is our recognising that each child is unique and that children learn in different ways in accordance with their own development patterns.

We encourage close communication between the home and school. We encourage you to visit the school and to share information about your child's progress. In turn, we shall keep you well informed about your child's development.

This is the start of your child's academic life. Our goal is to make it positive and successful. Together, we can make this goal a reality.

Kindergarten - the next step

Much of the information given for Pre-School also applies to children in Kindergarten

Your child will move on to Kindergarten in the September of the year s/he will be five. This is full time education. Heathcote School does not admit children part-time in the Kindergarten class. Before this, in the Summer term, s/he will have been making regular visits to Kindergarten to find out about their next class, the teacher and all manner of things important to them.

Information Evenings

Before your child enters Kindergarten from Pre-School you will have been invited to the school to listen to a talk, given by the Kindergarten Teacher, about the year to come. Parents who have chosen not to use our Pre-School will also be invited to the talk. After the meeting there will be an opportunity to meet and talk with the staff teaching your child next year.

Foundation Stage Profiles

The Foundation Stage Profile is a booklet that is started at the end of Pre-School and completed during their year in Kindergarten.

There is no test involved

The class teacher simply observes and records the skills that your child has developed at this point in their life. The evaluation is then compared with their Keystage 1 results when they are in Year 2 (Age 6+) to ensure that satisfactory progress has been made compared to the standard that they were at when they entered full time education.

Attendance

Now that the children are in full time school it is vital that they attend regularly and are at school in good time for morning registration. Just like when they were babies the steady routine is vital.

Constant lateness is regarded by the Government and the school inspectors as permissive truanting. The school is now required to provide details of unauthorised absences to the County Council who may decide to investigate excessive lateness. The children are also upset when they are regularly brought into assembly late and the whole school looks at them

Parents should not take holidays during the school term if at all possible. The disruption to the children's learning routine whilst absent on holiday is great and concepts taught to the rest of the class are not easily absorbed later. If holidays in term time are unavoidable then Parents must write and ask permission from the head teacher to take the children out of school. The school will then give a permission letter that Parents must take with them when they go. Any authorised port officer or the police can demand to see the letter and if it is not produced may refuse to let the child leave the country.

The school will not authorise more than two weeks holiday in any academic year.

The Kindergarten Day

The Kindergarten day is a little more structured than Pre-School times. The children will work more formally at their reading, mathematics and writing lessons. These are usually undertaken in the morning when the children are fresh. Letter formation and handwriting are important virtues that are greatly encouraged.

During the morning the children will also go to the Hall for games or music and movement although if the weather is nice they may go to the field to play on the large toys there. Afternoons are largely creative although scripture stories and directed handicrafts will be included in the syllabus. Music also forms an important part of the syllabus with counting rhymes, instrumental work and playground singing games being used.

A drink of water or orange juice is available and this is taken before the mid-morning break. The children then go out to play and take their tuck with them. The children have easy access to the water fountains at any time.

Parental Visits

Parents are always encouraged to visit the classroom after school to see their children's work. It is not possible to have more than a few quick words in the morning when the class has to be registered and taken over to assembly. Any longer discussion may require an appointment and the Registrar is always happy to arrange appointments for Parents to see the Kindergarten teacher and/or the headteacher.

Uniform

There is little change between Pre-school and Kindergarten uniform. The boys now wear proper school ties rather than the bow ties of Pre-School and white sports wear will be required for Sports Day.

Lunches

The children now join the rest of the school and have their lunch in the Village Hall. As before the lunches conform strictly to the Government guidelines. A drink of water or orange juice is always available with lunch.

And remember... We are here to help you - please use the facility.

School Uniform list - Pre-School

Our uniform is designed to be smart, comfortable and as economical as possible. No deviation in style, colour or material is permissible, except in exceptional circumstances and then only with the express permission of the Headteacher