Playroom / Pre-School - for children aged three years to five years old

Our pre-school rooms are brand new, built in 2008, opened in January 2009 and offer very varied and interesting opportunities for all the children, allowing for free play and choices for all at all times, with a dedicated messy play room to allow the children to go back to their activities after meals.

Here there is easy access out to the patio and garden through the two sets of double doors, with electric sun awnings, that are also useful for keeping the damp off!

The minimum staff ratio is one adult to eight children; we always aim to keep this to one adult to six or seven children at all times.

Janine, our very experienced Room Manager, works closely with her enthusiastic team, ensuring that all the children get all the love and cuddles needed.  The children are encouraged to play freely and choose their own activities for a good part of the day and also have 'small group time' consisting of two to three activities.  These activities will usually be chosen by the staff, related to their planning, where the children have the opportunity to work and play together in a more structured way, with the guidance of a grown up to enable the enhancement, learning and enjoyment of each activity. The garden is also a great resource for these children who can be found outside at least once a day, come rain or shine (within reason that is)!

The Early Years Foundation Stage Guidelines are followed with each child in this area to enhance the children’s learning and to encourage development, this is continued through to the end of reception year at school.

Free Flow

This is when the children are able to choose their own activities, indoors or out and can make up their own games and stories and choose what they want to play with, adults are still very much a part of this but it is the children who have the opportunities to take the initiative.