All our practitioners hold level 3 childcare qualifications and are paediatric first aid trained. Our staff undertake annual training in safeguarding and behaviour, as well as other training throughout the year to keep up-to date with early years practice, education and developments.
We maintain the ratio of adults to children in the setting that is set by the Safeguarding and Welfare Requirements. We have a maximum of 20 children in each session.
Key Person
All children and families have been allocated their very own key person. A key person is a named member of our Preschool team (Sarah, Vicky, Donna or Maria). The key person role involves a triangle of trust with the child and family. The presence of a key person helps the child to feel emotionally secure when away from home and provides a reassuring point of contact for parents. It is important to us that you feel able to share vital information about your child’s intimate care preferences, likes and dislikes, motivations and interests, and how they feel about being away from home. Such a grounding provides a “secure base” from which children feel confident to explore the world and form other relationships.
Your child’s key person will introduce themselves within the first week of your child starting with us
Tapestry
We use an amazing online Learning Journey system called Tapestry. We will create an account for all of our parents and send out an email that explains the next steps you need to take to activate your account. Once your account is up and running we will begin sharing observations, photos and some wonderful wow moments of your child during their time with us. We will also use this system to keep in touch with updates and send information on our topics and learning.
We believe that communication is the key to your child’s success to a great parent/teacher relationship. Tapestry is a great system where you can also share your child’s home experiences, celebrations and learning. Your child’s key person will then use this information to extend your child’s learning. This will give them a voice and a sense of belonging within their setting. You can use your Tapestry account to send us any questions or concerns.
Recording Children’s Progress
We assess how young children are learning and developing by observing them frequently. We use information that we gain from observations and photographs or videos of the children, to document their progress. Your child’s key person will keep an ongoing record of his/her achievements, through their own personalised Learning Journey (Tapestry). We believe that parents know their children best and we will ask you to contribute to their assessments by sharing information on Tapestry about what your child likes to do at home and how you, as parents, are supporting development. You are welcome to discuss and add any information about your child’s achievements and development to these records at any time. You will be kept informed of activities and events through Tapestry.
The progress check at age two
The Early Years Foundation Stage requires that we supply parents and carers with a short written summary of their child’s development in the three prime areas of learning and development – personal, social and emotional development; physical development; and communication and language – when a child is aged between 24 – 36 months. Your child’s key person is responsible for completing the check using information from on-going observational assessments carried out as part of our everyday practice, taking account of the views and contributions of parents and other professionals
Special Educational Needs
Bradgate Pre-school aims to have regard to the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Code of Practice: 0-25 years (2015) on the identification and Assessment of Special Education Needs and Disability and The Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage. We also have regard to other legislation regarding the care and education of children with disabilities, these include…
- The Children and Families Act 2014
- The United Nations Convention on the rights of the Child
- The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
- The Equality Act 2010
- Working together to safeguard children (2018)
- Keeping children safe in Education 2023
The Preschool is open to every family in the community regardless of race, culture, religion, belief, disability, special educational needs, gender or family status.
All children will be made to feel welcome, accepted, valued and nurtured. The developmental needs of every child will be identified and planned for within a stimulating play based curriculum.
Parents Knowledge and expertise will be drawn upon when planning provision for children. Progress and achievements are shared and discussed on a regular basis.
The Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Coordinator (SENDCO) for Bradgate Pre-school is Vicky Marchant.
Bradgate Preschool SEN Policy
Preparing for school
Being part of Eastfield Primary School will provide benefits for your child in preparing for school.
- We work closely with the Early Years Foundation Stage lead to ensure that the education we provide is equipping each child with the skills necessary to begin Key stage 1 of the National Curriculum.
- Your child will have regular opportunities to visit the main school building and grounds, and will be familiar with the teachers and surroundings when he/she joins the reception class.
- If your child has Special Educational Needs, liaison with the school’s S.E.N.D Co-ordinator can take place to ensure that your child’s needs are prepared for as they move into school.
- Your child’s education will have continuity from the age of 2 to eleven years.
If you have chosen a school that is not Eastfield primary school we will ensure a smooth transition to your chosen school. We will liase with your chosen school and provide a transition based on the schools policies and procedures and your child’s and your needs.
Admissions
Admissions Procedure
New Starter Application Form
Settling in
Past experience has shown that children settle best when they have visited the pre-school with a parent or carer before their admission.
Once we have received all of your completed paper work we will invite you to attend the setting for a stay and play with your child. This will be arranged at your convenience. You will be welcome to stay during a morning or afternoon session. During this time the preschool staff will be available to chat about and discuss any worries or concerns and will join your little one in play. This is a great opportunity for you to ask any questions and begin to develop a relationship with our preschool team.
Clothing and belongings
Each child is allocated a peg for their personal possessions. Parents should provide a change of clothes and wellies; these can be left at preschool. We ask that children have weather appropriate clothing as we use the outside areas every day. Layers of clothing are also recommended so children can add or take off depending on the temperature. We recommend clothing and shoes that can get dirty and are easy for them to manage as we encourage children to be independent in dressing and self-care. Please name ALL possessions. If your child is in nappies please provide spare nappies and their usual wipes and nappy sacks.
We ask children to not bring toys and objects from home, unless it is a comforter or invited to show in circle-time, to prevent breakage or loss.
Collecting Children from Preschool
Before starting, please ensure you have completed the section on the registration form that states who you would like to pick up your child and have introduced, in person or via a photo on Tapestry, all persons with permission to collect.
Please inform a member of staff if your child is to be collected by an adult not listed on the registration form. Before giving another adult permission to pick up, where possible please ensure you have introduced the adult, face to face or via a photo on Tapestry, to a member of our preschool team before the child’s pick up time. If this is not possible we ask that you please provide the person collecting with a private security word.
Only persons over the age of eighteen will be allowed to collect children, unless that person has legal parental responsibility for the child. In exceptional circumstances where a person under the age of 18 will be collecting, we ask that the person with legal responsibility informs the preschool personally and gives notice in writing before the collection time.
If for any reason you are unable to collect your child at the end of a session, please telephone to let staff know as soon as possible. If you are unable to contact us the emergency contacts on the registration form will be telephoned and an adult will stay with your child in the setting for a maximum of one hour. If the child is not collected within that time the relevant authorities will be contacted.
Health information
In order to prevent the spread of illness and infection amongst children and staff, children should not attend preschool with:
- High temperature/fever
- Constant cough and runny nose,
- Impetigo (skin infection).
- It is recommended that conjunctivitis (eye infection), and head lice are treated before attending preschool.
Following NHS guidance children with vomiting and/or diarrhoea should be kept off for a minimum of 48 hours after their symptoms have gone.
Please inform us of the nature of any infections as we have a duty to inform our Local Authority and other parents if necessary.
Please click HERE to view our First Aid Policy
Our FEEE offer and Additional costs
Bradgate Preschool Funded Early Education Entitlement Offer And Charging Policy
Policies and Procedures
Bradgate Preschool Attendance Policy
Bradgate Preschool Behaviour Policy
Bradgate Preschool Late Collection And Non collection policy
Bradgate Preschool Intimate Care Policy
Bradgate Preschool Healthy Eating Policy
Bradgate Preschool Emotional Health And Wellbeing Policy
Bradgate Preschool Physical Activity Policy
Bradgate Preschool Mobile Phone And Camera Procedure
Please Click HERE to view policies and procedures linked to Eastfield Primary school and Bradgate Educational Partnership
Term dates
Please click HERE to view Bradgate Preschools term dates
