Pre-School Expectations Evening 10 th September 2019

1. Pre-School Expectations Evening 10thSeptember 2019

2. Introductions

3. Communication • Newsletters – Headteacher’s and year group • Events Lists and Calendar dates • Website – www.churchdownvillageinf.co.uk/blogs Please note that we do not subscribe to Parent Pay or texting as we provide an online payment facility and an email service

4. Social Media The Governors’ and the SMT request, with the popularity of Social Networking Sites, that parents use this media appropriately and do not discuss school staff, pupils or the working of the school. We have an Open Door Policy and pride ourselves on being friendly and approachable. If you have any queries regarding information sent home please ring the school office, pop in or email us for clarification. This will avoid misinterpretation and debates on social media blogs. Please only use mobile phones in the conservatory for safeguarding reasons.

5. Pre-School • Pre-School is part of the Early Years Foundation Stage (0-5 years). It prepares children for learning in Reception, and beyond. • At CVIS we understand that every child is different and learns at a different pace in many different ways. Pre-School staff take this into account when planning activities. They consider at what point in their development each individual child is and how they learn. • Staff can then plan activities depending on the child’s next steps.

6. Structured/Adult Led Play Structured/Adult Led play teaches children about themselves, others and the world around them. • It develops their minds and bodies. • It develops their ability to concentrate and persevere. • It develops their imaginations and creativity. Child Initiated Play • Children create their own play situations. • They re-enact situations they have encountered previously. • They share and extend imaginatively.

7. 3 Prime Areas of Development • Personal, Social and Emotional Development • Physical Development • Communication and Language Development

8. Personal, Social & Emotional Development • We encourage the children to be confident around the school and when trying new activities. • We encourage them to be polite and well mannered. • We encourage them to respect themselves and their peers and to take care of property. • We will reinforce the idea that they need to take turns and that they need to be fair to others and to share.

9. Physical Development • Balance ability, games, dance, Forest School • Everyday activities to develop fine and gross motor skills. • Friday afternoon – Foundation Stage Round Robin. Communication and Language Communication and Language is broken down into three sections: • Listening and attention • Understanding • Speaking

10. 4 Specific Areas of Development • Mathematics • Literacy • Understanding of the World • Expressive Arts and Design

11. Maths Maths is made up of Numbers and Shape Space and Measure. • There will be lots of opportunities for counting toys and objects both inside and outside • Children will be encouraged to look at shapes around them as well as basic shapes. • Activities will help children to recognise the size of themselves, others and objects.

12. Literacy This is broken down into: • Pre-Reading where children are encouraged to look at: books, posters, displays, signs and their own names. We follow the Letters and Sounds programme that you will see later in Pre-School. • Pre-writing such as mark making where children are encouraged to use a variety of writing tools and materials to develop their fine motor control.

13. Children’s Names • Your child is expected to know and recognise their registered name in order to learn to write it. • For example if a child’s registered name is Henry but they are called Harry he will be expected to write Henry.

14. Enrichment • Tuesday and Thursday – pm, Spanish • Friday am-Music • Friday pm- Round Robin; gardening, painting, physical development, cooking, construction, painting and craft.

15. Forest School • Letters will be sent out prior to your child taking part in a Forest School session. See in Pre-School later. • When it happens it will be on a Wednesday morning. As the year progresses we will endeavour to give every child the opportunity to have FS. • Long trousers, long sleeves, wellies, coats, hats and gloves in the winter. Look on the website. • Volunteers welcome!!

16. Structure of Day Start of Sessions A member of staff will greet children at the Pre-School kitchen door each morning (and they will leave from there after their session). Please encourage your child to be independent, come into school on their own and to be able to hang their coats up on their peg.

17. Structure of Day End of Sessions • Children can be collected from Pre-school kitchen door. • Parents need to inform staff/office if they are not collecting their child personally. • Any accidents will be recorded and you will be informed at end of the session.

18. Parents • Please ensure all clothing/belongings are clearly named.ie bags, shoes, lunchboxes. Lunchbox – healthy and not too much to eat – snack given. Reduced packaging for sustainability. • Please help your child to be as independent as possible by practising to get dressed. Toileting. • Please read regularly with your child. • Please encourage your child to play calmly.

19. Parents • Fortnightly Newsletters will inform you of forthcoming events and what your child is doing in Pre-School. Also look on the Calendar on the website. • Assemblies Birthday Assembly every Friday 9.10am Easter, Christmas, End of Year

20. Parents • Finally we see parents as important partners in the process of developing children’s language, reading, writing and numerical skills. • We offer an open door policy to parents if they would like to speak to us, although it is advisable to make an appointment with the office first.

21. Playdays • Playdays held once every term. • A time when parents/carers join their child in their play experiences. • The newsletter will inform you of the date and time of each playday.

22. What is it like in Pre-School? Please go across to Pre-School to see what a typical day in the life of a Pre-Schooler entails including: Letters and Sounds Balance Ability Maths Activities.

23. Question Time Thank you for coming this evening. Please help us by completing the Evaluation Sheet before leaving.