WELCOMEPACK 2013

Top School, Fore Street, BoscastleCornwall PL35 0AU

Telephone 01840 250 760

Registered Charity 1023541

Providing Full Day Care, Sessional Care, Breakfast, After-School & Holiday Clubs for 50 weeks of the year

WELCOME TO BOSCASTLE PLAYSCHOOLBoscastle Playschool is a registered charity and a member of the Pre School Learning Alliance.

We have been open for over forty years offering a warm, friendly atmosphere, creating an environment where children feel safe, secure, learning through their play, free and guided. Learning is best achieved when it is fun.

The early years are a very special and important time for children and their parents and carers, so we aspire to be supportive in all areas to ensure these special years are enjoyable and fulfilling for you all.

Please read this booklet as a guide to our playschool, this will give you information about us and give you an insight into the essence of Boscastle Playschool.

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MEET THE STAFFLyn Lockyear : SupervisorEmma Miller : Deputy SupervisorLorna O’Shea : Playschool AssistantFelicity Price : Playschool Assistant

THE COMMITTEELara Tucker : ChairHeather Keat : Vice ChairSean Gee : TreasurerLaura Mead : School Liaison

A full list of committee members is available at the Play School

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OUR AIMS We aim to provide a relaxed and happy atmosphere for all of the children and parents so that our children can reach their full potential socially, emotionally, physically and academically, therefore giving them the best start possible to their journey through life.

All children are individual, therefore we tailor our provision to suit the individual needs of those within our group.

It is known that children learn best through play. Boscastle Playschool aims to provide fun activities in a homely environment in which children can learn whilst having fun.

The way in which our playschool is set up offers a homely feel , with a kitchen area where we eat, a comfy corner in which children can have some quiet time if they wish and a bathroom with sinks and toilets at the right height for small children.

Our setting provides the same caring, nurturing environment you would find in a childminder’s home setting.

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POLICIES All of our policy and procedure statements are available for you to look at in play school. Please ask a member of staff if you wish to look at any of our policies and precedures.

These policies and procedures are designed around us as a setting to keep children safe and offer the best possible experience for the children in our care so they can achieve their full potential in all learning areas.

Comments from parents and carers are always welcome.

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BEHAVIOUR We have a high standard of behaviour.

We will always discourage undesirable behaviours.

We show respect for each other, this is achieved by example and by explanation, we do this by showing the children how to care about each other and our equipment.

We are obliged by law that we have a no smacking policy by anyone on the premises and we completely endorse this policy.

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SPECIAL NEEDS The adult child ratio in playschool enables us to provide individual attention for each child.

We are an experienced team and work closely with professionals within the area of Special Needs.

If you would like to discuss the settings ability to meet your own child’s needs, please speak to a member of staff.

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THE SESSION All of our sessions are flexible

The first half hour (at least) allows time for children to catch up with each other and to explore the resources on offer that day.

Every day is different

Each morning session will include snack time, where we provide a healthy snack comprising of a selection of fruit and a slice of wholemeal toast, with a choice of healthy toppings.

The children are provided with plastic knives and are encouraged to spread butter and toppings.

All of the children have named water bottles which are accessible all day.

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Most sessions have a creative activity, where children will be encouraged, not forced, to take part. This could be painting, gluing, model making, cooking, gardening (in our very own vegetable garden) and lots more.

Because of the design of our purpose built setting, children can have free flow use of the playground, where they can ride on bikes, trikes and scooters, play in the wendy house, in the sand or water when they wish and be visible to a member of staff at all times.

The Wednesday morning session (9.45 – 11.45) has a different format. We either take the children down to Boscastle community centre where we have a physical morning, with music and movement activities, skittles, ball games and games with our parachute. Or we take the children exploring around Boscastle, where we have lots of exciting adventures

This allows the toddler session to have full use of the playschool facilities.

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Within the group all of the children are supported in developing their full potential at their own pace.

By means of developmentally appropriate play activities and a high level of individual adult input, we offer a curriculum that leads to nationally approved learning outcomes (EYFS - Early Years Foundation Stage) and prepares children to progress with confidence to the National Curriculum when they start school.

Children are individually supported in developing confidence, autonomy and respect. Through conversation and practical example, they learn acceptable ways to express their feelings and to have respect for the feelings of others.

Each child has a folder which is referred to as their learning journey in which some of their drawings will be kept. Photos taken of your child during the session taking part in activities and our observations are also kept in this folder. Parents are invited to come and look at their own child’s learning journey when they wish.

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OPENING TIMES We are open for 50 weeks of the year. We close for two weeks over the Christmas period and all bank holidays.

Term TimeMonday to Friday 8am to 5:30pm

Breakfast club 8am to 9amMorning session 9am to 12pmLunch club 12pm to 1pmAfternoon session 1pm to 3pmAfter school club 3pm to 5:30pmHoliday club (school holidays) Please see next page

We offer a service to pick up children from school in the local area to bring them back to our after school club.

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FEES Term TimeBreakfast club £3.50 Morning session £3.00 per hourLunch club £3.00

Children can bring a packed lunch or a cooked school meal is available on request at a cost of £2.20

Afternoon session £3.00 per hour After school session £3.50 per hour

Funding is available for 3 & 4 year olds in the first term after they turn three years old.

Funding for 2 year olds is also available for families meeting a certain criteria. To find out if you are elegible you can phone the Family Information Service on 0800 587 8191

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HOLIDAY CLUB 9am to 3pm £159am to 5pm £20or £3 per hour

For full time childcare we are open until 5.30pm

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BOOKING When you book your child into play school we need to know the days you require so that we have the correct number of staff on duty each day.

We state that whatever days you have booked your child into these are to be paid for even if you are on holiday or if your child is ill.

You are only committed on a half-termly basis and therefore you can review your options every half term.

During term, depending on spaces and staffing it is generally possible for you to increase hours or change your days if sufficient notice is given.

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INVOICES &PAYMENTS Invoices are sent out half termly in advance, this can be paid by: Cash, Cheque or by direct debit - please ask for our bank details.

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FUNDRAISINGEVENTS In order to maintain our high standards and exceed expectations wherever possible, we need to fundraise.Events have recently included :

• Acarbootsale• Festivalgala• Children’sdiscos

If you have any ideas that you think would be good fundraiser please let us know.

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For further information please look up our website and Facebook page. Come for a free session and see what we have on offer. if

you require full day care we offer a free week’s trial

WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU

Top School, Fore Street, BoscastleCornwall PL35 0AU

Telephone 01840 250 760

Registered Charity 1023541