FAQs
Starting preschool
How do I arrange a look around preschool?
Please email us at norlandpreschool@gmail.com to arrange a look around!
Can my child have settling in sessions before starting preschool?
Yes absolutely, when it comes to settling in session we will ask what works best for you and your child. Most parents and carers prefer to stay with their child for an hour for the first session, then leave the child with us for half a day, then a full day if they feel comfortable in doing so. We can offer up to 3 settling in sessions before your child starts with us, and as long as we have all the relevant contact information and health care information, your child is welcome to stay here with us for the set period of time. During this time a member of staff will contact you to inform you of how your child is settling and what they have been up to, you are also welcome to call or email if you would like any additional updates. Please note that we would never leave your child upset or distressed for a long period of time without getting in touch with you, we want all children to feel happy, safe and comfortable here with us, all children are individuals and some need more time and support to settle in an unfamiliar environment.
What age children can start at preschool?
We offer places for children from 2 years old.
What does my child need to bring with them when they start?
We ask that your child brings a minimum of 2 sets of spare clothes to keep in setting, nappies and nappy wipes if necessary, a named pair of wellington boots, a weather appropriate coat and hats/ gloves/ scarves weather permitted.
Your child will also need a lunch box with a healthy balanced verity of food (we promote healthy eating and staff have taken part in the Sugar Smart campaign, therefore we politely ask that children do not bring chocolate bars or sweets in their lunchboxes.)
We ask that all children bring a form of bookbag to keep in their drawers, we sell our own bookbag in setting for £7. These will be used to bring home any crafts, letters, reminders etc. During the warmer months we may ask you to bring in a named sunhat and sun cream. Your child is also welcome to bring hard soul slippers to wear during the day.
Do you have a preschool uniform?
Yes, most children do choose to wear our preschool uniform, but it is optional. Wearing our preschool uniform saves your child's own clothes from messes that naturally occur though the day, such as mud and paint! Please ask to see our preloved uniform before purchasing new. New uniform orders are placed 3 times a year.
Will my child have a key worker?
Yes, your child's key worker will be chosen by preschool management depending on the days that your child will be attending here with us and their needs. Your child will be sent home information about their key worker to get to know them better, as well as a Meet The Staff form with information about all the staff. Your child's key worker will work closely with your child as they get to know them and their needs. They will keep a record of your child's learning and development in their purple folders kept in their drawers, these will not be sent home but parents and carers are welcome to look though them with their child's key worker if previously arranged. If your child's key worker has any concerns about your child's development they will get in touch with you to raise their concerns and see what steps can be taken to work together.
My child has severe allergies, would you be able to cater to their needs?
Yes, we are able to cater to the needs to many allergies and intolerances. Staff are trained in relevant food hygiene courses and allergies are displayed clearly in multiple areas of the setting. We are able to offer alternative snacks and drinks to cater to individual dietary needs.
We are also able to apply creams and ointments (if signed by a parent / gradian) for rashes, eczema etc.
We are currently a peanut free preschool, therefore we ask that no peanuts, or products containing peanuts, are brought into setting.
See our policies / safeguarding page for more information!
Parent/carer relationships
How many staff members work at preschool, and do you have a high staff turnover?
We currently have 10 members of staff including preschool practitioners, preschool assistants, management, a finance officer and an administrator.
Our newest member of staff joined us at the end of last year after having months of experience as a student helper.
Our deputy manager has been with us for just over 3 years, and all other staff have been with us for over 10 years! We are incredibly proud of our low staff turn over, we even have staff members who have looked after 2 generations. Staff are familiar, friendly, warm and welcoming and we believe that this helps with our wonderful relationship with regular preschool families
How do you maintain a good relationship with parents/carers?
Having a good relationship with parents and carers is crucial, we are proud of our ability to communicate clearly with parents, and that they are able to be open and honest with us and share any worries or concerns they may have. We enjoy having a catch up with parents and carers are collection and drop off times, and we have recently started to invite them in for our Stay and Play sessions! At least once a half term we like to invite parents and carers in to join us for a regular preschool session, this is a wonderful opportunity for parents to socialise with one another and staff, observe their child in setting, and have an insight into what their child gets up to on a daily basis.
Some of our recent fundraising events have been stall based in preschool, which again is another wonderful opportunity for parents and carers to join us in the setting.
We encourage parents and carers to communicate openly and honestly with us, if you have any concerns, worries or just want to chat please don't hesitate to reach out!
See our feedback page for quotes taken from past preschool parents and carers!
Funding and fees
How and when will I pay my first invoice?
You will receive an email from our finance officer Jodie on norlandpreschoolfinance@gmail.com and she will let you know about how much your first invoice comes to and when to pay. Invoices are sent out half termly, if you have any questions or queries about your recent invoice please email Jodie and she will be able to assist you.
Do you require a deposit when my child first starts?
A registration deposit of £50 is required before your child starts preschool with us, please note that this is a refundable deposit that will be knocked off any outstanding payments or your final bill. Your child's placement will not be confirmed until the £50 deposit is received.
Do you offer 15 / 30 hour funding?
Yes, we are able to offer 15 / 30 hour funding for eligible 2 and 3 year olds. Funded hours will start the term after your child's 2nd or 3rd Birthday. Preschool management will send home funding forms for you to complete and return. Funded hours can be used for preschool hours, wrap around care (from 9am - 3:30pm) and Before and After school club (from age 3+).
What else might I be charged for?
Additional charges include a daily snack charge of 50p, they may also include sports sessions, special lunches or outings. You will be made aware of additional charges before they appear on your next invoice.
Tracking children’s development
How will I be made aware of updates regarding my child's learning and development?
Your child's key worker will be able to update you on your child's learning and development. When your child first starts with us, you will be asked to complete an All About Me form to help staff get to know your child better, what is important to them and how they prefer to communicate etc. They will also conduct a baseline observation when your child is settled here with us, both of these approaches will help your child's key worker with their short term planning and understanding your child's individual needs. As part of our medium term planning, every child has a personal 'challenge me' as their next step in development, these are chosen by your child's key worker and will be communicated to you half termly to keep you updated on what your child is learning and their specific targets. In addition to this, our private social media pages are updated daily with photographs, videos, updates and reminders. For any minor updates, staff will be able to communicate with you at collection and drop off times, as well as leaving a note in your child's red Sharing Information booklet and vice versa, these are checked daily.
Your child's development will be recorded in their purple folders kept in their drawers, these will not be sent home but parents and carers are welcome to look though them with their child's key worker if previously arranged. If your child's key worker has any concerns about your child's development they will get in touch with you to raise their concerns and see what steps can be taken to work together.
How will you help contribute to my child getting ready for primary school?
At preschool we focus on a well-rounded approach to prepare your child for primary school. We provide a nurturing environment that promotes both academic and social / emotional development. Our 'learning through play' approach means that children engage in activities that enhance their literacy and numeracy skills, we also encourage curiosity and critical thinking by allowing children to explore their interests and ask questions. We believe that social skills are equally important and we encourage activities that promote cooperation, sharing and communication. We support emotional development by helping children recognise and express their feelings, promoting resilience and teaching them how to navigate their relationships with their peers. Our goal is to make sure your child feels confident, secure and ready to take on primary school, understanding that emotional and social growth is just as vital as academic readiness.
See more information on our curriculum page!
Preschool and BAAS staff
Are preschool staff up to date with relevant training?
Yes, all staff that are working in ratio with the children undergo essential training such as Safeguarding, Paediatric first aid and Food Hygiene. Staff also take part in training courses that may be specific to their role, such as additional safeguarding training for our Designated Safeguarding Lead, or additional training in educational needs for our Special Educational Needs Coordinator. Staff will also take part in new and relevant training as and when it arises.
Does your preschool have a DSL (designated safeguarding lead) and a SENCO (special educational needs coordinator)?
Yes, our DSL and Deputy DSL are our manager and deputy manager. We also have a SENCO who works closely with children with additional needs and liaises with outside agencies such as portage workers and speech and language specialists.
How do you ensure good communication between staff?
We are extremely proud of our staff communication. We are a smaller childcare setting and so effective communication naturally flows between staff on a daily basis. We also host a Morning Meeting every day with all staff who are attending that day, this 10/15 minute meeting gives us a chance to discuss absences, safeguarding updates, our plan for the day, even updates regarding toilet training, illnesses or parent show arounds etc. We use this time to ensure that staff are communicating their opinions and ideas, there is no confusion about the plan for the day ahead and also what to expect.
In addition to our daily morning meetings we have half termly staff meetings where we discuss our short, medium and long term curriculum plans, we undergo safeguarding quizzes and complete staff reflection notes from the previous half term, again strengthening our communication between staff and ensuring that their needs are met.
My child has been diagnosed with additional needs / I suspect that my child may have additional needs. Would you be able to support these additional needs?​​
We are able to provide and adapt our preschool activities to cater to those children who may have additional learning needs.
If your child has additional needs that require one to one support, we would ask that you communicate this with us and we will be able to explore your options, a one to one support assistant is not always guaranteed unless previously discussed with preschool management and we want to make sure that your child getting the care and support that they need. We are able to make some changes to the setting to support children with additional physical needs, but again this would be previously arranged with management and other outside agencies such as physios before the child starts with us, making sure that the child gets all the additional support they need from day one.
If you have any other questions that have not been answered, please email us at norlandpreschool@gmail.com