- HOW MANY CHILDREN DO YOU HAVE? We can take upto 25 children each day although this will vary depending on the ages and needs of the children attending, Between 20 and 23 is more usual with 5 members of staff.
- HOW MANY STAFF DO YOU HAVE? We currently employ 5 members of staff. Our preschool is led by an Early Years Teacher and all other staff are fully qualified and very experienced. You can read more about our staffing team HERE
- CAN I COME AND LOOK AROUND? Yes! We are happy to arrange a visit for you to see the classroom. Because the staff are all busy supporting the children during the day, we try to arrange these after 3pm. In the meantime here is a tour..
- HOW SOON SHOULD I APPLY? Our main intake is September of each year and applications should be submitted by 31st March, however it’s never too early and we suggest that you submit a form as soon as you can. We don’t ask for any deposit or registration fee so if your needs change, you can just let us know.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO ATTEND? We charge £6.50 per hour, reducing to £5.50 from the term after a child’s 3rd birthday. We can arrange funding for some 2 year olds as well as either 15 or 30 hours free for children after they have turned 3. Please check your eligibility at www.childcarechoices.gov.uk - WHAT SORT OF THINGS DO YOU DO WITH THE CHILDREN EACH DAY? We plan activities each day that will the support the children’s individual development needs. We also provide resources that will promote children’s current interests. Children can choose what activities they would like to participate in and can move between the classroom and outside as they wish. There are lots of photographs on our home page showing the type of activities we provide.
- MY CHILD IS IN NAPPIES, DOES THAT MATTER? Not at all! There is no expectation for children to be out of nappies before starting at preschool - toilet training is all part of what we do! We have potties, toilet seats and low-level toilets which will all help when child is ready.
- I’M WORRIED ABOUT HOW MY CHILD WILL COPE WITH A LONG DAY WITHOUT ME…. HOW WILL YOU HELP? We have sleep mats and a quiet space where children can peacefully nap when they need to. We will also discuss individual needs with you and agree a suitable approach for helping you and your child adjust to a long day apart.
- IS THERE A MINIMUM NUMBER OF HOURS TO ATTEND? We ask that children attend at least twice a week to ensure that they settled well and get involved in a wide range of preschool activities. This can be two mornings or two full days. We can be flexible.
- WHAT ARE YOUR OPENING HOURS? We are open from 8.45am - 3.00pm, Monday to Friday and generally follow the term dates set by Oxfordshire County Council and Marcham C of E Primary School.
- HOW WILL I KNOW WHAT MY CHILD DOES AT PRESCHOOL? Staff take lots of photographs and videos of the children to capture their adventures, we will record key moments through our secure, on-line system called “Famly”. You will be able to see written accounts of activities, nappy changes, any accidents or bumps, sleep times, snacks, as well as general preschool news and information relevant to you and your child.
- IS THE PRESCHOOL RUN BY THE PRIMARY SCHOOL? No, we are a committee-run charity. While the staff manage the day-to-day running of the preschool, we rely on volunteers to oversee our ‘business’. We do work in close partnership with the Primary School and share experience and resources to ensure that the children can transition into primary school will all the necessary skills and learning.
- DO YOU PROVIDE MEALS? No - children staying for lunch for bring a packed lunch, we will provide you with ideas of what to provide. We are unable to refrigerate or heat food so this needs to be considered. Fruit or vegetables should also be provided for a morning snack each day.
- I’M WORRIED ABOUT MY CHILD’S DEVELOPMENT, WHAT EXTRA SUPPORT CAN YOU PROVIDE? Children develop and progress at different rates and we will adapt the support we give to help each child on their developmental journey. Staff have extensive knowledge about supporting development and will offer focussed support for speech and language as well as other areas where additional support may be appropriate. We will discuss this with you and agree the appropriate activities, as well as share ideas for you to carry out at home. Sometimes it is necessary to seek the advice of other professionals, we will ask for your consent before doing this. Funding is sometimes available to help us provide more individual support. We will continually assess children’s needs and review how effective our provision is. We welcome your views and suggestions to support your child however necessary.
- HOW CAN I GET IN TOUCH IF I HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? Please do contact us if you have anything else to ask us about. You can email us on [email protected] or telephone 01865 392101