Prospectus

A complete copy of our September 2009 propectus can be downloaded below:

Download Prospectus

Prospectus – September 2009

At Stepping Stones we pride ourselves on being a friendly community run group where we get to know our families well and do our very best to respond to their needs.

We are open Monday to Friday, offering care and early learning for children from 2yrs 0mths old – in or out of nappies.

We hope our prospectus will give you a good idea of how we work and answer some of your questions. If you would like any further information please call in any morning after 9.30am or use the contact details on the back page.

Good OFSTED Report

A full report is available on our parent notice board and at:

www.ofsted.gov.uk/reports

We aim to:

Learning Through Play

Becoming confident and independent, making friendships, finding out how to play and co-operate with others, developing a willingness to experiment and positive attitudes to learning are just some of the things that your child can gain from time in pre-school – all valuable skills for life and when they start primary school.

We offer continuous provision of a broad and changing range of indoor and outdoor activities to encourage the overall development of your child. Our large, well equipped playroom gives children the chance to enjoy a wide variety of experiences and challenges including:

Most children love to play outside and we do our very best to make sure they get this opportunity on most days. We are lucky to have doors leading straight from the playroom out to our lovely woodland garden, complete with an old pine tree for shade, plus a good range of outdoor activities and equipment.

Special events and visitors provide further interest, variety and learning opportunities. Parents are encouraged to get involved in these activities – bringing in pets and animals for the children to meet, talking with the children about being a nurse, having a new baby in the family and leading music sessions are just some examples of how parents have contributed in the past. Our newsletter suggests ideas for how parents can support their child’s learning and development at home.

Meeting the needs of individual children

  • Our experienced and well qualified staff are expert in caring for and educating young children – They provide a combination of support for child initiated play, more structured adult led activities and individual care and attention. We know that young children need a supportive and nurturing environment where they feel secure enough to try new things. We aim to take into account differing abilities, interests and needs.
  • We have a good adult/child ratio and a key worker system - Your child's key worker will be the person who works with you to ensure that what we provide is right for your child's needs and interests. This includes maintaining an ongoing record of your child’s progress which helps us to celebrate their achievements and know how we can best support the next stage of their learning and development. Parents are welcome to see their child’s folder at anytime.
  • We have experience of supporting children with educational, physical, emotional and behavioural, special needs - we are always happy to answer queries, discuss concerns and seek further advice and information for you and your child.

We promote healthy eating – During our ‘snack time’ children are offered milk or an alternative drink, and choice from a changing selection of snacks including toast, fresh fruit and vegetables, cheese, breadsticks and crackers.

Parents are asked to provide healthy lunch boxes for the children who stay for ‘Lunch Club’ – further advice is contained in our ‘Welcome Pack’.

We want your child to feel happy and secure when they start pre-school

To make sure that this is the case, the staff will work with you to decide on how to help your child to settle in We will ask you to complete a registration form which asks questions that will help us to support your child when they join us - the more information you are able to give us the better.

Parents are encouraged to stay with their child until we both feel happy that your child is ready to stay at pre-school without you – by working together we find that most children settle in quickly.

Working in partnership with parents

We recognise parents as the first and most important educators of their children. We see ourselves as partners with you in providing care and education for your child. Parents have the chance to get involved in making our pre-school a welcoming and stimulating place for children and parents by:

  • sharing knowledge with staff about their child's needs, interests and progress
  • building friendships with other families in pre-school
  • helping at sessions in pre-school
  • sharing their own special interests with the children
  • helping to provide, make and look after the equipment and materials
  • being part of the management of the pre-school
  • contributing feedback in meetings, informal discussions and surveys
  • joining in community activities in which the pre-school takes part

We keep parents well informed - through discussion, access to information, newsletters, meetings and our notice board. We have a range of policies and procedures to support our aims and these are available in pre-school. You will be given a detailed ‘Welcome Pack’ before your child starts pre-school.

Stepping Stones of Sopley is managed by a parent committee who are elected by parents with a child attending the pre-school. Names and contact details of committee members are on the notice board. If you are interested in getting involved in any way please speak to one of the committee – they are always ready and willing to talk with you about your ideas, views or questions.

The committee is responsible for: