Jack and Jill's
A home from home; where children can learn in an environment where cuddles and laughter are plenty, where children feel safe and cared for; enabling them to learn, grow and develop friendships.
Mornings 9.15-12.15
We are open mornings 5 days a week for children 1.5 years to 5 years.
We start our day in separate classes. Jack's Class come through the front entrance into the small room (Under 3yrs). Starting their day with a smaller number of children we find this helps the younger children to settle and develop their confidence before joining the rest of the Preschool. Here, they keep their bags, coats and snacks. The children have a formal registration where we encourage children to acknowledge their name verbally or with a wave. We encourage children to select their name, we count the children together, and do their Core Word curriculum. This involves learning a new word each week, it's makaton sign, and hearing it in a song. The children then choose a song to sing and we send them off to play, socialise and learn.
Jill's class (3 yrs plus) have a similar start to their day. They come in through the side entrance of the building closest to the church and sit around tables in the hall ready for a formal registration. We encourage independence through hanging up their coat, placing water bottles in the tray and putting snack and lunch bags on the trolley. We do the register, doing counting activities, the core word curriculum and song choosing.
After Registration we have a Getting Ready for School Group and Attention Bucket Group.
Children enjoy free flow play in the morning, with access to crafts, the garden, healthy snacks and milk, malleable activities and so much more. One to one interventions, small group work and sensory circuits happen throughout the day.
At 11.30am children come together to enjoy a Class Attention Bucket, followed by a chosen song and a story, or yoga and meditation.
Calming music signals a short tidy-up, while an Early Talk Boost Group, or colourful semantics group commences. All children going home after the morning session leave through the front door.
The children also enjoy Boogie Mites Music session in the morning.
Afternoons and Full Days 12.15-3pm or 9.15-3pm
We have afternoon sessions, or full day. In the Afternoon the children enjoy talking and socialising with their friends, while having their healthy lunch, brought in from home. The afternoon provides an opportunity for children to stay for a full day, in preparation for starting school.
Lunch time provides the perfect time to talk about our healthy choices and develop further independence- from collecting and opening our lunch bags and boxes, getting our water bottles, feeding and putting our waste in the correct bins.
After Lunch they enjoy Dough Disco followed by Free-Flow play, mark-making and drawing, Sensory Groups and fun activities in the garden.
The children end the day with music, or engage in a Spanish lesson.
Trips and Walks
We have regular walks or take the 4 seater trolley out for short strolls to the shops, around the local area or exploring the Church grounds -seeing how the flowers and plants have changed. The children love going to the shops to buy healthy snacks, or looking at how the local homes are decorated for Christmas. We also enjoy trips to the Farm to feed the animals and go on a pony ride. On trips out we increase our ratios and always ask for parent helpers when going to the farm.
Snacks and lunches
Healthy snacks are given from 10.00-11.00am. We encourage children to make choices between cereals, fruit, yoghurt, toast and spreads. The children learn to feed themselves with a spoon, and use a knife to spread. The children bring water bottles and are given milk cartons from Preschool. We request information on children's dietary requires and allergies before they start and ensure these are always met. All staff have a Food Hygiene certificate and complete training on Allergies in the Early Years. staff are Paediatric First Aid trained and we ensure a member of staff is on each table to ensure children are safe when eating.
Lunch takes place at 12.30. Children bring in a healthy packed lunch from home and guidance is given on foods that are suitable. We ensure they are healthy foods that are cut properly to ensure minimum risk of choking. Portion sizes are also monitored.
To support children with additional needs be enable them to bring in their safe foods for Lunch and Snack if needed. We also work hard to encourage children to try new foods and textures. Support also consists of providing malleable activities and Sensory Classes to support children with food avoidance.
Children learn the importance of handwashing throughout the school day, including before and after eating.
Uniform
Uniform is given with the Registration fee. Children are given a T Shirt, Sweatshirt and a Record School bag. Additional uniform can be purchased at Preschool and we always have lots of secondhand uniform, so please ask.
All children need to bring a bag with spare clothes including socks and shoes. When toilet training crocs are very handy as they can be washed.
We do not charge Extras
At Jack and Jills we understand that times are hard. Therefore, we do not charge extra on top of funding you receive, and all Enrichment activities and snacks are provided by the Preschool.
We simply ask you provide your child with nappies and wipes, and a healthy lunch and water bottle.
Please remember to label all of your child's belongings.