Admissions
Our admissions run from September each year but we are happy for children to join us at any time throughout the year. Parents are invited to contact us via email or phone to ask for further information or to express interest in a place. You can download our Admissions Policy and our Application Form below.
First Day
We know that your child’s first day at Pre School or Play Group can be a daunting experience for parents. Making such a big step can be overwhelming experience for children and also a wrench for parents, so there is bound to be a period of adjustment where you both come to terms with things. Our team has a wealth of experience with this and will work with each family to make it as stress free as possible
Toilet Training
Children do not need to be potty/toilet trained when they start Pre School. We will work with parents on this at the pace that each child needs.
Trips
We offer a full range of trips throughout the year – theatre performances, farm outings, visits to the Lifeboat station etc. As we are so close to the park and beach, we can decide to change our plans on the spur of the moment to enjoy the magnificent outdoors on our doorstep.
Special Visitors
We quite often in the year follow ‘People who help us’ focus and we will ask parents who have jobs in this field to come in and talk to the children. This really helps bring a meaningful context to the children’s learning. ‘Mummies can be firefighters and some daddies stay at home to look after the children’.
Drop off & Pickup
The Pre School staff will come into the Playground each morning or afternoon to bring the children into school. We are happy for parents to come in with their child if they are upset but our main aim is to make the children as independent as possible. At the end of the session either at lunchtime or at 3.30 pm the teaching staff will bring your child out to you in the playground.
Staff will always do their utmost to make time to speak to parents/carers whenever they need and will arrange appointments, at a mutually convenient time, for situations that need a longer discussion or additional information/help.
Covid Safety
We are currently working within our Covid risk assessments and restrictions. However, we make our daily routine as normal as possible in order for the children to access all areas safely. There is regular supervised hand washing and limited contact at present with the Reception class on site at present.
When Covid restrictions are lifted we will resume our close contact with the Reception class for Autumn and Spring craft mornings, Chinese New Year and Nativity performance. We often have ad hoc poetry gatherings between the two classes so the children can share their learning. This close-knit arrangement with the Reception class helps makes transition into primary school education seamless.
Lunch & Snacks
At lunchtime we ask that parents send in a packed lunch for their child. The children are supported to be independent with their lunch but of course we will offer help if they need it.
The children have a healthy snack mid-morning and afternoon. We have a range of different fruits on offer with an option of milk or water. We have a ‘Try it Friday’ when we offer something new such as cheese on toast or scrambled egg. We will speak to prior to these days to check on allergies etc.
"My daughter attended OLOP Annexe Preschool from May 2019 to July 2020 and loved it. As a teacher myself, I was keen to find a setting that would prepare her well for primary school and this certainly did. She thrived there and was always happy going in. There is a warm and welcoming atmosphere, the staff care so much about the children and know when to give children support and also how to extend their learning. It was clear from our chats that they knew my daughter extremely well. There is no doubt in my mind that it was the best setting for my child to be educated and cared for within."
- Jo