We are open Monday to Friday 9am – 3pm during Term Time.
Sessions are all day from 9am to 3pm. We ask for your child to attend a minimum of two sessions to ensure we can provide them with the best educational start ready for school and so they can develop a strong bond with their Key Worker. Collection time in the afternoon will start from 2:40pm with all children leaving preschool by 3pm.
Free Play
Children ‘free-flow’ and choose their own educational activities from a variety provided. These include painting, drawing, multi-sensory tuff trays, creative activities, playdough, construction toys, small world toys, a role play area, book corner, puzzles and much more. There will be small group time for games and talking. Outdoor play includes sand, water, mud kitchen, bricks, builders yard, cars, bikes and scooters, etc. We make use of the outdoor environment as much as possible, visiting our Forest School area at Bishops’ Cleeve Primary Academy most afternoons, library, the local shops and our allotment.
Carpet Time
We take the register, introduce our weekly topic, and our Literacy or Mathematic focus for the week. The topics are decided by the children and we follow the Jolly Phonics scheme and Letters & Sounds for teaching the 26 letter sounds. Further opportunities to explore these will be taught in smaller groups. The children also have the opportunity to share items brought in related to our topics to encourage self-confidence. Birthdays are celebrated by counting out the candles on our special cake and singing Happy Birthday.
Snack Cafe
The children can choose when to visit the snack cafe with their friends, encouraging independence in distributing the healthy snacks and pouring drinks for each other. There will be a variety of fresh fruit and vegetables available alongside breadsticks, bread and crackers. Water and milk are provided for the children. Children can bring fruit to share to celebrate their birthday.
Music and Movement & PE sessions
These activities include singing and playing musical instruments, games, dance, gymnastics, yoga and parachute games. We use the upstairs hall for physical activities during the week and visit Bishop’s Cleeve Primary Academy to use their field and playground.
Story Time
Children will enjoy a story together. This can be related to our topic, or books that children have brought in to share. Children are encouraged to sit quietly on the carpet and contribute their thoughts by putting their hand up.
Lunch Time
Children’s name cards are laid out on the tables. They will sit with their friends and the staff while eating their lunch and socialising. Good table manners will be role-modelled and healthy eating will be promoted. The children are encouraged to ask to get down from the table when finishing. Children should bring a packed lunch and drink in a named box/bag. No sweets or chocolate please. Uneaten food will be sent home so that parents can see what their child has eaten.
Forest School
Our favourite time of the day is to visit our Forest School area at BCPA. We go throughout the week, come rain or shine, and have lots of fun learning in the outdoor environment. Hot chocolate and biscuits are served which is very popular with the children and staff!
Getting ready to go home
Children are encouraged to find and put on their own coat to develop their independent skills and encouraged to start to pack their own bags. The children will be dismissed from the school rooms to their parent or carer.
