Welcome to Binfield Preschool

Choosing a Preschool for your child is a huge responsibility and at Binfield Preschool we’re here to help you make the right decision.

Currently based at Jock’s Lane Pavilion, we have been providing children, aged 2 to 5 years, with the opportunity to learn and develop through free play and structured group work, so that they can progress into full time education confident, eager and happy for over 30 years.

Binfield Preschool is a registered childcare provider with Ofsted and we are also a member of the Early Years Alliance (EYA).

We are a committee run Preschool and all parents and children attending are eligible to join the committee  .

This welcome page is designed in conjunction with the welcome book to give you information about the Preschool and should answer many of your questions. This should be read in conjunction with our policies which give more detailed information about our practices and procedures

OUR SETTING

Binfield Preschool is located at Jocks Lane Pavilion within Jock’s Lane Recreation Ground. We are easily accessible by foot from many locations and have plenty of off road and safe parking available.

This hall provides a large space which allows many different activities to be set-out at the same time, whilst also allowing plenty of space for the children to move freely .

We also have a safe outside enclosed garden for the children to enjoy fresh air as well as the added benefit of being close to a large outside field area, play park, tennis courts and nature trail.

We offer a huge range of activities, toys and games to the children both indoors and outdoors including arts and crafts, ‘small world’ toys, dressing up, book corner, messy play, painting and sensory area

TERM DATES

Term dates can be found here

OUR COMMITTEE

Our setting is a charity and is managed by a volunteer committee whose members are elected by the parents of the children who attend. Elections take place at the Annual General Meeting.

The committee are responsible for:

• managing our finances;
• employing and managing our staff;
• making sure we have and work to policies that help us provide a high-quality service; and
• making sure that we work in partnership with parents

The AGM is open to all parents of children who attend our setting and is a shared forum to review the previous year’s activities and shape the plan for the year ahead.

We are dependent on the involvement of our parents/carers to run our Preschool. For us to continue to operate it is vital that we have enough volunteers on our committee.

We do not ask for much of your time. There are just a few meetings per year mainly to discuss fundraising plus an Annual General Meeting which is held in October.

Joining the Committee enables parents/carers to have first-hand involvement in their children’s Preschool care and education 

We are always keen to welcome new members to the committee. If you are interested in joining, please speak to a member of the committee, a member of staff or email chair@binfieldpreschool.net

You can further information about our committee on The Committee page

SESSION TIMES

We offer 10 standard 2 ½ hour sessions a week. There is flexibility when it comes to selecting sessions. However, we cannot guarantee the sessions that you may want due to availability.

See table at the end of the page for further details about timings

Packed Lunch required on half and full day sessions

Lunch club available daily from 12.00-1.00pm for any child not attending a full day session £5 per day (with packed lunch)

We organise our sessions so that children can choose from and work at a range of activities .

Children are also helped and encouraged to take part in adult-led small and large group activities which introduce them to new experiences and help them to gain new skills and well as helping them to learn to work with others.

Our snack table is open during the morning sessions between 10-11am. Children can choose to visit the snack table at any time whilst it is available to sit, and eat/drink and they are encouraged to serve themselves.

Choices available are usually one carbohydrate (e.g., bread, toast, muffin, bagel etc) one fruit and one vegetable. Please advise us of any dietary requirements/allergies. Water is available throughout the session. You are welcome to provide your own non-dairy milk or other snacks that your child may require.

Outdoor activities contribute to health, physical development and knowledge of the world and children are encouraged to take part in outdoor activities as well as those provided indoors

ADMISSIONS

We accept children from the age of 2 years old, both funded and non-funded.

We are registered to accept the 15 hours of universal funding which all children are entitled to from the term following their 3rd birthday.

We are also registered to accept the 30 hours funding code. We can provide up to 25 hours of childcare Monday-Friday, depending on availability in our sessions. You can also use this code to share childcare between us and another provider if you choose to do so.

There is no minimum number of sessions, you can start at Binfield Preschool with just 1 session per week if you prefer and this can be increased as and when you would like, subject to availability. We require one week’s written notice for any changes to sessions.

REGISTRATION PROCESS

For further information about the registration process at Binfield Preschool, please make sure you visit our registration page first.

If you would like to register your child for a place at Binfield Preschool, please email admin@binfieldpreschool.net to request all the necessary forms. To arrange a visit to come and have a look around, please contact Emma, our manager, by emailing manager@binfieldpreschool.net

Once all of the registration forms have been returned either via email or in person and the fee of £35 has been received (if applicable) your child will be offered a place depending on availability and your preferences.

If we are not able to meet your preferences you will be offered alternative sessions or placed on the waiting list for your preference.

We are unable to hold spaces for any children in advance unless a registration form has been completed and the fee has been paid.

Places are issued on a first registered first served basis.

PRESCHOOL FEES

A Registration Fee of £35 is payable for children who are not Government funded or for any child to be placed on the waiting list in advance of starting at Preschool.

Sessions are charged at £7 per hour (£17.50 per 2.5-hour session) and invoices are issued termly. 

Any sessions missed through holiday or sickness are non-refundable. If your child needs to be absent over a long period of time, please let us know.

From the start of the term following their 3rd birthday, all children are entitled to 15 hours Government funded early years education per week for 38 weeks (570 hours) per year. This allows your child up to 6 funded 2 ½ hour sessions per week at our Preschool. You can also use some of your funded hours to attend our lunch club sessions if you have enough funded hours available.

Preschool is responsible for claiming funding when it becomes available, and we will ask you to complete a ‘Funding Declaration’ form to enable us to do this. Forms must be completed and returned prior to funding being claimed.

We provide a variety of healthy snacks for children during the morning session. There is an optional additional charge for these snacks of 25p per morning session attended. This will be added as a separate entry on your invoice which will be emailed to you. This additional charge helps to support the preschool with costs which are not covered by Government funding and is completely optional. Your child’s care will not be affected if you are unable or unwilling to pay this additional charge.

Depending on your income, your child may also be entitled to Early Year’s ‘Pupil Premium Funding’. There is a question for you to complete on the “Funding Declaration” form if you are eligible. This funding will to go towards your child’s development.

Invoices which remain unpaid for 6 weeks or more will incur a surcharge of £10.

Please note that staff can only accept cash up to £40. Larger amounts must be paid by cheque or bank transfer. All details will be included on the invoice.

You will be notified a term ahead of any fee increases.

In exceptional circumstances e.g., adverse weather, unsafe premises, Global pandemics, we may have to close Preschool. We will inform you as soon as possible by text/call/email but keep an eye on our Facebook page as it is often the easiest way to get information to everyone. Fees may still be charged in the event of closure, to cover our contractual obligations (hall hire, staff wages etc.)

SETTLING IN

We understand how difficult it can be for parents/carers to leave their child in an unfamiliar environment with people they do not know well. We therefore aim to help your child settle as quickly as possible with their ‘key person’.

We recommend that you visit the Preschool in advance of your child starting so that they will have seen the setting beforehand and you can be assured that they will be well cared for.

We will work with you to settle your child in the best possible way. If there are any problems after you have left your child, we will give you a call

After four to six weeks, you will have the opportunity to meet with your child’s ‘key person’ to discuss their progress.

HOME VISIT

The Local Authority asks that we conduct short home visits for all new children usually in advance of them starting with us. By seeing the children in their own environment, it helps to build a link between home and Preschool, to form a relationship with the children and get to know their likes and dislikes. It can also help to enable them to settle in quickly.

The home visit is an important time for your child, and it is very valuable for them to see their parents/carers interacting with Preschool staff. This gives your child confidence that the people their parent is leaving them with can be trusted.

It is also important for the ‘key person’ to start to build a relationship with your child; this enables the child to know there is someone who will care for them when their parent/carer is no longer in the setting.

During the height of Covid -19 home visits were moved on line via Zoom. We have now resumed home visits but are also able to still offer a Zoom visit if you are not yet welcoming visitors into your home

FIRST DAY EXPERIENCE

We want your child to feel happy and safe at the Preschool. The length of the settling in process will depend on the number of sessions a child will attend. Usually, children will not attend lunch or full day sessions until they have attended a few half day sessions. Adjustments can be made based on the individual needs of each child. 

Parents will bring their child 30 minutes after the start of the session on their child’s first day and collect them 2 hours later. In order to help children, settle quickly, parents do not need to stay for any time with their child but are welcome to do so if required.

Your child may want to bring along a toy or comforter with them as this strengthens the links between home and Preschool.

Most children settle happily into Preschool within a week or two. However, if it seems the settling in process is taking a little longer, please do not worry about this – it is quite normal. 

Please talk to the staff if you have any concerns

WHAT TO SEND WITH YOUR CHILD FOR EACH SESSION

Please send the following items in with your child each session that they attend:

• A complete change of clothes (please name all items)

• Suitable outdoor clothing (sunhats & sun cream/coats, hats, scarves, gloves, wellington boots)

• Their special comforter/blanket/cuddly toy (to help them settle) if required

• A packed lunch if required (full guidance on packed lunch can be found on page 18)

• Nappy changing items if required

DROPPING OFF AND COLLECTING YOUR CHILD

Children are greeted at the entrance to the Pavilion building at the beginning of their session. Please form a queue at the outer door upon your arrival.

Parents enter the building (forming an inside queue at the inner door) for collection of their children at the end of their session. We operate a “one-in, one-out” policy. Parents will be called forward to sign their child out of the register. Please ensure your child has collected all of their belongings.

We will not allow your child to leave with somebody other than you, unless authorised to do so. If you have made other arrangements for collecting your child, please let us know

SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN

We have a duty under the law to help safeguard children against suspected or actual ‘significant harm’.

Our way of working with children and their parents ensures that we are aware of any problems that may emerge and can offer support or referral where necessary to help families in difficulty.

ACCIDENTS AND INJURIES

We record all accidents and injuries in the Accident Report Book and you will be asked to sign to acknowledge that we have informed you of the incident

OUTINGS AND SPECIAL VISITORS

We endeavour to provide varied learning experiences for your child. We like to take the children around the Jock’s Lane area for nature walks, trips to the park and to play in the tennis courts. If we were to plan any other trips you will be informed in advance.

We will also sometimes invite special visitors to come into preschool. Notification all any visits will be sent to parents ahead of time

LUNCH PROCEDURE

Children that attend full day, afternoon sessions or lunch club will need to bring a packed lunch. Their packed lunch needs to be in a named insulated lunch bag/box complete with an ice block and plate. This is particularly important in the summer months as the room is bright and can get very warm. Please ensure all non-disposable items are clearly named. We would like to encourage you to include healthy food in your child’s lunch box.

Primary schools have strict healthy eating policies, so this will be good preparation. We ask parents to observe the following guidelines:

• No nut/nut related products (including Nutella)
• At least one main item such as a sandwich, pasta, breadsticks & dip etc
• At least one portion of fruit/vegetables (grapes and cherry tomatoes must be cut in half lengthways and cucumber/carrot should be cut into batons)
• One cake/sweet biscuit
• One packet crisps/savoury biscuits
• A drink (not fizzy)
• No sweets/chocolate bars

Children eat their lunch under the supervision of the staff. The staff will ensure that the tables have been sterilized, that the children have washed their hands, that they have their own lunch boxes and sit to eat their lunch. Once the children have stated they are finished, staff will ensure that any unfinished food is returned to the lunch box so that you are aware of what your child has eaten. If you have any questions, please speak to a member of staff.

TOILET

If your child is not toilet trained, you have the option to either come in and change them or for Preschool staff to do it.

If your child wears nappies/pull ups, we request that you provide spares, wipes, sacks etc each day in case they need to be changed during a session. If these are not provided a charge will be made.

We encourage children to learn skills which enable them to be independent. This includes taking themselves to the toilet and putting on/off their outdoor clothes. Clothing that is easy for them to manage will help them to do this

PARENT COMMUNICATION

Communication is usually sent via email. Any postal correspondence will be sent to the main household address provided to the Preschool. In the event of shared parental responsibility, correspondence will be sent to BOTH parents at their home addresses. (This includes requests for payment of outstanding fees).

Please ensure that we have the most current details for you to avoid any delays.

NEWSLETTERS

Newsletters are sent out periodically, to ensure parents/carers are informed of everything that is happening at Preschool. These are placed on the Preschool website

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

NON-ATTENDANCE NOTIFICATION

If your child is not able to attend a session, please advise us by calling us on 07749 209424 in the first instance by 9.45am. Please leave a message if no-one is available to answer your call. If for any reason you are unable to call, you can email the Manager: manager@binfieldpreschool.net

WITHDRAWAL NOTICE PERIOD

If you wish to withdraw your child from Binfield Preschool, 6 weeks’ notice is required. We will ask you to complete the relevant form. Failure to provide sufficient notice will result in a charge or funding claim for the relevant period

PRIMARY SCHOOL

Binfield Preschool is not considered a feeder school to any of the local primary schools and therefore children must apply for their place at primary school separately

SCHOOL ADMISSIONS

Parents/carers should register with Bracknell Forest Borough Council about school admissions at http://www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/primaryschooladmissions or contact the School Admissions Team on 01344 354023