Welcome

Setting Aims

The Mary Bassett Pre-School aims to:

• provide high quality care and education for children aged from 2 to 4 years;
• work in partnership with parents/carers to help children to learn and develop;
• add to the life and well-being of its local community;
• offer children and their parents/carers a service that promotes equality and values diversity. 

We aim to ensure that each child:

• is in a safe and stimulating environment;
• is given generous care and attention;
• is supported to forward his/her learning and development by building on what they know and can do;
• has the chance to join and interact with other children and adults to play and learn together;
• has a personal key person who ensures each child makes satisfying progress;
• is in a setting that sees parents/carers as partners in helping each child to learn and develop;
• is in a setting in which parents/carers can help to shape the service it offers.

If you are looking for excellent care for your child within a large, bright, well resourced setting then The Mary Bassett Pre-School is for you.

Hours of Opening

We have two sessions:

Morning Session: 9:00 A.M. to 12:00 P.M.
Afternoon Session (includes lunchtime): 12:00 P.M to 3:00 P.M. 

A morning or afternoon session currently costs £14.30 from September 2020.

A Typical Day in Pre-School

Registration

When the children arrive, they pick their name from our Registration Wall and take it with them as they enter the setting. They choose an activity they would like to do that day and place their name on the space under it. Next, the parents/carers support their children in taking their coats off and placing their bag on their named peg. The children then sit down at the carpet area and say "Goodbye" to their adult.

We usually start our day with a lovely story related to our Weekly Topic as well as some songs. 

Free Play

The children can choose from a wide range of activities available everyday in the setting. These activities can introduce children into new experiences and help them to gain new skills and build relationships with their peers. 

Indoors, we have Small World and Construction areas where the children are encouraged to access the resources available and create something from their imaginations. 

On the Maths table, the children become familiar with simple concepts such as matching and sorting objects by different characteristics (e.g. colour, shape, size). 

We have a lovely Roleplay Kitchen where children love to pretend they are preparing, cooking, or serving food.

Our Roleplay Corner is dressed and decorated according to our Weekly Topic that children use to build-up their imaginative, role-playing games. 

Our Messy Table is always popular, children can paint, draw, stick paper, or play with play dough. We also provide Arts and Craft activities that compliments our Weekly Topic.

Children can colour or draw pictures in our Writing Area. There are dot to dot activities or tracing lines and shapes available all day for children to practice their fine motor skills.

Our Reading Corner is a quiet, little nook with a selection of books suitable for children. The children love to choose a book from the shelf and sit on one of the cushions to enjoy with an adult or with their peers. 

Outdoor activities contribute to children's heath and their knowledge of the world around them. The children have free access to the garden at all times, regardless of the weather.

Snack & Lunch

Children in the Afternoon Session has a choice of bringing in their own packed lunch or ordering a hot lunch from the school kitchen.

Hot lunches must be ordered and paid for online in advance. The Pre-School will provide a code and link for you to do this within your first two weeks of settling in the setting. 

If you choose to bring your own packed lunch, we strongly encourage our parents/carers to provide a healthy, well-balanced meal consisting of sandwiches, fruit, vegetables, and non-fizzy drinks.

Toilets

Children can access the toilets and sink independently. We also have toilet training seats and potties available for use by our children currently learning how to use the toilets. For our children who wear a nappy, we change them into a fresh one before they go home. 

We encourage all our children to wash and dry their hands after using the toilet.

Uniform

Boys

• Green t-shirt and jumpers from local supermarkets or a green shirt or jumper with the Mary Bassett Pre-School logo. Pre-School t-shirts are available to purchase from the school's front desk.
• White or gold colour polo shirt.
• Green, black, or grey jogging bottoms, trousers or shorts.
• Any type of sensible footwear.

Girls

• Green t-shirt and jumpers from local supermarkets or a green shirt or jumper with the Mary Bassett Pre-School logo. Pre-School t-shirts are available to purchase from the school at the cost of £5.50 per t-shirt.
• White or gold colour polo shirt.
• Grey pinafore dress or a green and white check summer dress.
• Girls can also wear the green and white check one-suit.
• Green, black or grey jogging bottoms, trousers, shorts or skirts.
• Any type of sensible footwear.

PLEASE REMEMBER:

• To ensure that your child can pull down their trousers to enable use of toilet if toilet trained. No belts or tight button fastenings allowed.
• If your child is wearing nappies please ensure you supply nappies and wipes in a named bag.
• To ensure that your child always has a change of clothes available in Pre-School in a named bag.
• To bring in some wellie boots that you can leave on their named peg for rainy days. 
• That children are free to access the garden during all types of weather. Remember to bring a coat and appropriate footwear for them to wear.