Castleton Community Primary School, North Yorkshire

WELCOME TO ESKLETS

Pre-school

OUR AIM

We aim to provide a warm, welcoming, safe, secure and stimulating educational environment in which children are able to develop the social skills and independence that will prepare them for school. We understand that each child is an individual with their unique characteristics and temperament. As such each child will develop in their own way and their play will reflect their wide ranging and varied interests. We use careful observation of each child to create a curriculum to suit their individual needs. We can also offer your child;

• The opportunity to enjoy the company of other children and adults.
• A high ratio of adults to children which provides many opportunities for individual care and attention.
• Opportunities for you and your family to be involved in the pre-school activities. Research has shown that young children learn best when their carer is involved.

We are a community based, non-profit making organisation, registered with the Charities Commission. We are a member of the Pre-school Learning Alliance and the North Yorkshire Early Years Partnership (with the local Education Authority). We are also registered with OFSTED, (our OFSTED report is available to read - please ask the staff)

Esklets was judged ‘OUTSTANDING IN ALL AREAS’ at it’s last inspection in October 2008.

SESSION TIMES

Sessions run from 9.00am until 12noon, Monday to Friday, term time only.

FUNDING AND FEES

Esklets Playgroup is a member of the North Yorkshire Early Years Partnership. This means that the government funds 15hours per week, of free care and education for all children starting the term after their 3rd birthday. All you have to do is fill in a form which is provided by the group.

Children under 3 years - Fee is £6 to £8 per session payable at the start of every half-term. Children 3-5years for whom we do not receive free funding will be charged the equivalent amount per session which is presently £8.40.

The playgroups income is made up from fees paid by parents, the government funding and any fundraising. From this we have to pay all expenses; rent, electricity, water, telephone, insurance, resources and wages. This means that we need occasionally to supplement our income by fundraising..

Esklets is situated in the Station Yard at Danby, and enjoys a quiet, sheltered position well away from the road. We have an extensive outdoor area including a playground;

Here the children can explore water, engage in imaginative role play, enjoy ‘messy play’ and work on a larger scale than indoors.

They can also ride bikes, build things, climb, play ball etc as well as playing in our large walk-in sandpit.

As part of our ongoing development play we have recently created a garden area which allows children to explore nature, grow flowers and vegetables, dig for worms and enjoy playing in a more natural environment.

Esklets also has a large shed in our playground in which children can play whilst sheltering from the sun or rain.

The inside classroom is a warm, welcoming place where play is organized into clearly defined areas and children’s work is displayed.

The classroom includes the following areas; messy/creative play, water tray, dough, role play, music, books, writing and numbers, small world and construction. The classroom also has a computer area;

The playgroup curriculum.

Our curriculum is based on planning and resourcing a challenging environment for the children, both inside and outside. We meet the requirements of the EYFS.The EYFS covers children from birth to the end of the reception class at school. This divides the curriculum into six areas of learning;

• Creative development
• Physical development
• Language and literacy
• Problem solving, reasoning and numeracy.
• Knowledge and understanding of the world
• Personal and social development

Most of our curriculum is achieved by creating a challenging learning environment. This is made up of all areas of provision both inside, and outside, together with the routines and organisation of the day. To this continuous provision we add new resources, displays, visits and visitors, as well as planned activities that focus on the observed interests of the children as well as providing new experiences.

PARTNERSHIP WITH PARENTS

Esklets Playschool works in partnership with parents to provide care and education for their children. As part of this working partnership parents can be involved in a range of activities within the pre-school. These include:

• Opportunities to be involved in planning the next steps in the care and education of their child.
• To take part in outings with the group.
• To be involved in the general management of the setting.

The playschool belongs to you. Esklets Playgroup is run as a charity and is managed by a parent management committee

Castleton Community Primary School, North Yorkshire