We would like to welcome all our new families to the Little Learning Tree Preschool. Please do check the foyer notice regularly board for events and notices, as well as ways to support your child’s learning at home.
Key Person
Your child will have a key person at preschool. It is important you know who it is. If you are unsure please do ask a member of staff who will be able to find out for you.
The key person is a named practitioner who has responsibilities for a small group of children, they are there to help your child feel safe and secure and support their development. The role is important for both child and parent and it is an approach set out in the EYFS. Please do speak to your child’s key person or buddy if you have any questions or concerns.
The EYFS
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) sets standards for the learning, development and care of children from birth to 5 years old. All schools and Ofsted-registered early years providers must follow the EYFS, including childminders, preschools, nurseries and school reception classes. We use the EYFS to assess their developmental levels and plan accordingly to meet their individual needs.
As well as being the core document for all professionals working in the foundation years, the EYFS framework gives mums and dads confidence that regardless of where they choose for their child’s early education, they can be assured that the same statutory commitments and principles will underpin their child’s learning and development experience.
Tapestry
Tapestry is the online tool we use to observe and track your child’s development in line with the EYFS. You will have been sent an email with activation link. Please ensure you activate your child’s account as you will be able to see photographs and observations of your child. You have the options to add photos from home and comment or like observations added by your child’s key person. Observations of your child are done weekly so you should expect to see one or two observations uploaded fortnightly.
Preschool rules
The children will be finding out all about our preschool rules this term and learning about boundaries and expectations of the setting. It is really important that you take the time to chat about these rules with your child at home. They are rules which can also be used at home if you would like. If you need more information about how to support your child in learning the rules please speak to their Key Person.
Our rules are… Gentle Hands, Walking Feet, Indoor Voices, Listening Ears, Sharing Friends, Kind words and Tidy Up
Snack Donations
Thank you to those who have been bringing in their £1 per week and snack donations, as some of you are aware we are largely Government funded which means that we struggle to stay sustainable. By donating this small amount it means we can keep our fees as low as possible and we don’t need to charge for your child to stay with us at lunch time. It also leaves us with more funds to buy consumable resources such as paper, glue, paints etc.
Stay and Play
This is an opportunity for you to come and experience the first hour of our session from 9-10 and 12.30-1.30. Please check the preschool foyer for dates. Everyone is invited, Mum’s, Dad’s, siblings, carers and grandparents, so please do feel welcome to join us.
Clothing
Please make sure your child has a couple of spare changes of clothes including underwear and socks in case of accidents and/or water play and as we go out every day, please can all children come to preschool with suitable outdoor clothing for all weathers.
Awards
Royal Tunbridge Wells in Bloom - We have been nominated in the Schools category for this lovely award.
Kent Housing Group Excellence Awards - We have been nominated in the category for Excellent Community Project
We will let you know the outcome of these very soon!
We are the Tunbridge Wells District Representative for the Kent Childcare and Early Years Provider Association which gives us an input into policy changes for Early Years Education in Kent
We had our first OFSTED inspection @ Showfields on Wednesday 27th June and are proud to say we received a GOOD grading and the inspector gave us some very positive feedback. A copy is available to read
