Parents
Admissions
Children can start in the Preschool after their 2nd birthday. Applications can be made throughout the year and sessions will be allocated subject to availability. Our main admissions for new children take place at the beginning of each term in September, January and April.
We are open term-time only, Monday to Friday
Our sessions run from 9:15am-12.15pm and 12.15pm-3.15pm
We require that children attend a minimum of 2 sessions per week
To request a place for your child, please contact us on 01625 860823 or email chelfordvillagepreschool@gmail.com.
If you would like to visit the Preschool in advance of applying, please get in touch and we would be more than happy to arrange a visit and show you around.
Please note that a completed registration form MUST be received in order to add a child to our admissions list. Our registration forms are available by request from Preschool or click here to download a copy (and check your download folder).
We are always excited to welcome new families to Preschool as well as welcoming back those families who have entrusted their older children to us in previous years. If, at any time, you have any questions or queries, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
Click here if you would like to see a copy of our admissions policy.
Application Timelines
Children starting in the Autumn Term (September)
Registration forms must be received by the end of the previous Spring Term (March), parents will then receive confirmation of their child’s place and allocated sessions by mid-way through the Summer Term (May).
Children starting in the Spring Term (January)
Registration forms must be received before the start of the Autumn Term (August), parents will then receive confirmation of their child’s place and allocated sessions by mid-way through the Autumn Term (End of October).
Children starting in the Summer Term (April)
Registration forms must be received by the end of the previous Autumn Term (December), parents will then receive confirmation of their child’s place and allocated sessions by mid-way through the Spring Term (February).
Our Fees
We are able to offer both funded and fee-paying places.
Please note, our sessions run from 9:15am-12.15pm and 12.15pm-3.15pm. A full day 9.15am-3.15pm is classed as 2 sessions.
Our Session Rates
Children aged 2 years £19.75
Children aged 3 or 4 years £16.50
Consumables Charge 80p per session.
Please note: the consumables charge mainly covers the extra cost of providing refreshments and snacks but it also covers a host of further incidentals, including but not restricted to, keeping a stock of spare items such as nappies, wipes, clothes, suncreams, calpol, etc. as well as the extra costs associated with some activities e.g. cooking ingredients. As a registered charity (No. 1038596), the purpose of Chelford Village Preschool is not to make a profit.
For those children in receipt of free funding, any extra charges relating to free sessions are optional, however without your support and understanding, we will ultimately be unable to guarantee our future sustainability. If you are unable to, or do not wish to pay the Consumables Charge, please contact us to discuss alternatives.
Click here for a copy of our Fees Policy.
Early Drop-Off
Parents are welcome to use our early drop-off facility from 9am, on either an ad hoc or continual basis, the charge for which is £2 per day. Just drop your child off at 9am and they will be marked in as early on the register. We will then invoice parents for any early drops taken at the end of each term.
Free Funded Places
We are able to offer Free Early Years Education Funding to children from the age of 2.
We offer the universal 15 hour funded places to all children, with effect from the first term following their third birthday. We also offer the extended 30 hours funding for 3 and 4 year old children whose parents are eligible.
In order to check your eligibility, parents are directed to www.childcarechoices.gov.uk where you can complete an online eligibility check as well as apply for the extended funding.
For further information about the Free Early Education Entitlement for 3-4 years old children in Cheshire East, parents are directed to:
We also offer free funded places to 2 year old children whose parents meet the eligibility criteria. For more information and to check your eligibility, parents are directed to, https://www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/livewell/looking-after-someone/childcare/free-early-education-feee-2yr-old.aspx
In order to claim your Free Funded Hours, parents will need to complete a Funding Declaration Form before the start of each term. We will notify parents when this needs to happen and ensure that parents have been given a copy of the form to complete and sign. Declaration forms will be made available from Preschool, or please click here to download a copy (and check your download folder).
General Information
Drop-Off and Collection
Dropping off and Collecting Children
The Preschool session times are;
- Morning: 9.15am -12.15pm (1.15pm where children are staying for lunch)
- Afternoon: 12.15pm-3.15pm.
At 9.15am morning drop-off, and 3.15pm afternoon pick up, please wait at the gate to our outside garden area, around the side of the school building.
If you are dropping off or picking up in the middle of the day, please come to the Preschool door at the front of the school.
A member of the team will be standing by the door at drop-off and collection times and will be available for a brief chat, if you need to tell us anything, or have any quick questions.
As you can appreciate, these times are generally busy, and our priority is always to welcome and settle our children, or ensure they are picked up safely at the end of the session.
If you require a longer chat, please let us know and we will be more than happy to arrange a time to discuss any matters at greater length.
Toys from Home
Where possible we discourage toys from home being brought into Preschool, as they can easily get lost or broken, or may contain small parts which are unsuitable for some of our children. We will encourage children to keep any toys from home in their bags during the preschool day.
Changes to Pick Up
Please let us know in advance if your child is being collected by someone other than yourself or someone you have nominated on your registration form as having your permission to collect your child. We require you to give us a written confirmation and a PASSWORD which the adult collecting your child will need to tell staff. If you are stuck in traffic or need to make a last-minute change to your collection arrangements, please call preschool on 01625 860823. If we haven’t been informed of any changes, we will not let your child go home until we have spoken to you.
Early Drop-Off
Parents are welcome to use our early drop-off facility from 9am, on either an ad hoc or continual basis, the charge for which is £2 per day. Just drop your child off at 9am and they will be marked in as early on the register. We will then invoice parents for any early drops taken at the end of each term.
Extra Sessions
Depending on our numbers and availability, we are sometimes able to offer children extra ad hoc sessions. If you need an extra session, it is always worth asking and we will always do our best to accommodate any requests. Any extra sessions will be invoiced at the end of each term.
Breakfast Club
Children in their final year of Preschool, who are toilet trained, are able to attend Chelford Primary School’s Breakfast Club, which runs from 8.00am-9.00am and costs £5.00 a morning, with toast and drinks included. Breakfast Club is located within the Primary School.
After School Club
Children in their final year of Preschool, who are toilet trained, are able to attend the After School Club at Chelford Primary. Please note that Preschool children will only be able to book into Slot One which runs until 4.30pm and not the later Slot Two.
Please click here to register and to book into the breakfast and after-school clubs.
Breakfast and After School Clubs
Breakfast Club
Children in their final year of Preschool, who are toilet trained, are able to attend Chelford Primary School’s Breakfast Club, which runs from 8.00am-9.00am and costs £5.00 a morning, with toast and drinks included. Breakfast club is located within the Primary School.
After School Club
Children in their final year of Preschool, who are toilet trained, are able to attend the After School Club at Chelford Primary. Please note that preschool children will only be able to book into Slot One which runs until 4.30pm and not the later Slot Two.
Please use the link below to register and to book into the breakfast and after school clubs:
https://www.sportscoachinggroup.co.uk/after-school-clubs
Early Drop-Off
Parents are welcome to use our early drop-off facility from 9am, on either an ad hoc or continual basis, the charge for which is £2 per day. Just drop your child off at 9am and they will be marked in as early on the register. We will then invoice parents for any early drops taken at the end of each term.
Extra Sessions
Depending on our numbers and availability, we are sometimes able to offer children extra ad hoc sessions. If you need an extra session, it is always worth asking and we will always do our best to accommodate any requests. Any extra sessions will be invoiced at the end of each term.
Food and Refreshments
School Lunches
If you would like your child to have school lunch, you can either let us know your lunch choices in advance, or by 9.15am at morning drop off.
School lunches cost £2.35 per day.
Payment may be made using the online payment system at:
https://www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/schools/schools_epayments/schools_epayments.aspx
Here's our current lunch menu:
Packed Lunches
If your child is bringing a packed lunch, please can you ensure that their lunch bag is clearly labelled.
- Please note that we are a NUT FREE setting.
- To reduce the risk of choking please could you ensure that grapes and berries are cut in half, long ways and then into quarters.
- Click here to see choking hazard advice from the Food Standards Agency
We encourage parents to ensure that children who bring a lunch from home have food that is just as healthy and nutritious as the food served in school, and in line with national standards.
The following foods should not be included in packed lunches or snacks:
- Fried foods
- Chocolate
- Nuts or nut products
- Fizzy or sugary drinks in cartons, bottles or cans
- Confectionery and sweets
Click here to see ideas for a healthy lunch box and healthy eating advice for young children.
Snack time and food activities
We offer snack at mid-morning to ensure that children receive appropriate levels of energy and nutrition and we encourage the children to try a variety of fruit and vegetables. Similarly, we often provide activities around healthy eating, encouraging our children to explore and taste new food.
It is important that you keep us up to date with any changes in relation to children’s food intolerance or allergies.
Water Bottles
We would like all children to have a named bottle of water that will be available to them throughout the session. Water and cups will be provided for anyone without a water bottle. In line with our Oral Health Procedure, please bring only water, and not juice or flavoured water.
Clothing
Exploring and learning can be a messy business. Whilst we provide aprons for the children when they are playing with messy activities, we would generally advise that children do not come to Preschool in their best clothes and shoes!
We would also encourage you to send children to Preschool in clothes that are easy for the children to manage by themselves. We encourage children to gain the skills that help them to be independent and look after themselves, which includes taking themselves to the toilet and taking off and putting on,any outdoor clothes.
Uniform
We are currently in the process of sourcing Preschool jumpers and t-shirts, for parents to purchase. Please bear with us while we work out the details, but rest assured that as soon as we have any further information, we will let you know.
Wellies
We generally try to get outside in all weathers. We are very fortunate to have access to extensive school grounds, the Mere Court playground and we often enjoy walks around Dixon Drive. We have waterproof trousers and jackets for the children to wear; we would however ask if you could provide a pair of named wellies for your child; these can either stay in Preschool or you can take them home at the end of the day or week.
Sun Cream, Sun Hats and Winter Weather
On warm days we would ask parents to apply sun cream to their child before they come to the setting, as well as ensuring that children have named sun cream and sun hats in their bag, which will be reapplied as necessary during the session. Suncream must be in-date, and a minimum of Factor 30.
We would also ask that parents make sure their child brings a sun hat, and wears light clothes that provide good sun protection.
Similarly, in the colder months, please make sure your child has named hats/gloves and warm coats, as we will be outside in all weather.
Nappies and Potty Training
Please can you provide nappies and wipes for your child in their bag each day and ensure that these are regularly renewed. Similarly, if your child is potty training, please can you pack extra clothing in case of any accidents.
Health Matters
Poorly Children, Absence and illness
If your child is poorly and not able to attend the setting, please ring or email the Preschool at the beginning of the day. It is important for us to understand the reason for children’s absence as well as to keep an eye on any illnesses and infections that may be prevalent. Please do not bring children who are unwell into Preschool.
After diarrhoea or vomiting, parents are asked to keep their children at home for 48 hours following the last episode. Similarly, where children have been prescribed antibiotics for an infectious illness or complaint, parents are asked to keep them at home for 48 hours, from commencement of the antibiotics.
Sometimes, it can be hard to know when to keep your child off school, please click here for some useful NHS guidance on when to keep your child at home.
If children become unwell during the Preschool day, for example has a raised temperature, sickness, diarrhoea and/or pains, particularly in the head or stomach, we will call you and ask you to come and collect your child.
Prescribed Medicines
We are able to administer prescribed oral medicine to children while they are with us at Preschool.
We will require parents to complete a prescribed medicine form, giving us prior written details of the medication and consent. Prescribed medicine forms are available on request.
All prescribed medicines MUST display the child’s name, prescribed dosage and instructions, and the details of the GP and issuing chemist.
Term Dates
Lunch Menu
Here's the current lunch menu:
Supporting Learning at Home
You are your child’s first and most enduring educator! What parents do, makes a crucial difference to children’s learning and development.
Research tells us that regardless of the quality of early years settings, the most important predictor of children’s future outcomes is the quality of the home learning environment, which is why we believe that involving parents in their children’s learning is one of the most important factors in enabling children to do well.
We share our learning summaries for the half-term ahead with parents. This includes our core books and nursery rhymes, as well as lots of suggestions for things you can do at home to support your child’s learning which links into what we are doing in Preschool. Our weekly newsletters also give parents suggested activities to try at home which link to our learning, as well as a weekly maths challenge!
One of the most important things you can do as a parent is to play, chat and read with your children at home, but beyond this, please follow the links below for more general home learning ideas and advice.
Learning Summaries
Current Learning Summary
Please click here to find out what the children are learning about this term and how you can support your children's learning at home.
Previous Learning Summaries
Book Trust
Find children’s books for every age. Tips, advice, reading guides.
https://www.booktrust.org.uk/books-and-reading/tips-and-advice/
https://www.booktrust.org.uk/books-and-reading/bookfinder/
Boromi
Daily emails during school holidays share simple, accessible and play-based activities.
https://www.boromi.co.uk/dailyplay-2
Cbeebies Grown-ups
Tips and ideas for parents.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/grownups
Easy Peasy App
Ideas, advice and inspiration.
Family Lives
Advice and information on early years development.
https://www.familylives.org.uk/advice/early-years-development
Hungry Little Minds
Simple, fun activities for kids, from newborn to five.
https://hungrylittleminds.campaign.gov.uk
Literacy Trust
Activities and videos.
https://wordsforlife.org.uk/activities/
Tiny Happy People
Child development advice, activities and videos.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/tiny-happy-people
50 Things to do before you’re five App
App: low/no-cost experiences.
https://www.50thingstodo.org/about/the-app
We are always more than happy to provide parents and carers with support and literature regarding any aspect of children’s learning and development, please ask any member of staff for further advice or support.
Supporting Children's Emotional Wellbeing
Self-regulation is a key part of children’s development; quite simply self-regulation is developing children’s ability to regulate their emotions, thoughts and behaviours to resolve any upsets, restore the balance and allow children to act in a positive way to continue towards their chosen goal.
Developing self-regulation is not something that children can do by themselves, self-regulation grows from co-regulation, where adults and children work together to find ways to resolve upsets and manage any negative feelings and behaviours.
Establishing Positive and Supportive Relationships
Supporting children to develop the necessary skills for self-regulation, is underpinned by establishing warm, positive and safe relationships with staff in the setting.
It is crucial that children know that they are safe and that there is someone that they can depend on and trust. Children need to feel like they belong, that they are listened to and are able to have a voice.
Setting Clear Boundaries and Expectations
Children feel safe and secure when they know and follow the rules and expectations. We support children to follow our five golden rules
- We are kind we have kind words
- We are gentle we use kind hand
- We practice good sitting and good listening
- We try to follow instructions the first time we are asked.
- We never run in the preschool classroom.
We regularly remind children of the behavioural expectation and support children by guiding and modelling appropriate behaviours during our daily interactions.
Teaching the Language of Feelings
When children can express their feelings with words, they are less likely to show them through their actions. Negative behaviour is the expression of negative feelings and emotions.
Supporting children to understand, identify, and describe their feelings and the feelings of others is woven into the curriculum, through our interactions, our core books, and our feelings check in, which all support children to identify and explore their different feelings.
The steps children make towards managing and regulating their feelings and emotions are;
1, Use words to name feelings they see in books or images such as ‘Happy’, ‘Sad’ or ‘Angry’
2, Start to identify and name their own feelings in different situations.
3, Talk about their feelings in more detail “I am feeling sad . . . . because I have lost my picture”
4, Adults then start to support children to manage their feelings by modelling strategies.
““I can see that you are sad because you have lost your picture . . . let’s take sit quietly and take some deep breaths while we calm down”
5, Once children are familiar with these strategies, they will be more able to use them with less support and remember them when an adult is not there.
By the time children leave us we hope that they are beginning to develop the necessary skills to regulate their own behaviour and have developed some strategies to manage their feelings.
When Children Need Help to Manage their Emotions
There are times when children will need help in the moment to manage strong negative feelings and emotions, and when this happens, we use Time in and not Time out.
What does ‘Time In’ this look like?
Essentially, we stay with the child and support them through the negative feeling and behaviour.
If a child doesn’t want to be touched or comforted, then we quietly stay close so they can come for comfort when they are ready. During Time In staff will:
- Stay calm and take charge
- Let children know that you understand and use a calm voice
- Help children to name their feelings, use feelings fan or other images
- Help them to understand what happened and remind them of the behaviour that is expected.
- Help child put things right if possible
- Help child learn what they can do next time
Calm Down Corner
Children are aware of the space they can go to if they need to calm down, and staff can use the calm down area to support children when necessary. We also use our calm down kits, which includes things like bubbles to support children to take deep breaths, sand timers, sensory bottles, and sensory toys for children to hold and squeeze for comfort and release.
Ofsted Reports
Chelford Village Preschool is currently rated as 'Good' by Ofsted. Our Ofsted reference number is EY398808.
Click here for the latest report.
Click here to see all Ofsted reports about the Preschool.
eSafety
As part of their learning and development, your child will have the opportunity to access a wide range of digital technology, including our interactive whiteboard and iPads.
At Chelford Village Preschool we recognise the value of using this technology and also the potential risks involved. We therefore have rigorous online safety policies and procedures in place.
In order to support us further in developing your child’s knowledge and understanding about online safety, please read ‘Acceptable Use Rules for Children’ (see below) and discuss these with your children. We will talk to the children about them too.
We understand that your child is too young to give informed consent on his/her own; however, we feel it is good practice to involve them as much as possible in the decision-making process and believe a shared understanding and practice of what is right and wrong in the use of technology can be done through a successful partnership.
Hopefully, you will also find these rules provide an opportunity for further conversations between you and your child about safe and appropriate use of online and digital technology beyond our school setting, such as at home, or at a friend’s home.
Acceptable Use Rules for Children at Chelford Village Preschool
This is how we stay safe when we use computers:
- I will only use the computer or iPad if it is put out as an activity.
- I will only use programmes that an adult has told or allowed me to use.
- I will take care of the computer and iPads and other equipment.
- I will ask for help from an adult if I am not sure what to do or if I think I have done something wrong.
- I will tell an adult if I see something that upsets me on the screen.
- I know that if I break the rules, I might not be allowed to use a computer or iPad.
Please click here to see our Acceptable Use and eSafety Policy
Please click here to view online safety tips for parents of pre-school children 0-5 year olds or visit internetmatters.org (https://www.internetmatters.org/advice/0-5/#guides) for more information and advice.
Should you need to discuss any of these matters further, please do not hesitate to contact us.