Frequently Asked Questions
How will you help my child settle at Fylingdales Preschool?
When you first enquire about starting we will give you a registration form to fill in which will provide an opportunity for you to give us a lot of information about your child. You will also be assigned a key person who will get to know your family and child. We offer 2 settling in sessions where you are welcome to attend. Your key person will work with you to decide when it is best to start leaving your child. You are welcome to stay until you feel your child is settled. Settling in can be the hardest part and often feel challenging..your key person will work with you to support this transition.
Can they bring toys from home?
We welcome comforters and special toys but we do discourage bringing in toys from home. The main reason is due to the conflict it can cause with the other children. as it can be difficult to share a toy they know to be theirs! We also have to consider health and safety as resources we buy are all checked to suit the standards and age requirements that we legally have to meet. We also don’t want any of your personal property to be lost, broken or be put in the water tray!
Do they have to be toilet trained when they start?
No, we will work with you to toilet train your child when you and your child are ready. We will support the child’s growing interest in this and advise on how to do this if you need us! If they are already toilet trained then we have toilets which are easily accessible and a range of different toilet seats/ potties to ensure this is not disrupted. We also keep spare pants here but children are encouraged to bring spare clothes in case of an accident.
What is the EYFS?
The EYFS or Early Years Foundation Stage is the curriculum which has to be followed in every early years setting for children aged 0-7 years. This same curriculum is used in reception, so will be used when your child first goes to school. The milestones in the eyfs are not a checklist of what a child can and can’t do but rather support early years practitioners in ensuring that a child is learning and developing. You will see references to the EYFS in your child’s Play, Learning and Interacting Diaries. The main principle behind the EYFS is Learning through play.
What are the ratios?
The ratios are different depending upon the age of a child. These are set in our Curriculum guidelines by the government. A child under 2 is in a ratio of 1:3 (one adult for every 3 children). A child aged between 2 years and 3 years is in a ratio of 1:4 (one adult for every 4 children) A child over 3 years is in a ratio of 1:8 (one adult for every 8 children). These ratios are lowered for any outing.
My child has a specific dietary requirement. Can you cater for this?
Yes, on your registration form there is a space to write in specific dietary requirements. This is transferred to a document in the kitchen so that we can ensure a child is given the correct foods. All members of staff are informed.
How will I know what they have been doing all day?
At the end of your child session a member of staff will be available to speak to about your child’s day. Where possible this will be your child’s key person but due to staff shifts this may not always be possible, but your key person will have handed over important information. The toddler room have books in which their daily information is recorded. The preschool room have a white board which details information about their day.
How do you prepare children for school?
We have developed excellent links with Fylingdales Primary School and with Hawsker Primary School. Most of our children leave the setting to attend these schools as they are local to the village.
We spend a lot of time working with the children, slowly building up their confidence about ‘big school.’ We begin by including school uniform into the role play area, adding books about school to the reading area and chatting at circle time about it. As we approach the end of term we try and attend the school with the children on their first settling in session. This is so that we can be on hand to comfort the child if they become unsettled and to help their new teacher become familiar with the children’s interests. We also invite the teacher to come to Fylingdales Preschool, so that they can get to know the children in an environment that is familiar to them.
Will they start in the Preschool Room or the Toddler Room? And when will they transition?
The toddler room is equipped to meet the needs of the children aged between 18 months and 2 years and the preschool room is equipt to meet the needs of children aged between 3 and 5 years. However, if your child is developmentally more suited to a different room then we will accommodate this where possible and work with you to transition at a more suitable time.
What if I have a problem?
If you have a problem you are welcome to speak to your key person as they will help where they can. You are also welcome to speak to the manager at any time who will try to resolve the problem…..No problem is too small!
If you have a problem which you cannot approach the manager about then you are able to contact the committee/ chairperson who will discuss your concern. All information relating to this, can be found on the parents as partners display board in the entrance.
What if I struggle with the payments?
Our invoices are issues half termly in advance and are due on your child’s first session back after the holidays. (our dates coincide with the school holidays). If you are struggling to make the payments please speak to the manager who will be able to offer a payment plan. Please don’t leave it until you are struggling to speak to us. All matters are dealt with confidentially.
How do I apply for the 3,4,5 year old government funded 15 hours per week free childcare? Is everyone entitled to this?
All children are entitled to 3,4 and 5 year old funding at 15 hours per week. However, this entitlement starts the term after your child’s 3rd birthday. We will provide you with a form to fill in every term which we then use to claim your entitlement. You do not have to take 15 hours per week, you could split this between 2 early years providers or use less. Every family is entitled to this.
Am I entitled to the 2 year old government funded 15 hours per week free childcare?
Maybe! Not every family will be entitled to the 2 year old funded hours. If you are entitled to claim these hours then a letter will have been sent to you soon after your child’s 2nd birthday. Families who have low income or whom have adopted a child are examples of who qualify. If you are unsure please contact the local Children’s Centre (Stakesby School, Whitby). The 2 year old funded hours is claimed the same way as the 3,4 and 5 year old funding.
Does my child need to wear a uniform?
We do not have a uniform which the children have to wear. However, please be aware that both the toddler and preschool rooms get very messy! Activities can include messy play, baking and playing in the mud pit. Please don’t dress your child in clothes that you don’t want to get dirty. We do have t-shirts and jumpers with the Fylingdales Preschool Logo if you would prefer...this is not compulsory uniform,
