For further information please contact Csilla Fulopmuddywellies@eygloucestershire.co.uk07706 726 865www.facebook.co.uk/muddywelliesearlylearnershttp://www.muddywelliesearlylearners.co.ukMuddy Wellies Early Learners, c/o Down Ampney Primary School, Down Ampney, Cirencester, GL7 5QRIntroductionThank you for your interest in sending your child to our setting. Whether you have made your decision on child care, or are researching your options, this pack should give you all the information you require to make your decision. We understand that leaving your child in the care of someone else can be difficult, but please be assured that we will do everything we can to minimize your anxiety and encourage gentle and effective settling in for your child. About Muddy Wellies Early LearnersWe are a small and friendly pre-school, rated 'good' by Ofsted at our last inspection in 2013.We can accommodate up to 12 children, this enables us to create a very nurturing and caring atmosphere which has a strong family feel. Children can attend from their second birthday and do not need to be potty trained. Our pre-school is held in a portable classroom in the grounds of Down Ampney Primary School. We have a very well equipped building that is warm and inviting. We have a front garden for growing and nature activities, and a back garden for physical play. We also make use of Down Ampneys award winning play-park, have our own allotment and take beautiful woodland walks in the local countryside.

Muddy Wellies is a registered charity managed by a committee of dedicated parents and a team of highly qualified, caring staff. We are financed with fees and Nursery Grant funds, but also do fundraise to enable us to invest in the facilities available for the children.StaffWe are lucky to have a team of four highly experienced staff at the pre-school, who all have level 3 qualifications.

Csilla Fulop is the Manager, Justine Stephens is the Deputy Manager and Mandy Jankowski and Emma Jackson are our Pre-School Practitioners. Between them, they have over 40 years of experience in child care settings.The CommitteeAs a charity we are run by a parent committee and the current committee members are:

Chair Jenni CluttenTreasurer Karen PowellOpening Hours, Costs & PaymentWe are open Monday to Friday 830am 330pm. We charge on an hourly basis and are able to provide government funded spaces for eligible 2, 3 and 4 year olds. We also accept childcare vouchers which are offered by many employers.Age Price Per Hour

2 years (9am 3pm)4.00

3 & 4 years (9am 3pm)3.65

830am9am and 3pm-330pm3 per half hour

The morning session runs from 9am 12pmThe afternoon session runs from 12pm 3pm

Lunch is taken from 12pm-1pm and children from the morning session can stay for an extra hour. Children are also very welcome to start at 830am and finish at 330pm. Children arriving before 9am or collected after 3pm will be charged for an extra half an hour.We strongly recommend that children do two sessions a week to aid their settling in. By attending for two or more sessions it gives the children more contact across the week, letting them get to know the setting, their new friends and the pre-school practitioners.PaymentTermly invoices will be sent out by the preschool treasurer by email and are due within 14 days of receipt of the invoice. Payment is by bank transfer; please quote your child's name as a reference when making payment and email karensianpowell@gmail.com to confirm the payment.Bank Account Name: Muddy Wellies Early LearnersSort Code: 30-92-06Account No: 01071686If paying termly, invoices are due within 14 days of receipt. If paying monthly, the first monthly installment of the term is due within 14 days of receipt and the remaining invoices on the 1st 10th of the month.If your child is eligible for the free early education grant, it covers up to 15 hours per week and may be split with another setting. You will be invoiced for any hours your child attends, which are not covered by the Grant. 0 invoices are sent for information, if the grant covers all hours attended. No refunds will be given if a child misses a session for example due to illness or holiday. Four weeks notice must be given if you choose to withdraw your child from pre-school. Any extra sessions will be paid on the day at pre-school.GrantsThe pre-school is able to accept government funded childcare places available for 2, 3 & 4 year olds.2 year old fundingYou may be eligible for 15 hours a week of free early learning childcare for your 2 year old if your household income less than 16,190. To be eligible you need to meet the eligibility criteria used for free school meals or receive working tax credits and have annual gross earnings of no more than 16,190.If your child's eligible, you'll be able to start claiming as shown below;Child's BirthdayFunding Entitlement starts

1 January to 31 MarchSummerTerm(April)

1 April - 31 AugustAutumnTerm(September)

1 September - 31 DecemberSpringTerm(January)

If you think you could be entitled, please call your local council. If you live in Gloucestershire, contact the Family Information Service - 01452 427362 or FREEPHONE 0800 54202 023 and 4 year old fundingAll 3 and 4 year old children are entitled to 15 hours of Funded Early Education over a minimum of 38 weeks in the year. This can be claimed from the term following your childs 3rd birthday.Birthday falls between3 and 4 Year Old Funding Available

1st January and 31st MarchApril (Summer Term)

1st April and 31st AugustSeptember (Autumn Term)

1st September and 31st DecemberJanuary (Spring Term)

Holiday ClubDuring the school holidays we are able to offer a holiday club for 2 6 year olds.

Our holiday club focuses on exploring nature, allowing the children to use their imagination. We take the children out into the countryside to explore everything the Cotswolds has to offer.Parent partnershipThe partnership with parents and carers is vital to your childs learning. Parents are given helpful information about our educational provision in our newsletters, website and on our notice board. The welcome pack contains information about how you can be involved with pre-school activities and how as a parent, you can help your child/children settle in. Parents are very well informed about their childrens progress. For instance, you have access to you childrens learning journal and can talk to staff easily at the beginnings and ends of sessions. The pre-school encourages parents to join in with activities in a number of ways. For example, you can attend committee meetings, help at sessions, accompany your children on outings, and support fund raising events. Parental involvement gives parents good opportunities to get to know the pre-school staff and other children.Preparing your child for pre-schoolCome and have fun free play and meet all the lovely staff and children and familiarise your child with the setting. Our visiting times are between 10 and 11am Monday to Friday, please make an appointment for your visit.Ensure your child wears comfortable clothes to enable them to explore and experiment with all the different creative materials. Please provide a change of clothes in case their clothes get soiled.Ensure all your childs clothes and shoes are clearly marked with their name to help us help your children recognise their own belongings.We go outside in all weathers so we ask you to provide wellies, waterproof coats, waterproof trousers, hats and gloves. Can my child bring in toys?We have a huge selection of toys and games for the children; however we do understand that children have comfort toys and are welcome to bring them in. These can be placed in their drawer for safekeeping.When can I see my childs key-worker?You will have opportunities to meet with your childs key-worker most days but will understand that they may be busy settling in children; therefore there is a home contact book in your childs drawer for any queries you may have and any relevant information to contribute to your childs learning journal. These can be addressed by your key-worker and discussed with you at a convenient time. We have two annual parents meeting where you can see some of your childs work, see what progress they are making and speak to your key-worker; also available to you and the main carers is the learning journal.What are the arrangements at the beginning and end of a session?Core hours are between 9am and 3pm. Muddy Wellies is open from 830am and closes at 330pm and your child can attend for these extended hours on request. Whether your child starts at 830am or 9am, a member of staff will be at the door to welcome and register children in. Unfortunately, we are unable to open the doors before 830am as we are only insured from this time. Children arriving before 9am or collected after 3pm will be charged for an extra half an hour.Children find their peg and hang up their coats. Children are free to select an activity of their choice and be welcomed by the members of staff. You can then spend time reading the parents notice board and are welcome to stay until child is settled. We provide a folder in the pre-school porch which contains your childs work which you may take home from pre-school. Does my child have to be toilet trained?No, we encourage potty and toilet training when your child is ready and we follow whatever routine you are doing at home to help with continuity of care. We have a selection of potties, steps to reach the toilet and special seats for little bottoms. We also have nappy changing facilities and provide spare clothing in case of little accidents but its easier if you bring spare clothes with you. We ask that you provide a bag with nappies and wipes in. What should I do if Im late collecting my child?If for any reason you are unable to collect your child as usual, please inform us of your alternative arrangements and make sure the person collecting your child knows your password as we will not release children to people we dont know. The person must be over 16 years old. Can I bring medicine into pre-school?Yes you can but we can only administer them if they have been prescribed by your childs doctor and you sign a consent form.What if my child is hurt or ill during the day? If they hurt themselves during the day we will administer first aid and it will be recorded in the accident book for you to sign at the end of the session. If it is an injury that requires further action then you will be contacted immediately.

If a child feels unwell in the day we will contact you to come and take them home. If your child has sickness or diarrhoea we ask that they do not attend pre-school for at least 48 hours after the last attack. If your child has an infection we ask that parents keep the child at home and inform us so we can let parents know as necessary. Do you take the children on trips?We love to take the children out on trips, and try our best to do so at least once a term. Last year the children went to the Forest School in Fairford, Butterfly World, Butts Farm, Kemble Airfield, The Cirencester Hare Hunt and The Cotswolds Wildlife Park. Entry fees are covered by parents but other than that trips are usually free. If on occasion there is a small charge to cover costs this will be set out in our termly newsletter.

On the day of the trip we will ask you to bring in your childs car seat and sign a form to give your permission to the Pre School practitioners or parent to drive the children there and back. Who can I ask for help?If you have any worries or enquiries of any sort please feel free to approach any member of staff who will gladly help you. What information does Muddy Wellies need?Muddy Wellies holds confidential information relating to your child and we would ask that you keep us informed of any changes so we can update the records promptly.

All forms will be issued upon entry to Muddy Wellies and need to be filled in and returned before your child begins. These can also be found on our website.How can I help Muddy Wellies?We always welcome parent participation so if you are able to offer us some help we would greatly appreciate it.We are a committee run charity and are always looking for new members. The committee are a small, friendly group who have a close relationship with the staff to help it run smoothly and efficiently. If you would like to join or can offer any help please speak to a member of staff.Most importantly, we see your childs care as a partnership between you and the staff. By working together we can maximise your childs learning opportunities and enable them to reach their full potential.How will I know about events, trips and visits?We send out regular newsletters which are put on your childs peg and sent out to you via Email.What are the snack arrangements?We have a morning snack every day where children come and choose from a variety of fruit, snacks and a drink of milk or water. We ask parents to pay 50p per day to cover the cost of the snack, or alternatively, parents can bring in their own snack. Snack time is assisted by a member of staff to ensure everyone gets a drink and its a good opportunity for a chat. We use this time to share different cultures with the children by trying different types of food and to aid discussion of our weekly topic. What should my child bring for lunch?We encourage healthy eating at pre-school and ask that your child does not bring sweets and fizzy drinks in their lunch box. Instead please give them a balanced lunch including fruit, wholemeal bread or pasta, yoghurts, cheese or fromage frais. A cooked meal can be ordered upon request from the primary school on site. What will my child be learning?As a small setting we take great pride in providing enriching activities for our children, using and developing each childs individual needs. Each week we cover a theme and this is used to explore all areas set out by the Governments Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework. There are three prime areas, communication and language; physical development; and personal, social and emotional development. Using these areas we then support children in literacy, mathematics, understanding the world; and expressive arts and design.

Within our planning we also give our children the space and time to create their own activities and ideas and are guided by their interests. We also find that having a mixed age setting plays a wonderful role in allowing the children to learn and help each other, much like a family.We send out plans on a weekly basis, you can see an example on the next page.

DINOSAUR WEEKPractically all children and probably most adults find the subject of dinosaurs fascinating and intriguing. Learning about dinosaurs stretches our imaginations and allows us to experience a world very different from our own today. It seems the more we learn about these awesome creatures, the more we want to learn.Monday (Morning session)Dinosaur Roar (book)Dinosaur Rhyme The Dinosaurs The dinosaurs lived long ago, when life on earth began. Some were tall (Stretch high). Some were small (Make yourself small). Some liked water (Pretend to be swimming). Some liked land (Pretend to walk). Pteranadons had leathery wings (Pretend to fly). Brontausaurs, long necks (Pretend to make a long neck). But the meanest dinosaur of all (Make a mean face). Was Tyranosaurus Rex (Stomp). Dinosaur headbands

Monday (Afternoon session)Work on our dinosaur garden.

Tuesday (Morning session)Today, the question is what do you think dinosaurs look like?By asking questions such as What shape can I use for a head? the children would then share their ideas with me of how the shapes could be used for the different parts of the dinosaur Tuesday (Afternoon session)Work on our dinosaur garden. Wednesday (Morning session)Dinosaur feet - Tracing and cutting out the shape of their own feet from a sheet of green construction paperthen add triangular shaped claws to each foot cut from sand paper. The sand paper gave the dinosaur feet some texture and a little grit!

Once the claws are added, then children will create a dinosaur name. My dinosaur name is csillasaurusrex!Wednesday (Afternoon session)PalaeontologistWhite bones placed in a shallow rectangular baking dish covered with sand and clean dirt. Children can pretend that they are paleontologists and they will be digging for dinosaur fossils. Because dinosaurs are now extinct, they must examine and study these fossils to understand the history of this fascinating group of animals. Explain - that the bones and the ground around the dinosaurs let us know when the dinosaurs died and what the climate was like when they lived.Provide children with digging tools such as small toy shovels, paintbrushes, sticks, etc.Thursday (Morning session)Dinosaur Concentration (Memory game)Dinosaur SaladExplain - that many dinosaurs were plant eaters. Discuss with them that fruits and vegetables are parts of plants. Provide a variety of fruits and vegetables. Let children peel and slice the fruits/vegetables and place in a bowl. Ask children to eat their fruit or vegetable salad just as dinosaurs might havewithout hands. Thursday (Afternoon session)Finish our dinosaur garden.How does a mixed age setting work?As a small setting with a maximum of 12 children, we operate a mixed age setting of 2 to 4 year olds. A mixed age setting is often called a family grouping as its composition more closely resembles that of a family. Research, along with our own experience, tells us that children learn best when they can experience life with peers of all age groups, and are not segregated. We firmly believe that the family grouped environment provides an appropriate setting to foster all areas of childrens development and is beneficial to children of all ages.Language development occurs very well in mixed age groups where children act as role models for others with fewer language skills. Toddlers grouped only with babies and other toddlers in child care are exposed to a limited range of language skills. In family groups, the younger child is surrounded with language interactions of various levels and complexity, and as a result, may often develop language skills more rapidly than their peers in age group care.We also find that new children settle more easily and feel secure with help from older children. The settled children help guide children who are new to the setting to learn what happens during the day, and in the process develop their own self-esteem and self-confidence. They model sharing and turn-taking for new or younger children. In addition, a less out-going child can relax and interact more comfortably with younger children.Children of varying ages do not have to compete for the same equipment as their play interests are often different, and they tend to interact in more positive social ways. There is less aggression and more nurturing of others. Early years practitioners who have experienced both same and mixed age groups say toddlers are more apt to display negative behavior when with other toddlers. This is because they are all asserting their independence and only just learning co-operation skills. In family groups children learn more positive behaviors from a wider age range of children.Physical and intellectual development is also well provided for in a family grouped setting, since each child is able to play and learn at their own pace. Children learn to accept and respect others abilities and can themselves attempt any experience without embarrassment or a sense of failure. Older children are able to model appropriate play and problem solving to younger children while mastering and extending their own development. Older children also develop caring skills, empathy skills and development their communication more quickly that they would if they were in groups with peers of their own age only.Family grouping has many benefits to the children, their families and the staff, and as this approach is based on the principle of consistency and continuity of care for children, it enables us to provide your child with an environment that they not only can feel safe and secure in, but one in which they can develop a sense of belonging.

This document was last updated on 25/08/2014 and may be subject to change. Please check our website for our most recent version http://www.muddywelliesearlylearners.co.uk1 | Page