Practically Perfect Mums have been asked by local Pre-School settings to highlight the importance of planning well in advance for your child’s journey into Pre-School. Many parents are left disappointed when they can’t find a place for their child in their first choice of early years setting or when they can’t claim the full 15 hours of government funded pre-school education due to a shortage of places. If you have any questions regarding Pre-School education and childcare I will be happy to address them in the comments section.
Finding the right Pre-School for you and your child
Places for children in Early Years Education are at a premium in Portishead. Some Pre-Schools are already full for September 2012 with very few sessions becoming available during the year.
In Portishead there are a number of Early Years Settings; from Nursery Classes at Trinity and Highdown Schools to Busy Bees, Honey Tree, Coach House and Lakeside Day Nurseries, Accredited Childminders, Carousel Playgroup and Brampton and Hilltop Pre-Schools, offering a variety of care from full days throughout the year to 3 hour session’s term-time only.
All Early Years settings inspected by Ofsted are expected to follow the same guidelines whether they are accredited childminders, school nursery classes, private day nurseries or pre-school/playgroups and your child should receive the same standard of care and learning across the range.
You may need a setting within walking distance, one close to a school or one that will fit in with your working hours but most importantly your child needs to be happy and you need to be confident in the care and learning opportunities offered.
To find the right setting for you ask around, check-out local websites, the North Somerset Family Information Service, Children’s Centres and Ofsted, but best of all pay a visit, ringing to make an appointment. Ask about the setting’s admission policy and how to join a waiting list (at least a year before your child’s 3rd birthday if possible), although this may not guarantee you a place. Different settings will have different procedures for allocating places: some will give preference to siblings, some length of time on the waiting list and some on a first come first served basis in the year before the child becomes eligible for government funding.*
Children become eligible for 15 hours free early education a week, in the term after their 3rd birthday, for 38 weeks a year, but children can attend sessions, at some settings, before this if parents/carers are happy to pay themselves. Some settings may not be able to offer 15 hours straight away due to over subscription.
Giving your child into the care of another can be very stressful, especially for first time mums, so check out the setting’s Settling –In Policy. Remember, all settings should be happy to answer any questions or worries you may have regarding any aspect of your child’s safety, enjoyment and learning.
*The North Somerset Early Years Team recommend that children attend only one setting (excluding childminders) as this has proved to be the most positive way for children to build lasting, meaningful relationships with their key person, staff and other children. It means that there are only one set of rules and routines for children and parents to follow and also promotes continuity of learning and development.
