With September just around the corner, and exciting changes on the horizon, we have collated a range of ideas to help you to feel more prepared for starting preschool and to help your child’s next chapter begin as smoothly as possible:
Help your child to be as independent as possible
Our wonderful staff are on hand to help your child with any difficulties they face, but of course, there are a lot more children at preschool than there are at home! Practising basic self-help skills with your child, such as pulling up their own trousers, finding the loop in their jacket to hang it up and opening lids on lunchbox boxes can make them feel more confident in their new environment.
Start using Tapestry
You should have already been invited to join Tapestry, our online learning journal, and there is a letter explaining more about it in your Welcome Pack. On Tapestry, you will find photos of our staff and some of the setting so you can talk to your child about where they are going, who will be looking after them and some of the toys they might choose to play with. Please feel free to upload any of your recent photos that your child may wish to share with their key person and friends at the beginning of the year.
Ensuring your morning routine works!
This may be the first time you have had to get yourself and your child out of the house for a specific time, so it’s a good idea to have a few practise runs in the holidays. What order are you going to get ready in? Do you know how long it takes to get to preschool? Our 45 minute drop off time gives you maximum flexibility in the mornings to fit in with your schedule, so if things go a bit pear-shaped 3 weeks in – no worries!
Admin, admin, admin
By now you should have received your Welcome Pack in the post. Give yourself time to complete the All About Me form and add to it over a few weeks as you think of extra nuggets of information that you think might be useful for us. The Parent Preschool contract is another important document that you will go over with your key person at your Key Person meeting, so please read it carefully. The EYR01 (funding) form may look a bit scary, but as long as you complete the basic information, including your National Insurance number, we can help you to complete the rest in September, or call Don on 07905791950 for help completing it beforehand. Similarly, please give him a call if you would like a personalised breakdown of costs.
More admin
Another important admin task to complete is to read the Welcome Book specific to your setting: St Gerard’s, St Martin’s or School House. The setting phone numbers are listed at the beginning and it is very important to save this number in your phone in order to contact us to let us know about any absences, or to let us know about changes in collection etc. This applies to both parents and anyone who has permission to collect your child. The office phone number (0117 977 4170) and email inbox aren’t always manned, as Karon and Laura spend as much time as possible in the settings working alongside staff and spending time with the children, so messages are not always picked up until the following day.
What to wear
Sunshines is a busy, messy, exciting place to play and learn, and as such children’s clothes need to be a help not a hindrance! Please send them in trousers that are easy to pull up and down independently, or dresses/skirts that are easy to manage, and clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty. There is a non compulsory uniform that consists of a navy polo shirt and jumper which are practical and hardwearing; these can be ordered in advance of your key meeting by emailing the office or by bringing the order form to your key meeting and we will get it ordered for you.
Shoes need to be practical: no crocs or wellies, well fitted and easy to get on and off. We do lots of outside play, go out on the walking rope around the community, and change our shoes into wellies and back again during the day so good footwear is essential.
Sorry, yet more admin!…
On the note of shoes, please do label EVERYTHING – shoes, coats, and especially Sunshine uniform – anything that detaches from your child needs their name in! We ask for a spare clothes bag with three changes of clothes and a spare pair of shoes (this can be a cheap pair of soft shoes such as daps) which all need to be labelled! This is in case of overzealous messy play or toilet accidents. Please also label the outside of your spare clothes bag clearly to help us find it in a hurry!
What to bring
Alongside the spare clothes bag that stays at preschool, if your child is staying all day they will need to bring lunch. We suggest lots of smaller items rather than one big portion as this is often more appetising for this age group. There are suggestions for lunchbox ideas in our Welcome Book under Food and Drink. Children don’t need to bring a water bottle as we provide milk and water throughout the session.
We hope you have found these ideas useful and have helped you to feel more prepared for your child’s next big adventure. There will be lots of time to talk over these things and more at your key meeting but if you need any advice or support before then, please don’t hesitate to contact us in the office.
We can’t wait to welcome you in September and begin your Sunshines journey with you!