What you can expect from us?

St Margarets Pre School’s ethos and curriculum is rooted in the Early Years Foundation Stage and is designed specifically for our 2–4-year-olds.

The impact of our curriculum is seen in children who are confident communicators, can demonstrate resilience, can play cooperatively, and are ready for school both socially and academically.

At our pre-school, we strive to create a welcoming and inclusive community where every child and family feels respected, valued, and supported with a strong sense of belonging. We believe every child is unique, capable, and deserving of a safe, nurturing, and inspiring environment to learn and grow. We are committed to providing high-quality early years experiences that support children’s emotional wellbeing, confidence, curiosity, and independence.

The pre-school environment encourages awe and wonder, creativity, communication, and exploration, both indoors and outdoors. Continuous provision is used as core practice within the pre-school to enable children to build confidence, revisit skills and deepen their understanding over time, becoming masters of their environment and play. Areas such as the home corner, mark making/ paint area and role play are consistent for children to independently explore, practice skills and deepen their learning through play. 

Continuous provision is carefully planned to ensure children can independently access high-quality resources that support all areas of learning. Areas are enhanced based on practitioner’s responsive observations. Practitioners value learning through play and recognise that children learn best when they are actively engaged, exploring their interests, and building positive relationships with others.

Practitioners know their key children well, and identify meaningful, responsive next steps rooted through play experiences. Practitioners following children’s interests while ensuring purposeful resources are added to children’s play to deepen learning.

For example, if children are building frequently, a practitioner may introduce measuring tools or clipboards to extend mathematical language and mark making. Enhancements are intentional and linked to curriculum goals.

Practitioners are dedicated to fostering kindness, resilience, confidence, and a love of learning, helping children develop the skills they need for future success and lifelong learning. Throughout play experiences practitioners celebrate diversity, promote equality of opportunity, and encourage children to become caring, respectful, and independent individuals.

What we expect from you?

Pre-school recognises parents and carers as children’s primary educators, therefore pre-school ensures partnerships with parents are positive in order to fully support all children.

An open-door policy is adopted, and a member of staff is always available to assist parents.

St Margarets Pre-School follow the local NE Lincs safeguarding policies in order to protect child from harm, abuse and neglect. Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. At St Margarets Pre School we foster a safe, supportive environment and ensure all staff understand their responsibility in preventing abuse and promote well being.

North East Lincolnshire Safeguarding Children Partnership | NELC

Collecting Your Child

Children must be brought into Pre School and collected by a responsible adult (over the age of 16 years old). If someone else will be collecting your child, please inform a member of staff as soon as possible, as we will challenge an adult if we have not been notified and will request direct confirmation from you before we allow the child to leave with them.

In the unlikely event that a child is not collected by an authorised adult, we will attempt to contact you before following the appropriate procedures and policy.

Attendance & Illness

Please do not bring your child to the Pre School if you suspect that they are suffering for an infectious illness or if they have a high temperature. Children who are suffering from diarrhoea and/or sickness must be clear of the symptoms for at least 48 hours before returning to the pre-school. This is to prevent the spread of the infection to other children.

If your child will not be attending pre-school, either due to illness or another reason, please notify a member of staff as soon as possible, either by telephone (01472 282470), by text message (07752 590579) or by e-mail (stmargaretspreschool@hotmail.co.uk).

If your child is not funded and absent, the session payment is still required to be paid.

What to Wear

Children are involved in various activities during sessions so we ask that you dress your child in appropriate clothing which can easily be washed and/or is not new, avoiding items such as dungarees, long dresses, tight clothing and belts, etc. Clothes which are easily put on and taken off allow children to go to the toilet easily and successfully. Please dress your child according to the weather: in the summer they require a hat and sun cream, and in the winter they will require warm clothes and a coat for outside activity. We access outdoor learning in all weathers.

Pre-school sweatshirts and t-shirts are on sale from St Margarets Pre School

Practical Points

**Please do not bring your child in flip flops or jelly shoes, as they are dangerous when on physical equipment and when walking long distances.

**Please do not send your child to Pre School with sweets, toys or money.

**Please label your child’s name clearly in all items of clothing, lunchboxes and drink bottles.