Care & Learning
We aim to provide high-quality, affordable and stimulating childcare for children under the age of five, in a safe and supportive environment, working in partnership with parents.
Key worker system
We operate a key worker system whereby your child will be allocated a particular member of staff who will oversee their care and development. As part of the registration process, we are obliged to keep records to monitor each child’s progress. These records are built up by key worker observations to assess a child’s current learning needs, what stage of development a child has reached and how best to carry a child forward to the next stage of learning. All records are confidential.
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We use a secure online monitoring tool to record observations called Tapestry. Tapestry enhances our time, helping practitioners to capture children's experiences as well as monitor development and learning. This unique journal is shared online with parents, who are able to see special moments and view their child's progress. Parents are introduced to the software and are invited to add to the learning journey of their child by sharing their own observations and uploading them on to Tapestry.
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Text, images and videos can be easily uploaded via PC, tablet or mobile app - anywhere there's an online connection. Every entry helps to create a complete story of a child's time at Fernhurst Pre-school. This means there is no need for using ring binders or scrapbooks as learning records, or time consuming written notes and glued-in photos.
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We hold open mornings where parents can observe the Pre-school in a normal working situation. We also hold parent’s evenings where parents may discuss their child’s progress on a one-to-one level with the staff. In addition, staff are always available to see parents on an informal basis to discuss any issues arising.
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The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is the statutory framework recently updated in March 2021 by the Department for Education that sets the standards for the development, learning and care of children from birth to five. It sets the standards that all early years providers must meet to ensure the children learn and develop and are kept healthy and safe. It promotes teaching and learning to ensure children's 'school readiness' and gives the children the broad range of knowledge and skills that provide the right foundation for good future progress through school and life.
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The EYFS Profile summarises and describes children’s attainment at the end of the EYFS. It is based on ongoing observation and assessment in the three prime and four specific areas of learning, and the three characteristics of effective learning, set out below:
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The two publications that we refer to at preschool are 'Birth to Five' and Development Matters. The links to these documents are here:
https://birthto5matters.org.uk
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