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Little Conkers Pre-School
A BIG WELCOME TO YOU!
Thank you for visiting our page.
We're really excited to share with you some of the lovely things we get up to each day!
We would love you to come and visit us!
Please do email or phone us with your contact details
and we will seek to get back to you as soon as we can.
Our contact details are:
Email: enquiries@chestnutstreet.laat.co.uk
Phone: 01526 832424
You will often find us outdoors - we love running, climbing, balancing, chasing, hiding, constructing and, of course, jumping in puddles!
SO MANY WONDERFUL SPACES TO EXPLORE!
We believe the natural world is very important in developing our all round wellbeing, physically, socially, mentally and emotionally. We spend lots of time investigating plants and minibeasts, and taking full advantage of learning opportunities that the varied seasons and weather bring our way.
OUR FOREST AREA
If you step into the forest area you will probably be invited over to the mud kitchen to taste a selection of delicious, if somewhat unusual, meals! Our recipes are always very imaginative!
In our waterproof suits and wellies we're ready and eager to explore everything - if water splashes out or things tip over during our investigating and play it doesn't matter and we love having the space and freedom for this!
Learning new skills, having a go, persevering and developing independence are a huge part of how we grow in confidence.
Teaching the children to safely and skilfully use real tools is a key part of our curriculum.
The children love their sessions and their concentration is fantastic!
Their initial learning is with hammers and nails into chunky cardboard to learn to grip and use the hammer effectively and to build stamina and strength. They then progress to using wood and to using screwdrivers and saws as the year goes on.
GROWING OUR OWN!
We experience so much when we grow our own fruit and vegetables. We like to grow strawberries, peas, potatoes as well as tending our flowers.
In the school allotment we planted small pumpkin and sweetcorn plants that we had grown from seed. We watered them regularly and were amazed at the harvests!
We had so much fun picking, transporting, investigating and even hammering into the pumpkins - pumpkin rolling was by far the most fun!
We were each able to take a sweet corn cob home to cook and eat! They were delicious!
More cooking followed - we made pumpkin cakes with some of our pumpkin puree - yes, scrumptious!
TAKE A CLOSER LOOK INDOORS
This is our Welcome room where we arrive first to settle into the day.
We also use this room for snack and lunchtime, a great area to chat, eat and share time together.
We are blessed with a spacious Pre-School room where the children explore and learn.
STAR BAKERS!
Oh the fun times we have! Baking holds lots of super learning moments - measuring, counting, following a recipe, increasing vocabulary, taking turns, working safely and hygienically, changes in materials as they are combined, heated or cooled.
CURIOUS MINDS
The activities and resources provided are very much led by the children's interests. Their inquisitive questions prompt investigations in diverse directions. We use these teachable moments to move the children forward in their learning.
We loved taking part, along with the rest of the school, in the Sports for Schools Challenge - we met a great athlete who was very impressed with our skills and determination!
MARKING KEY EVENTS AND CELEBRATING TOGETHER
It's important for our children from a young age to learn, in age appropriate ways, about a range of significant events to grow to have respect and appreciation for what others do and have done for them, making our world a safer and happier place for all.
Having fun and making memories at special times are precious to us too, and Advent and Christmas were thoroughly enjoyed by all!
On party day we were over the moon when Santa came to see us. He chatted for ages and then he gave us each a gift.
Games, food and dancing a-plenty!
Chinese New Year
We learned so much and loved this vibrant and happy time of celebration. Sharing together in our Chinese meal was definitely the highlight of the week!
We learned about the Christian Easter Story using our little friend Jack the Cat.
And we certainly knew how to bounce into delights of Easter traditions!
LEARNING AND GROWING
You will find many, many books in Little Conkers!
We enjoy finding creative ways to nurture a love of books. Story sessions with our book of the week are fun times for all of the children to share in. It is delightful to watch children retelling the story to their friends using animated voices and remembering the repeated phrases. Each day also has plenty of singing including nursery rhymes and number songs, and we love adding actions!
We also choose books from our Book Time library to take home to share with our families.
And yes, we always enjoy celebrating World Book Day!
EXCITING WAYS TO HELP COMMUNICATION AND LANGUAGE DEVELOP!
Our friendly little robots, Chatty Hatty and Wordy Woody are eager to learn new words in pre-school and help us to as well. They want us to understand and use more and more words in our conversations as it will help us build our confidence and skills ready for reading and writing as we grow.
The children are great at learning and using Makaton which again is such a great tool to support their communication.
SNACK TIMES AND LUNCHTIMES
These are important periods in the day for rest and for developing social skills. Times to connect, sitting around the tables, sharing food together and chatting about our day.
The children have access to free fruit and milk each day. Most children bring a packed lunch, but hot meals can be ordered and purchased from “Ideal foods” who supply the main school (see link below).
COMMUNICATION IS KEY!
We use the app 'Class Dojo' as a way of keeping our parents and carers in touch with all that is happening and, as well as class posts with information and learning updates, each child also has a personal portfolio where photos and videos of their individual learning journeys are added by pre-school and parents.
We very much value the partnership with you in ensuring that your children continue to be confident, excited and super little learners!
Please come and visit us to find out more!
WE ARE OPEN DURING TERM TIME
MONDAY TO FRIDAY 9.00AM - 3.00PM
Extended provision is available in our school breakfast club, Early Birds, from 7.30am each morning.
Our Pre-School provision is registered for 3 and 4 year olds. Funded hours can be taken the term after a child’s third birthday, and paid for sessions are available as soon as a child turns 3.
From April 2024 there are changes to government funding and, if you are eligible, you may be able to transfer the new 2 year old funding over to this setting when your child turns 3 - please contact the office to find out more.
We offer 15 hours per week universal government funded places, with options for additional paid for sessions.
We also offer 30 hours per week extended funded places, for those families who are eligible.
It is completely your choice as to whether you choose to purchase school uniform for your child or whether they come in their own clothes. See the links below to our school uniform providers.
If you are looking for fun filled learning for your child in spacious and stimulating indoor and outdoor environments, then Little Conkers Pre-School
is the place to be!
Our experienced staff team are always happy to show you around and talk with you about your child’s specific interests and needs, and how we can make their pre-school experience a very happy and enriching one.
We would love you to come and visit us!
Please do email or phone us with your contact details
and we will seek to get back to you as soon as we can.
Our contact details are: Email: enquiries@chestnutstreet.laat.co.uk
Phone: 01526 832424
Keep up to date with us on our Facebook page!
OUR ETHOS AND APPROACH
TERM DATES 2023 - 2024
Term Dates | Ruskington Chestnut Street CofE Primary Academy (secure-primarysite.net)
SOME USEFUL LINKS
School uniform providers -
https://www.arionshop.co.uk/collections/ruskington-chestnut-c-of-e-academy-uniform
https://www.uniform-direct.com/acatalog/Chestnut_Street_CofE_Primary_School__.html
https://myclothing.com/ruskington-chestnut-street-cofe-primary-school/5787.school
Hot school meals provider -
Free school milk provider
Our local Children's Centres have a great deal to offer families - take a look!
https://www.facebook.com/Billinghay.Caythorpe.Heckington.Sleaford
CHILDCARE CHOICES - GOV GUIDANCE
HELPING PAYING FOR YOUR CHILDCARE
WHAT IS THE EYFS?
Please click on these links to find out more about this important stage in your child's learning and the requirements and curriculum we as a Pre-School follow
A parents guide to the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) | Family Corner
Statutory framework for the early years foundation stage (publishing.service.gov.uk)