Pre-Reception (2-4 years)

Our key features:

• FEEE Funding for all 3 to 4 year olds, free sessions 12.10pm to 3.10pm
• Flexible sessions available (minimum two sessions per week)
• Highly qualified and well-motivated staff
• Personalised learning activities
• Excellent learning environment
• Close relationships with children and parents – Open-door policy
• High expectations of behaviour and attitude to learning
• Free Registration

Sessions Available

8.45am to 12pm (Morning) | 8.45am to 3.10pm (Full day) | 8am to 6pm (Extended day) – mix and match to your needs!

Children can attend Pre-Reception from the moment they are two years of age.  Our sessions are flexible and parents can have the choice of sessions.  In addition to the above hours there is also the added flexibility to start at 8am in the morning and extend a full day sessions to 4.30pm.

FEEE Funding for 3 to 4 year olds – Free Sessions

From the term after your child turns three they will qualify for the Essex County Council FEEE (15 hours) Funding.  In Pre-Reception the FEEE Funding is offered as free afternoon sessions from 12.10pm to 3.10pm.  Funding will last for six terms until the term after your child’s fifth Birthday.  Therefore, funding will continue to at least the first term in Reception year.  The minimum number of sessions is two morning sessions per week.

2 to 3 Year Old ‘Garden Room’

On entry to St John’s Pre-Reception children from the age 2 to 3 years enter our Garden Room.  It is on entry that we work closely with your child and you to create a secure relationship, to ensure your child is happy, nurtured and most importantly settles quickly.  At such a key point of your child’s development the Garden Room particularly focuses on social and emotional development through play based activities.

In the younger ‘Garden Room’ our Pre-Reception children often sleep after their lunch.  We will work with parents to ensure their child’s routine is maintained.

3 to 4 Year Old ‘Orchard Room’

Children in our three to four year old ‘Orchard Room’ have the opportunity to participate in PE twice a week in our Sport England Sports Hall, Music and Movement, a Singing Lesson and Forest School all with specialist teachers.  Children are involved in the annual Christmas Production, Harvest Festival and Sports Day.  During the last term, prior to going into Reception, a lot of preparation is made to help the children’s transition through considerable work on children’s phonic skills which leads to them starting to read, pencil control and familiarising them with the school routine.

The Pre-Reception staff in both rooms aim to encourage children’s development through creative play, themed activities and overall stimulating them in a fun, secure and positive environment.

Food/Snacks

In Pre-Reception, children are provided with a healthy snack and either milk or water mid-morning. For those children staying all day, lunch is also provided. For all children in Pre-Reception lunch is served to them in their respective rooms. We cater for all dietary requirements and a range of hot dinners, freshly prepared on-site, by our catering team are provided daily.

Uniform Requirements

All children in Pre-Reception will be required to wear a St John’s School Pre-Reception uniform.  The uniform is both smart and practical and consists of a tracksuit, polo shirt and shorts for summer.  The Pre-Reception uniform will form the PE Kit when your child enters our Reception class and begins to wear the full school uniform.

Communications

All children in Pre-Reception are given a communications book that is taken to and from school in their book bag.  This book is our way of knowing what is going on with your child on a day to day basis.  In the Garden Room (younger room) we note toileting/ nappy changes, food intake, drink consumption and what they have been doing throughout the day.

Each child in Pre-Reception will bring home an end of term report highlighting their achievements throughout the last term.  Our Pre-Reception staff also use Tapestry, an online programme, to document your child’s key developmental milestones.

St John’s School has an Open Door Policy for all parents and carers and our Pre-Reception staff are always available to discuss any matter concerning your child.

At St John’s, we follow the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), the statutory curriculum to be used for children aged 0 – 5 years and this sets out the typical achievements at each age and stage.  Each child’s development will be monitored against the EYFS and progress recorded through a learning journal.

The EYFS is divided into Prime and Specific areas as follows:

Each child is allocated a key-worker who develops a close and trusting relationship with both the child and their family – our open-door policy means that it is always possible to discuss any worries or queries immediately and families are encouraged to play an active role in their child’s development. Communication books provide another means for parents to keep the school updated and vice versa.

Our Pre-Reception Team Members

Mrs Revill – Head of Kindergarten

Miss Adams – Reception Teacher

Mrs Gutteridge – Keyworker Leader Pre-Reception and EYFS SENCo

Mrs Minney – Keyworker Leader Pre-Reception

Mrs Bixby – Garden Room Keyworker

Mrs Wood – Garden Room Keyworker

Miss Brown – Learning Support Assistant

Mrs Borowski– Learning Support Assistant

Mrs Alty – Learning Support Assistant

Mrs Newman – Learning Support Assistant