LAUREL FARM KINDERGARTEN
PARENT HANDBOOK
CONTENTS Page
· Staff & Board of Directors……………………………………………..3
· Laurel Farm Kindergarten Introduction………………………………4
· Educational Framework………………………………………………..4
· Outdoor Play…………………………………………………………….6
· Admissions………………………………………………………………8
· Term Dates……………………………………………………………...8
· Opening & Closing Times……………………………………………..8
· Settling In………………………………………………………………..9
· Clothing…………………………………………………………………..9
· Snacks & Lunches……………………………………………………...9
· Travel……………………………………………………………………10
· Laurel Farm Kindergarten – A Community………………………….10
· Policy summaries
-Confidentiality…………………………………………………….11
-Health & Safety…………………………………………………..11
-Behaviour…………………………………………………………12
-Special Educational Needs……………………………………..13
-Grievance Procedure……………………………………………14
· Fees……………………………………………………………………...15
· List of Policies / Forms / Documents………………………………….17
List of Parent Pack Forms
To be given to parents with this booklet
Home / Kindergarten agreement
Child medical details form
Child medical consent form
Photo consent form
Permission for emergency medical treatment
LAUREL FARM KINDERGAREN STAFF
Teacher (in training)– Nereida Olives Mercadal
Assistant – Imogen Guerrini
Afternoon assistant: TBC (Nereida filling in temporaily)
Administration: Melanie Shearer (Priya)
Health & Safety Officer – Nereida Olives
First Aid Officer – Nereida Olives
SENCO Officer: Imogen Guerrini
Child Protection Officer: Imogen Guerrini
All staff are qualified to the appropriate levels in early years qualifications as required by Ofsted.
Any supply staff used have all undergone rigorous interview and selection procedures. They may be called in from time to time due to staff sickness or training.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES/DIRECTORS
Jo Byron: fundraising
Terry McDermott: legal, business & charity advice
Jenny Powell: treasurer, events, policies
Ross Thompson: Chair, staffing and supervision, site preparation, Free School
Kat Knecht: Resources
Sam Lewis: Publicity
Tony Williams: Recruitment
All trustees/directors are voluntary.
KINDERGARTEN CONTACT NUMBER
07582094527.
LAUREL FARM KINDERGARTEN
Steiner education is about engaging the child’s ‘head, heart and hand’
All children learn at their own pace, develop a love of learning and develop as a community of ‘do-ers’. We seek to encourage this unhurried approach. Creative work is the work of the small child as they observe the world around them. Their world in the Kindergarten is based on natural play, using natural materials.
We seek to take the whole needs of the child into account: physical, social, academic, emotional and spiritual. The day and week has a natural rhythm and use repetition to deepen a feeling of security. Activities include puppet plays and story telling, creative craft, cooking, baking, sewing, building and making. Many craft materials are found on the farm and local area. Children are not introduced to formal reading, writing and numbers until they are ready, typically when they are 6-7 years old. The foundations are laid in kindergarten so children are ripe and keen to learn this in Class 1.
Laurel Farm provides a unique environment for children to explore outside with its own secure garden designed for the children. We are based on a 7 acre smallholding with animals to feed and ponds, fields and a growing woodland to explore. This gives the children an exciting playground to observe the seasons and be aware we are all part of nature.
EDUCATIONAL FRAMEWORK
In the Steiner Early Years approach, we provide time and space for the natural, unforced development of key skills as a basis for literacy, numeracy, and social and emotional competence; and a warm and secure learning environment is created where the qualities of childhood are nurtured.
Play & Imitation
Free creative play strengthens the imagination, and repeated research studies have shown that children who are encouraged to enjoy creative play tend to show more empathy towards others and to display less aggression. They are more likely to have the capacity to see things from the perspective of the other, and demonstrate fewer signs of anxiety, distress or fatigue. In Steiner early childhood education, children are allowed to learn through investigation, exploration and discovery, encouraging them to become inventive and adaptable.
Another duty of the early childhood hood teacher is to provide the presence of a “working adult” – someone whom the children can freely imitate. A combination of practical and artistic activities is undertaken in the company of the children, designed to encourage skills such as concentration, perseverance and independent activity. Children are fascinated by adult activity, and it is certainly a great responsibility to be worthy of a young child’s imitation.
Story-telling
The environment created in Steiner early childhood education promotes the development of competent talking and listening, enhancing the child’s ability to use words with confidence. Children are encouraged to speak freely, and learn to listen to others. There is an overriding concentration on the oral tradition, and many wonderful stories are related. A well-told story creates an appreciation for the human voice and the beauty and rhythms of language. This assists in the development of a strong and rich imagination, and helps to extend the vocabulary and develop a good memory
Festivals and Celebration
Festivals are celebrated with the children so as to nourish body, soul and spirit. Although the Steiner curriculum is non-denominational, many Christian festivals are observed, and the children love the activities and preparations involved, such as finding seasonal materials, baking, making lanterns or other simple craftwork activities. Festivals from other cultures are also marked and celebrated in many Steiner schools. Certain festivals will be celebrated after the kindergarten hours( and through out the session) to which parent will be invited too in order to create a sense of community for the children.
Rhythm and Repetition
Steiner education recognises rhythm as an educational principle of key importance, and a strong framework of rhythm, routine and repetition is employed, particularly in the early years. Rhythms provide reassurance and security for children and helps them to understand the past, present and future: it is a healthy way to start to find their place in the world. Repetition plays a key role in establishing continuity, and it assists in the development of memory.
THE DAILY RHYTHM
Outdoor play
Outdoor play follows snack time, the children will either play in the kindergarten garden or go out to explore Laurel Farm, its animals and nature. The children may use the fenced in garden where the children are free, conditions permitting, to run, jump, climb, dig, play ball, skip rope, play games or work in the vegetable/flower garden. The outdoor activities are varied and are left up to the child’s own initiative. Often the children will go out onto the small holding for a walk with the teacher and assistant where they will take part in outdoor play and activities appropriate to the season. When we are out and about on the farm, we may feed the animals, watch sheep shearing, help harvest the apples, do woodwork projects, gardening, fire making etc.
Ring time
After outdoor time we gather in a circle for ring time. Now the emphasis is on teacher-led activities such as singing seasonal songs and saying verses together with appropriate gestures.
Snack time
After ring time and the children have washed their hands, we gather at the table for our shared snack. The older children have the task of setting and clearing the table, and they take turns with the washing up.
Free play
The free play time is very much child initiated, with minimal adult involvement. It is during this time that the child uses his/her own creative imagination to – for example - make a building site out of wooden planks, a shop, a train, a spaceship or a den with wooden clothes racks and pieces of muslin.
The older children have ongoing projects, such as weaving and sewing, which they will continue throughout the week or for however long is necessary to complete them. During festival times a particular craft or baking activity may be pursued on different days. Activities during free play are: Monday (sewing), Tuesday (bread making), Wednesday (soup making), and Thursday (painting). Other purposeful activities carried out may include: gardening, cleaning, polishing, carding, or weaving etc.
Tidy time
After free play the teacher sings the Tidy Song and everyone is expected to help put everything back in its proper place. It is important for children to have order around themselves, not least so that they can find what they want to play with the next day. This is a time of co-operation as we sort, fold, put away toys and move tables to get ready for snack time.
Story time
Story time begins with a song. The teacher tells a traditional fairy tale or nature story by heart, thus enabling the children to create their own pictures out of their imaginations. The stories are repeated over a number of days, which assists in the development of a strong and rich imagination, and helps to increase the vocabulary and develop a good memory. Sometimes there is a puppet story, especially when it's a festival or a birthday, or on special occasions. The day ends with a good-bye song.
OUTDOOR PLAY
At Laurel Farm Kindergarten we are lucky to have access to the 7 acre smallholding as well as our own secure garden. The smallholding offers animals to feed, ponds, fields and a growing woodland to explore. This gives the children an exciting playground to observe the seasons and be aware that we are all part of nature. Nature is a source of thrill, comfort, enjoyment, inspiration and fascination to young children. Outdoor play is every young child’s right. Experiencing Nature offers impetus for children’s present and future creativity, it gives children a vital sense of space and time. This is proven to develop their imagination and help them express themselves. Such experiences may include rolling in the autumn leaves, watching for signs of spring, feeding the animals, running through the woods, hearing birdsong and seeing every colour of sky, feeling of warm rain or ice cold snow on their faces, learning about plants, insects and trees experientially.
Outdoor play also offers rich opportunities for children to learn through the following areas of the Early Years Foundation Stage:
· Problem solving, reasoning and numeracy
· Personal, emotional and social development.
· Communication, language and literacy.
· Knowledge and understanding of the world
· Physical development
· Creative development
Children can play freely and take full advantage of the outside space at Laurel Farm Kindergarten in all weathers. We ask that parents ensure their children have clothing appropriate to the season and weather.
EARLY YEARS FOUNDATION STAGE
To meet Ofsted requirements observations of children from the age of 3 to 5 (until the following august after their 5th birthday) will be made. Parents are welcome to access these upon request. They will also be discussed during Parent Evenings and will be kept confidential.
ADMISSIONS
Laurel Farm Kindergarten is able to take up to 16 children daily, aged 3-7years old.
Admissions will operate under anti-discriminatory and inclusion policies.
In the event of over-subscription to the kindergarten priority will be given to (in no particular order):
· Ability and willingness to contribute to the running of the kindergarten
· A previous involvement and interest in Steiner education or nursery groups
· Whether there is a sibling already at the school
· Commitment to staying in the kindergarten till age seven
· Proximity of home to school
HOME VISITS
Just before a child is due to start at the kindergarten the teacher will visit the child and parents at home in order to begin to get to know the child and to find out about their life rhythm in the home.
TERM DATES
Laurel farm Kindergarten closely follows B&NES term dates. The Kindergarten is closed on usual public bank holidays. Dates for 2011-2012 are:
Autumn Term: 5th September – 16th December Half Term 24th- 28th October
Spring Term: 3rd January – 29th March Half Term 13th -17th February
Summer Term: 16th April -19th July Half Term 4th -8th June
OPENING & CLOSING TIMES
Laurel Farm Kindergarten will be open Monday to Thursday mornings, from 9.30 – 1.15pm. Afternoon care is offered on a Tuesday and Wednesday from 1.15 – 4.30pm.
Parents are expected to bring their children on time, with the Kindergarten starting at 09.30am, as responsible punctuality is very important to the smooth running of the Kindergarten and settling the children. Parents are to deliver and collect their children from the front gate to the garden.
When the collecting their children parents are expected to arrive at 1.15pm, or by 4.30pm if the child is in Afternoon Care.
If another adult is to pick up the child, the parent must inform the Teacher or Supervisor beforehand. If the adult is not known to the staff either the person must bring identification, or use an agreed password.
SETTLING IN
We are keen that children and parents feel comfortable bringing and leaving their children at Laurel Farm Kindergarten and do all we can to ensure this works well. Our teacher’s experience shows that children settle in best when the parent or carer dropping the child off can calmly and confidently take the child to the setting and leave. Children pick up on any lack of confidence or nerves on the part of the parent and this can impede the settling in process.
Timely and unrushed drop offs and pick-ups further facilitate this.
If a parent really wants or needs to wait in an adjoining room or close by this will be possible. We envisage it will be a smoother transition if the parent is able to leave. However, if this is not initially possible, and you or your child wish to be in the room, we ask you to bring some handwork e.g. cutting, sewing, knitting, etc. you can be engaged in so the child doesn’t feel overly observed and you are able to be distinct in your position and occupation. The process will be discussed and agreed at the interview before the child joins and further as and when necessary until parent, child and staff are happy that the child is happily settled.
CLOTHING
Please ensure your child has the following items of clothing available at the kindergarten:
· Wellie boots, waterproofs,
· warm clothes during colder weather, light clothing including sunhats
during warmer weather.
· A spare change of clothes.
· Slippers to change into when coming to play inside.
SNACKS & LUNCHES
Snacks
Monday: Brown Rice and Seasonal Vegetables, with Tamarind (optional)
Tuesday: Home made Rye Bread and Honey, Hand made jam and cheese option.Afternoon: fruit
Wednesday: Home made Bread and Soup (with seasonal vegetables and Barley or other grains). Afternoon:fruit
Thursday: Summer: muesli, Autumn: apple crumble, Winter: Hot porridge, with nuts and dried fruit
Drink: Warm Fruit of the Forrest tea with apple concentrate
Rose hips, peppermint, elderflower tea... depending on the season. Water is available throughout the session.