Parent information

Term dates

The Little Owl Pre-School closely follows the Reading Borough Council school holiday guidelines, however there may be differences on occasion. The Pre-School’s term dates are as follows:

Spring 2023

INSET Day: Tuesday 3rd January

Term Starts: Wednesday 4th January

Half Term: Monday 13th February – Friday 17th February

Term Ends: Friday 31st March

Summer 2023

INSET Day: Monday 17th April

Term Starts: Tuesday 18th April

Pre-school Closed: Monday 1st May & Monday 8th May (Bank Holidays)

Pre-school Closed: Thursday 4th May (Polling Day)

Half Term: Monday 29th May – Friday 2nd June

Term Ends: Thursday 20th July

INSET Day: Friday 21st July

Autumn 2023

INSET Day: Monday 4th September

Term Starts: Tuesday 5th September

Half Term: Monday 23rd October – Friday 27th October

Term Ends: Tuesday 19th December

INSET Day: Wednesday 20th December

Spring 2024

INSET Day: Monday 8th January

Term Starts: Tuesday 9th January

Half Term: Monday 12th February – Friday 16th February

Term Ends: Thursday 28th March

Summer 2024

INSET Day: Monday 15th April

Term Starts: Tuesday 16th April

Half Term: Monday 27th May – Friday 31st May

Term Ends: Tuesday 23rd July

INSET Day: Wednesday 24th July

Ofsted

The Little Owl Pre-School is Ofsted registered. At our last Ofsted performance inspection in June 2019 we are proud to have received a Good rating.

You can download the full report here:

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Here are some of the things that Ofsted said about us:

The pre-school environment is welcoming, bright and well resourced. Staff provide children with nurturing support, encouragement and praise. Children arrive happy and eager to play.

All children, including those who speak English as an additional language, make good progress. Staff accurately assess individual children’s achievements and plan stimulating activities that meet their learning needs.

Children behave well. Staff are positive role models and help children follow rules and boundaries. Children are consistently kind and considerate towards each other.

Partnerships with parents are effective. Parents receive ongoing information about their children’s learning. Staff provide activities to help parents to support children’s learning at home, such as to promote their language and communication skills.

The manager and the committee are determined to provide the best possible care and education for all children. They reflect carefully on the quality of provision. They identify the pre-school’s strengths and key areas for development. They have taken effective action to improve this area since the last inspection.

Daily routine

At The Little Owl Pre-School we pride ourselves on offering a varied range of activities that support a child’s development physically and mentally. Our pre-school environment enables indoor and outdoor play.

Children should arrive at school appropriately dressed for all weather, with particular consideration for hot days, when they should come with a hat and suncream which should be applied before they arrive, and for the winter months with waterproof shoes and a waterproof coat.

We aim to provide the children with the time and space to become deeply involved in their activities. Our activity planning follows children’s needs and interests closely.

Children do not need to be toilet trained to start at The Little Owl Pre-School.

Any allergies and dietary needs should be discussed with staff on registration and can be cared for.

A typical daily routine includes the following:

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Registration

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Small group times – Art and craft activities, cooking, making, seasonal and celebration activities.

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Free-flow play – Indoors and outdoors

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Snack – We offer a choice of fruit and vegetables, along with cream cheese, crackers and breadsticks. The children are offered milk and water to drink.

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Focus activities indoors and outdoors

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Song and story time

Policies

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) sets the standards for the learning, development and care of children from birth to 5 years old. All schools and Ofsted-registered early providers must follow the EYFS, including childminders, pre-schools, nurseries and school reception classes.

Click on the links below to download our EYFS Policy and Procedures.

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Administering
medicines

h

Admissions
(Sept 2019)

h

Animals on setting

h

British values

h

Children’s records

h

Children’s rights and entitlements (Aug 2016)

h

Confidentiality and client access to records

h

Fire safety and emergency evacuation

h

First aid

h

Food and drink

h

Food hygiene

h

Health and safety
general standards

h

Induction of staff volunteers and managers (Aug 2017)

h

Information
sharing

h

Little Owls
privacy notice

h

Looked after children
(Aug 2017)

h

Maintaining children’s safety and security on premise

h

Making
a complaint

h

Managing children who are sick, infectious or with allergies

h

Missing child
(Aug 2016)

h

Nappy changing

h

No smoking

h

Online safety
(Aug 2016)

h

Parental
involvement

h

Providers records

h

Recording and reporting of accidents and incidents

h

Risk assessment

h

Safeguarding and protection of children Nov 2019

h

Staffing

h

Supporting children with special educational needs

h

Supervision of children on outings and visits

h

The role of the key
person and settling in

h

Transfers of
records to school

h

Uncollected child
(Aug 2017)

h

Valuing diversity and promoting equality
(Aug 2016)

h

Working in partnership with other agencies