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Timetable and Routines

 

At Playhouse Preschool, we believe that care and education are equally important. Our daily routines provide children with a sense of security, belonging and familiarity, while allowing flexibility to respond to their individual needs.

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Our routines and activities are designed to:

• Help every child feel safe, secure and valued as a member of our setting.

• Promote children's health, safety and wellbeing.

• Support positive relationships and the social experience of being part of a group.

• Encourage independence, confidence and curiosity.

• Provide opportunities for children to learn through play, exploration and everyday experiences.

• Recognise that every child develops at their own pace and has individual needs.

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Pre-School Sessions and Opening Hours

We organise our sessions to provide a balance of child-led play, adult-supported learning, group experiences, outdoor play and everyday routines.

 

Children are encouraged to make choices, explore a variety of resources and develop independence. Practitioners also provide adult-led activities and small-group experiences to introduce new ideas, develop skills and encourage children to learn alongside others.

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Our curriculum is flexible and responsive to children's interests, abilities and developmental stages. We recognise that babies and younger children need more individualised routines, including opportunities for sleep, feeding, comfort and care throughout the day.

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Playhouse has two rooms:

• Caterpillar Room: For children aged 9 months to 2 years.

• Butterfly Room: For children aged 2 to 4 years.

 

Children's room placement and experiences are considered in relation to their individual development, needs and our arrangements.

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Our opening hours

 

We are open Monday to Friday during term time, offering the following sessions:

 

Session                        Time

Breakfast Club          8.00am–9.00am

Morning Session        9.00am–12.00pm

Lunch Club              12.00pm–12.30pm

Afternoon Session    12.30pm–3.30pm

Sessions can be booked in combinations to suit your family's needs, subject to availability.

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Funded childcare

 

Eligible children may be entitled to government-funded early education and childcare hours. The number of funded hours available depends on your child's age and your family's eligibility.

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All three- and four-year-olds are entitled to 15 funded hours per week, with eligible working families able to access up to 30 funded hours. Eligible children aged 9 months to 2 years may also qualify for funded hours, and some two-year-olds qualify through additional government support schemes.

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Funded hours are subject to the applicable eligibility criteria and funding arrangements. Additional hours or sessions outside your child's funded entitlement may be chargeable. Please speak to us for information about eligibility, available sessions and our current fees.

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A Typical Pre-School Day

 

Arrival and settling in

On arrival, children are welcomed by our practitioners and supported to settle into their room. Older children are encouraged to hang up their coats and bags on their named pegs and begin choosing from the activities available.

Younger children are supported according to their individual needs and routines, with time for cuddles, reassurance, exploration and settling alongside their key person.

Registration takes place at the beginning of the session, and practitioners ensure that children's attendance is recorded.

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Play and learning

Children can explore a variety of activities and resources, including creative experiences, sensory play, construction, imaginative play, books, music and opportunities to investigate the world around them.

Where conditions and staffing arrangements allow, children have opportunities for outdoor play as part of their daily experiences. Outdoor learning supports children's physical development, confidence, curiosity and understanding of the natural world.

Our practitioners support children's learning through play, observation, conversation and meaningful interactions. Activities are adapted to suit children's interests and developmental stages, and children are encouraged to make choices, practise new skills and develop independence.

We also provide opportunities for shared experiences, such as stories, singing, rhymes, music, movement and small-group activities.

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Snacks, meals and drinks

Snack and mealtimes are important opportunities for children to enjoy food, develop healthy habits and practise independence.

We provide snacks that contribute to a healthy, balanced and varied diet. Food is prepared and served in an age-appropriate way, taking account of children's developmental stages, individual dietary requirements, allergies and intolerances.

Children are supported to wash their hands before eating and are encouraged to develop independence with appropriate help from practitioners.

Fresh drinking water is available throughout the session. Drinks and feeding arrangements are adapted to children's ages and individual needs. Babies and younger children follow their individual feeding routines in partnership with their parents and carers.

We encourage children to develop positive experiences around food and mealtimes, with practitioners providing appropriate supervision and support.

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Rest, sleep and personal care

We recognise that younger children need individualised routines for sleep, rest, feeding and personal care.

In the Caterpillar Room, practitioners work closely with parents and carers to understand each child's usual routines, sleep patterns, feeding needs and comfort preferences. Babies and toddlers are supported to rest when needed, following our safer-sleep procedures.

Nappy changing and other personal care routines are carried out with dignity, sensitivity and respect. As children grow, practitioners encourage them to develop independence with toileting, handwashing, dressing and other everyday tasks.

In the Butterfly Room, children are supported to develop increasing independence while still receiving help and reassurance whenever needed.

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Outdoor play and clothing

We value outdoor play and aim to provide opportunities for children to enjoy the outdoor environment throughout the year, when weather conditions and safety allow.

Please provide suitable clothing for the weather, including a coat, wellington boots or other appropriate footwear, and spare clothes where necessary. Sun hats and sun cream are needed during warmer weather.

Please apply sun cream before your child arrives, in accordance with our sun protection procedures.

Children are encouraged to try putting on their own coats, shoes and other clothing, with practitioners offering support when required.

We use a variety of creative and sensory materials, and children's clothes may occasionally become messy. We therefore recommend sending children in comfortable clothing suitable for active play and providing a named change of clothes.

Please ensure that all clothing, bags, footwear and other belongings are clearly labelled with your child's name.

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Collection and home time

At collection time, practitioners follow our collection and safeguarding procedures to ensure that children are handed over safely to an authorised adult.

Please follow the arrival and collection arrangements explained by the setting and use the door buzzer if you arrive outside the usual collection arrangements.

We welcome opportunities to speak with parents and carers about their child's day, experiences and development. If you need a longer conversation with a practitioner, please arrange a suitable time so that staff can continue to supervise and care for the children safely.

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Clothes, Sun Protection and Other Essentials

 

We encourage children to wear comfortable clothing that allows them to move freely, explore and practise everyday skills. Clothing that children can manage themselves, such as shoes with easy fastenings, can help them develop independence.

 

Please provide:

• A named change of clothes.

• Suitable outdoor clothing for the weather.

• Wellies or suitable outdoor footwear when needed.

• Nappies or pull-ups, wipes and nappy sacks, where applicable.

• Any additional items agreed with your child's key person to support their individual care needs.

Please let us know if your child requires any additional support with dressing, toileting, feeding or other personal care routines.

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Pre-School uniform

 

Uniform carrying the Playhouse logo is available to purchase through My Clothing at www.myclothing.com.

Please ask a member of staff if you need assistance with ordering.

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Nappy cream and other personal care products

 

If your child requires nappy cream or another personal care product, please speak to a member of staff. Written parental permission and any required product information must be provided before we can apply it, in line with our procedures.

We work in partnership with parents and carers to ensure that every child's personal care needs are met safely, respectfully and consistently.

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