about us welcome
Welcome to our Pre-School
First Steps Pre-School is the oldest Charity, committee led pre-school in the Princes Risborough area, having been registered in 1994. We have a spacious indoor area, and a large grassed outdoor area that we use no matter the weather! We offer a free-flow set-up where children can move freely from one area to another, helping them to grow in independence and ability to make their own choices.
We endeavour to give children the opportunity to initiate and extend their own learning through play and to provide a variety of opportunities to meet each child's needs.
Every morning we carry out a rolling snack, where children are able to come and help themselves to a healthy varied snack, as per our seven-week menu. We see each snack time as a wonderful time to learn and be social.
Everything we do, from continuously developing our curriculum, to the intent behind our planning is based on each individual child's needs and interests. This is all underpinned by the Early Year's Foundations stage. We understand that every child learns differently and that 'one size does not fit all'.
about us detail
We promote a healthy lifestyle and offer combinations of fresh fruit and vegetables with a choice of either milk or water at snack time. We offer a lunch club facilty every day where children are encouraged to eat with their peers and enjoy their lunch in a social environment.
We occupy a large, bright and airy room where there is plenty of space for children to move around and explore indoors whilst in session. Access to a secure outside grassed area allows our children the same opportunity to move around outside with a variety of appropriate toys and objects.
Our adult ratio is 1:6 for three to four year olds and 1:4 for two year olds. We believe that it is crucial for children of this age to be actively involved in their own learning and these ratios ensure that there are adults always present to give encouragement, support and praise.
We love to try and get the children outside exploring as much as we can, we offer a minibeast activity which rotates termly to allow all children to experience this outdoor education. The minibeast sessions for the academic year 2022/2023 are below:
Autumn term 2022 – Tuesday AM / Friday AM
Spring term 2023 – Monday PM / Wednesday AM
Summer term 2023 – Thursday PM / Tuesday AM
This gives the children the chance to learn and gain confidence through hands-on learning and an opportunity to get closer to nature.
Registered in 1994 as a charity, First Steps Pre-School is currently the oldest charity based pre-school in the Princes Risborough area, jointly run by a management committee of volunteers and paid teaching staff. The majority of our income is derived from government funding and fundraising.
In accordance with the Early Years Alliance Guidelines and Charity Commission Registration, First Steps Pre-School has an elected committee of at least five volunteers consisting of the posts of Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, Safeguarding Officer and general members. All parents/carers who have a child at First Steps are encouraged to be involved in fundraising and volunteering in order to raise funds to buy equipment and materials used by our children during the school year. All parents/carers are invited to attend the annual AGM to elect these posts.
Our latest Ofsted Inspection was carried out on 31st March 2022 and we received a Good outcome.
about us in session
Daily Routine
9am – Session Starts
9.15am – Morning Registration
9.30am – Free Play (indoor and outdoor)
10am – Rolling Snack
12pm – Morning Session Ends/Afternoon Session Starts
12.15pm – Lunchtime
12.45pm – Free Play (indoor and outdoor)
2pm – Afternoon Milk
3pm – Session Ends
Our routine is adaptable to meet the children’s individual needs. During the sessions we offer adult led activities and structed group sessions, to further extend on children’s learning and prepare them for their transition to school. Some examples of these activities/sessions can consist of School Club, Circle Time and Music and Movement.
Clothing
In order to feel free to explore and experiment with all kinds of materials, including messy ones, we advise sending children to pre-school in clothes that are easily washable or not too new. It is good for children to practise the skills that will make them independent. Simple clothing that they can handle themselves will enable them to go to the toilet when they need to and to put on and take off their clothes without being too dependent upon others for help. We also ask that all removable items of clothing are clearly named.
Key Person
First Steps Pre-School has an established key person system, where every child is assigned a key person during their settling in process. Each child’s key person will work closely with them during their sessions, supporting their learning and development and will liaise with parents and families.
We also have a buddy system in place, so if a child’s Key Person is not in the buddy will take over their normal duties.
Observations and Assessments
At First Steps Pre-School we use an online system called Tapestry to log observations of each child. This is a great way for parents to see what their children are getting up to during their sessions.
We complete two-year checks for any children who join us before their third birthday, which will be shared with parents via tapestry. At the end of every term, each child will receive a development summary so parents can see what progress their child has made that term, along with what we will be working on next.
When children leave the pre-school to go to school, the key worker will complete a transition report that (with parents permission) will be shared with their new school.
Once per year we hold parent meetings to give parents an opportunity to sit with their child’s key worker and discuss their development in detail.