Welcome to Little Acorns  Pre school

Our contact details

Number 01909 506666

email Manager@littleacornsshireoaks.co.uk

Office@littleacornsshireoaks.co.uk

We look forward to your child starting with us..... but what to expect on your first day ?

• When you arrive in the morning the gate will be open from 8am to 8.50am please arrive during this time. You will be greated and signed in by a member of staff,  please encourage your child to find their own photo from the table and to put it on their own coat peg as this helps them to be as independadnt as possible, parents are welcome to come in and settle their child before leaving.

• Gates will be locked at 8.50am and we ask that if you are going to be late you please call the pre school and make sure that they are aware. 

• If you are arriving at Lunchtime 11.30 we will greet you at the main gate and encourage you to say goodbye here, children will go straight in to lunchtime.

• Afternoon sessions start at 12.30am we will meet parents at the gates at this time and children will be encouraged to say goodbye at the gate.

• Pre school finishes at 3.30pm our gates will be unlocked at 3.10-3.15pm for parents to collect early especially if you have siblings at St Lukes.

Snack time

At pre school we provide snack free of charge.

Children will get to enjoy fresh fruit and vegetables every day , they will also have the option of fresh milk or water to drink, we offer a cafe style snack at 9.45am and 2pm and will encourage all children to join us throughout the morning and afternoon. We encourage children to use age appropriate cuttlery and will show them how to use them safely. Children will be encouraged to wash their own pots and to tidy up.

Lunch time 

Children will need to bring in a healthy packed lunch with them if they are stopping for lunch . At Little acorns we have adopted a healthy eating policy and we ask that all parents read and  understand this. We are also trying to reduce the plastic waste we have in the setting so please be mindful when packing up their lunches. We are Nut free at pre school so please make sure that no foods containing nuts are included in your child's lunch box. below are a free healthy lunch box guides.

Only 1 sweet treat to be included in their lunch boxes, children will always be encouraged to eat their sandwiches before their sweet treat.

Please make sure that all lunch boxes have an Ice pack inside and are all clearly labelled.

Children to bring a water bottle to school withy them ,that is clearly labelled with their name, please make sure that it contains only water, please see a member of staff if your child wont drink water.

What do I need to bring with on a daily Basis?

• Water bottle with my name on.

• my lunch box with my name on it

• All clothing to be labelled with your child's name.

• A small  back pack containing spare clothes including socks and pants, please make sure that your bag has your child's name on aswell.

If your child is still in nappies please make sure that you have put in enough nappies, wipes and nappy bags . 

• In the Summer children will need to have sun cream applied before arriving , and the bottle to be put in their bag so we can reapply throughout the day, they will also need a sun hat .

• In the winter all children will need hats and gloves in their bag.

• NO cuddle toys or toys from home !!!!!! comforters are allowed in the first few weeks until your child has settled these to be kept in their bags and staff informed so we can get them if needed.

• Children need to bring in a pair of wellies that we can leave at pre school, please can we ask that their name is clearly written inside.

• For those children attending forest school sessions Tuesday and Thursday afternoons we ask that they bring in waterproof suits 

What if my child need medication throughout the day ?

We are happy to administer mediaction to children throughout the day but ask that you speak to a staff member when you drop off in the morning and  you will need to fill in a mediaction form before you leave the setting - under no curcumstances is medication to be left in the child's school bag.

Please see sickness and abscence policy.

Absences

We ask that if your child is unwell or unable to attend preschool that you ring the pre school and let us know,or send a message on your child's tapestry account. Number 01909 506666. Please be advised that if we dont hear from you we will call within the first 30mins to make sure everything is ok.

How will we get in touch with parents?

we have a parents messaging service called Firetext,  your child's tapestry account, facebook and our wesite, all Newsletters , half termly plans,and homelinks will be on the website or your child's tapestry account,at Little Acorns we are paper free so fine this is the best way to stay in touch. We also have a parents notice board in the entrance to pre school.

Forest school sessions are on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons and these are off site and take place throughout the year, 

'There is no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate clothing' ( Sir Rannulph Fiennes)

During the first weeks we will be introducing the children to the joys of Forest school, we will try and go a couple of times a week, so that the children can experience the joys,fun and benefits of outdoor play and exploration.

one of the most important things to remeber about Forest school is that the children MUST be suitably dressed for the weather conditions. Children who are cold or wet  very quickly get tired and upset and their enjoyment of the Forest school experience is greatly reduced.

If you already have your own good set of waterproofs, that's great, your child can wear those,if not we have many at pre school that they can use. It is especially important in the colder months to prepare your child properly, Hats, gloves and welly socks are all essential to protect your child aganist the elements. Layered clothing is great to provide good insulation.

It is equally important that during the Summer months you provide a sun hat for your child and make sure that sun cream has been applied before attending.

With all the extra clothing can we please ask that everything is labelled with your child's name.

Taking into account all the information above, we will ensure your child has a lovely adventure attending forest school and will learn so much about the great outdoors.

Outings at Pre school

Our curriculm is very varied at Little Acorns and believe that children learn through different life  experiences , we love to go and about in our local community  with visits to the local farms to learn about farming and where our food comes from, Children will enjoy walks in our local area mapping where they live and go to school, they will also enjoy trips on public transport bus and train to Worksop to  the local  Libary , Local Dentists, fire stations, clumber park, creswell cragg, sherwood Forest, Rufford, Welbeck estate , Retford and Sheffield and many other places.

Illness 

If your child contacts an infectious disease i.e. Chickepox,measles or mumps please do nor bring him/her to preschool

if you child has sickness or diarrhoea you need to leave 48hrs between the last time they were sick or experienced symptoms of diarrhoea before bringing them back into pre school.

If your child requires antibiotics or prescribed medication from the doctor we ask that they stay at home until they have had their first dose to make sure they dont have a reaction to medication.

How parents take part in the setting

 At little Acorns we recognise parents as the first and most important educator of their children. All of the staff see themselves as partners with parents in providing care and education for their children. There are many ways in which parents take part in making the setting a welcoming and stimulating place for children and parents such as.

• Exchanging Knowledge about their children's needs, activities, interests and progress with the staff

• contributing to the progress check at age 2, (bring in a copy of the health visitor check)

• Sharing their own special interestswith the children for example hobbies and their jobs.

• Being part of the management of the setting where appropriate( joining the committee )

• Taking part and supporting events, such as afternoon tea, summer/ Christmas fayres etc

• Building friendships with other parents in the setting

• We always welcome parents who would like to help out in the setting please see the manager Sue Turner if you are interested 

Do you want to join our Committee?

Our pre school is run by a voluntary Committee and we always welcome new members to join us please see The manager Sue Turner if you are interested and take a look at the committee section on our website.

Safeguarding Children

Our setting has a duty under the law to help safeguard children against suspected or sctual 'significant harm'. Our employment practices ensure children against the likelihood of abuse in our setting and we have a procedure for managing complaints or alligations against a member of staff. Our way of working with children and their parents ensures we are aware of any problems that may emerge and can offer support, including referrals to appropriate agencies when necessary, to help families in difficulty.

Key person and your child.

At Little Acorns we use a key person approach. This means that each member of staff has a group of children for whom they are particularly responsible. Your child's keyperson will be the person who works with you to make sure that the childcare that we provide is right for your child's particular needs and intrerests. When your child first starts at the setting, they will help your child to settle and throughout your child's time at the setting, they will help your child to benefit from the settings activities . The pre school manager is always there if you have any concerns or need information.

Final word

We hope that you and your child enjoy being members of our setting and that you both find taking part in our activites interesting and stimulating . The staff are always ready , willing and happy to talk with you about your ideas, views or questions.

Online Journal Tapestry What is it ?

Welcome to Tapestry

At our pre-school, we use Tapestry as our secure online communication platform to strengthen the partnership between home and pre-school. It enables us to share important information, celebrate children's achievements and keep you informed throughout your child's learning journey with us.

Through Tapestry you will be able to:

• Receive important announcements and newsletters.

• View our termly curriculum plans and learning themes.

• Access invoices and billing information.

• Receive care diary information where appropriate.

• Be notified of any accidents, incidents or toileting accidents.

• See photographs and observations celebrating significant moments in your child's development.

• Share your own observations, photographs and achievements from home.

Capturing Meaningful Moments

Our philosophy is centred around children experiencing high-quality interactions with caring, attentive adults. We believe that the most valuable learning happens when our practitioners are fully engaged with children—listening, questioning, playing alongside them, extending their thinking and responding to their individual interests.

For this reason, we choose to capture quality over quantity.

When your child first joins us, we understand how reassuring it is to see photographs of them settling in, making new friends and enjoying their new environment. During these early weeks, you may receive more frequent updates to help you feel connected and confident that your child is happy, safe and thriving.

As your child becomes settled, you will notice that the number of photographs and observations shared on Tapestry naturally decreases. This is because our practitioners are intentionally spending their time where it has the greatest impact—with the children themselves, rather than behind a camera or tablet.

The photographs and observations we share are carefully chosen to celebrate significant milestones, "wow" moments, new achievements, special experiences and memorable learning. We do not aim to record every activity or every step in your child's development, as we know that meaningful teaching and nurturing relationships are far more important than creating a photographic record of every day.

Please be assured that a quieter Tapestry account does not mean less learning. On the contrary, it reflects our commitment to ensuring our staff are fully immersed in supporting children's curiosity, independence, confidence and development through high-quality teaching and interactions.

Working in Partnership

We see Tapestry as a shared learning journal and warmly encourage you to contribute your own observations from home. Whether your child has mastered a new skill, enjoyed a family adventure, shown kindness, developed a new interest or simply experienced a proud "wow" moment, we would love you to share it with us.

By working together and celebrating learning both at home and at pre-school, we gain a richer understanding of your child's unique journey and can build on their interests and experiences in meaningful ways.

Thank you for supporting our approach. By placing children—not technology—at the heart of everything we do, we create an environment where they feel valued, inspired and free to learn through play, exploration and meaningful relationships. We look forward to sharing your child's journey with you.