A typical day at St Mary’s Preschool
All times are flexible and some days will be different such as when we are visited by our sports coach or welcome other visitors, have story and language fun, or celebrate special occasions, but this should give you an idea of our daily routine!
Morning Session
| 9:00am | Welcoming time | Children are welcomed into the preschool to start their day with us. Children are supported to put bags and coats on their pegs, and water bottles and snack taken into the hall. |
| 9:00-9:15am | Settling in time | Children come into the hall and are encouraged to self-register and can choose some of the activities/ challenges in the hall. Vote for the story they want later in the day. Share their proud moment. |
| 9:15am | Circle Time (Key worker group time) | Circle time is part of our daily routine when our key workers and children meet in their smaller groups. This is a time where we encourage our language through action rhymes, sing songs, exchange any news & talk about things we have been learning about. We share photos and information sent from parents about what they have done at home too. |
| 9:25am | ‘Planning time’ | The children can make choices and decisions about where they would like to choose and how they are going to do it – these ideas are encouraged and supported by the preschool practitioners. |
9:30- 10:15 am | Choosing time/ Free Play time | The children are encouraged to do the activities they discussed and are free to choose in the setting exploring the provision, learning new skills. (Inside and outside). |
| 10:15 am | Tidy up time | Children are encouraged to help tidy/ reset the environment (outdoor/ indoors) and to take care of the resources and encourage a sense of responsibility for their environment as well as learning to co-operate and help others. |
| 10:20am | Snack & Chat time | Children sit at tables with staff and talk about what they have been doing in their choosing time which helps to develop communication and language skills. Staff encourage independence with opening items from their snack box, putting rubbish in bin/ recycling and tidying up their own space. |
| 10:30am | Storytime | Whole group story time – either the voted for or key text is read with the whole group. |
| 10:40am | Small Group Time | This is part of our daily routine which include activities which have been planned for by the staff (adult led). Children will work in small groups with carefully selected resources which have been planned to develop key skills and knowledge. Children who have specific targets will receive additional input at this time. (e.g Talk Boost/ Well Comm groups). |
| 11:00 am | Indoor/ Outdoor play | All children can access the outdoor area at this time to explore and investigate the outdoor learning environment and develop their physical skills. |
| 11:45am | Tidy up | Children help to tidy up the environment (outdoor/ indoors) and to take care of the resources and encourage a sense of responsibility for their environment as well as learning to co-operate and help others. |
| Milk/ drink/ Fruit time | Children can have a choice of water or milk to drink & choose to finish their snack or have a small piece of fruit. | |
| Storytime/ Songs | Seasonal songs/ children’s favourites/ texts to ensure exposure to variety of stories/ authors/ language. | |
| 11:55pm | Getting ready for home | Children are encouraged to collect their own items with support for going home then are dismissed as parents arrive to be collected. |
| 12:00pm | Home Time Morning Session ends | Children will be released safely one at a time or in small groups from the preschool to a known adult. |
Afternoon Session
| 12:00- 12:45pm | Lunch | Children sit together to enjoy lunch. (Currently Children bring a packed lunch in a named box – we are a nut-free school). |
| 12:15pm | Relax/ Quiet time | Children are able to relax, read stories. |
| 12:45pm | Music/ Physical Movement Time | Yoga/ Movement games/ focus physical activity/ gross motor skills/ fine motor skills. |
| 1:00 pm | Group Input | e.g. Story and Language Fun session. |
| 1:00- 2:30pm | Indoor/ outdoor Play | The children are encouraged to do the activities they discussed and are free to choose in the setting exploring the provision, learning new skills. (Inside and outside). |
| 2:45am | Milk/ drink/ Fruit time | Children can have a choice of water or milk to drink & choose to finish their snack or have a small piece of fruit. |
| 2:55pm | Story/ Song time to finish | Seasonal songs/ children’s favourites/ texts to ensure exposure to variety of stories/ authors/ language. |
| 3:00- 3:30pm | Home Time | Children are encouraged to collect their own items with support for going home, then are dismissed as parents arrive to be collected. |
| 3:30pm | Afternoon Session ends | Children will be released safely one at a time or in small groups from the preschool to a known adult. |
As a parent, I chose St Mary’s due to the fact it’s led by a qualified teacher with years of experience. When I visited the setting I was very impressed with all of the staff and how warm and welcoming they all were.
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