Operational Plan
Jelly Beans Pre-School
“Nurturing potential to achieve fulfilment in life”
At Jelly Beans we provide a nurturing and stimulating environment to suit the individual learning needs of all children. We know that children learn best when they are settled and happy, and this is our primary aim when welcoming children to Jelly Beans. Learning and development in pre-school is facilitated through a wide variety of play based activities in line with the objectives of the Early Years Foundation Stage 2021. We provide children with a well-resourced setting, supported by highly qualified and experienced practitioners, with continuous access to inside and outside activities.
External Provision
Our spacious outdoor facility is an extension of our early years setting and used as an outdoor classroom. Children have access to the outdoor area throughout the session, whatever the weather. We promote every area of development through outdoor play using both structured and child initiated activities. It is well equipped with exciting and challenging equipment for all children on a safety play base. We encourage exploration and risk taking as a part of our continuous provision. A canopy provides shelter and shade so we can be outside in all seasons. A large sports field and eco-garden is a superb learning facility which is shared with our adjoining primary school. We have fixed outside sandpits, water trays, sensory materials, construction site and musical instruments for the children to explore.
Personal, Social and Emotional Development
Jelly Beans Pre-School uses a Key Person system. Each family is allocated a Key Person during the settling in period. The Key Person has a responsibility for observing child development and supporting their families through the learning journey. Jelly Beans has a comforting extended family atmosphere, where parents and other carers are encouraged to add to these experiences. All staff are respectful that information given remains confidential to the pre-school. Please refer to our Privacy Notice for further information. Our whole teaching and learning ethos are focused on the needs of individuals. Activities, resources, and the environment are planned based on our observations of the children, their current interests, and their learning needs. We pride ourselves on our caring and skilled pre-school staff who are trained to the highest standards and loved by our children and families.
Grouping of Children
As we take children from 2-4 years at Jelly Beans, we are very aware of the differing stages of development and adapt our activities to make them accessible to all children. A typical session will include:
• Formal parent/carer sign in
• Informal picture registration by children
• Carpet/circle time (welcome song, news, counting, weather, activities planned for the day ahead)
• Free play guided by adults (continuous provision both inside and out and focused activities)
• Snack time (a healthy snack and a drink of milk or water)
• Musical opportunities (instruments, songs and rhymes and dancing)
• Going home preparation (regular song)
• Formal parent/carer sign out
Health and Safety Procedures
Jelly Beans has internet access and a mobile phone available at all times. All staff are all trained and qualified in paediatric first aid and Safeguarding Young Children processes. The child protection officer is Emily Hanson. All staff have the necessary qualifications in child protection. Daily risk assessments are undertaken daily to maintain safety inside the pre-school and in the outdoor classroom. Fire Drills are held termly and records are maintained by our adjoining school.
Activities
Activities are a balance of child selected and adult led, in line with the guidance from The Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum (2021). Jelly Beans operates on a continuous provision basis, which means that the children can chose their activities freely from the resources in the setting. An important part of our routine includes learning how to care for toys and putting things away correctly. Adult led activities are based on observation of individual learning needs. These operate very flexibly to allow for any unexpected and exciting events, such as snowfall or a new baby!
Further information for parents is always available from the Key Person or their child’s learning journey, where individual next steps are recorded. We hold parent catch up meetings once per half term for every child, but our close links to our families ensures that we keep in very close contact with all our families at all times.
Staffing Structure
Emily Hanson - Pre-School Manager
Zoe Bretherton– Deputy Manager
Rachael Atkinson- Pre-School Practitioner
Charlotte Whiteside- Pre-School Practitioner
Lynne Bradshaw- Pre-School Assistant
Management of Staff
The pre-school staff are employed by Lancashire County Council. The school governing body has overall responsibility for pre-school staff and carries out salary reviews and appraisals. Jelly Beans is registered and inspected by OFSTED under the main school registration.