photo of sand pit with buckets and spades

Parents info

FAQ’s

Ofsted are our governing body and our registration number is 102824

Monday to Friday 8.45am – 3.15pm

No, we are a term time only preschool.

In England, there are three government-funded early education schemes that offer free childcare for children aged two, three and four. Each of the free childcare schemes has different eligibility rules so it’s important to check which of the schemes is right for you.

15 hours free childcare for 2-year-olds: In order to be eligible for free childcare for your two-year-old, you must either be in receipt of a qualifying benefit or your 2-year-old child must fit into one of the categories of children who have additional needs.

The qualifying benefits are:

Income Support
income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
Universal Credit – if you and your partner are on a low income from work (this usually means a combined income no more than £15,400 a year after tax)
Child Tax Credit and your family have an annual income of no more than £16,190 before tax
the guaranteed element of State Pension Credit
support through part 6 of the Immigration and Asylum Act
the Working Tax Credit 4-week run on (the payment you get when you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit)

15 hours free childcare for 9 months +: From 1 September 2024, eligible working parents can now access 15 hours of government-funded childcare. To check your eligibility, please go to www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

15 hours free childcare for 3 and 4-year-olds: This scheme is universal and open to all 3 and 4-year olds. There are no earnings or work requirements. You should be able to start receiving the childcare funding from 1 January, 1 April or 1 September following your child’s 3rd birthday.

30 hours free childcare for 3 and 4-year-olds: To be eligible for 30 hours free childcare for your 3 or 4-year-old, you and your partner must each expect to earn (on average) the equivalent of working 16 hours a week at your national minimum wage (£152 per week, less if you are under 23). You will still be treated as meeting the earnings requirement if you or your partner are on maternity, paternity or adoption leave – this applies whether you are single or a couple. The earnings requirement also does not apply if you are self-employed and you started your business less than 12 months ago. You are not usually able to use the scheme if either you or your partner has a taxable income over £100,000.To receive 30 hours free childcare you will need to apply online through gov.uk. After registering for an account, you will get a code that you can take to your childcare provider. You need to apply before the term starts or you will have wait until the beginning of the next term.

Yes of course, many of our younger children start preschool in nappies. We have a separate area for children to be changed discreetly. When your child is ready to start potty training, let our staff know and we will be happy to help your child.

No, we don’t. You will be required to send your child in with a snack in a labeled pot for every session they attend. If they are with us for the entire day then they will need two snacks. You will also need to send a packed lunch in with your child. We are introducing hot dinners once a week; we notify parents on Class Dojo or our social media platforms when these are taking place.

Unfortunately, Penponds School places are not automatically allocated if your child is in attendance at Little Acorns Preschool. The council allocates places depending on the distance of your address to the school; the closer in proximity you are to the school, the more likely your child will be to receive a place.

Change of clothing (including underwear), nappies and wipes, sun hat, wellies, coat, wooly hat, scarf and gloves (weather dependent), a special toy or comforter to help them settle.

This is not a problem, although please inform us as soon as possible and make sure the person collecting your child is aware of your child’s unique password. This is the password that you would have been asked to write in your child’s enrollment forms. On collection, a staff member will ask the person collecting your child to tell them the unique password.

We accept children from the age of 18 months.

Early Years Foundation Stage

The Early Years Foundation Stage is made up of four specific themes: These themes underpin all the EYFS guidance:

Every child is a unique child, who is constantly learning and can be resilient, capable, confident and self-assured
Children learn to be strong and independent through positive relationships
Children learn and develop well in enabling environments with teaching and support from adults, who respond to their individual interests and needs and help them to build their learning over time. Children benefit from a strong partnership between practitioners and parents and/or carers.
Importance of learning and development. Children develop and learn at different rates. (See “the characteristics of effective teaching and learning” at paragraph 1.15). The framework covers the education and care of all children in early years provision, including children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

Statutory framework for the early years foundation stage (publishing.service.gov.uk)

Tapestry to record and share your child’s ‘wow moments’.
But we also love it when you share these with us too.

It’s an easy-to-use and secure online learning journal.

To find out more about Tapestry click here.
Or log into your account by clicking the button below.

Class Dojo is used for getting information to you quickly and is useful for when you want to report an absence or notify us of something that you haven’t had the opportunity to discuss in person

Please make sure you are signed up, speak to a member of the team for more information.