Pre-School is an exciting time both for you and your child, and we know you both need to prepare for this. You can help prepare your child for school by following these very practical steps: –

1. Try to ensure your child is toilet trained before their start date if aged three or over. Two-year-olds who are not yet dry will be helped with potty training rather than being rushed.
2. Encourage your child to mix with other children.
3. Try to provide your child with toys which stimulate the imagination and develop manual dexterity, e.g. bricks, construction sets, dolls with removable clothes.
4. Encourage your child to tidy away toys.
5. Sing rhymes with your child.
6. Set aside a special time daily for sharing a story with your child.
7. Join the local library and borrow books for your child.
8. Encourage your child to use pencils and crayons.
9. Encourage your child to sit at the table for meals and help them to use a knife and fork.

Supporting Both Parents & Children

We aim for children to feel safe, stimulated and happy in the Pre-School and to feel secure and comfortable with all staff. We also want parents to have confidence in both their children’s well-being and their role as active partners, with the child being able to benefit from all Pre-School has to offer.

We aim to support parents and other carers to help their children settle quickly and easily by giving consideration to the individual needs and circumstances of each child and their families.

The Pre-School staff will work in partnership with parents to settle their child into the nursery environment by:

• Providing parents with relevant information regarding the policies and procedures of the Pre-School.
• Reassuring parents whose children seem to be taking a long time settling in.
• Encouraging parents, where appropriate, to separate themselves from their children for brief periods at first, gradually building to longer absences.
• Reviewing the nominated ‘key worker’ if the child is bonding with another member of staff to ensure the child’s needs are supported.
• Children will not be taken on an outing from the Pre-School until he/she is completely settled.

The Joining Process

Rydal Penrhos welcomes all families and children regardless of gender, cultural and religious background. Children do not have to meet any specific requirements to attend the setting. However, we do NOT admit children younger than 2 years due to our facilities not being suitable for babies, and hope that wherever possible a child entering Pre-School is at the stage of (or nearing) being ‘dry’.

Families and children with special needs are welcomed and the School and setting will accommodate where necessary, and will work with the appropriate agencies. Under exceptional circumstances the setting may not be able to offer a place if we are unable to meet the child’s needs and requirements. The decision will only be made after all avenues have been exhausted and the setting will provide a reason for the decision of non-admission.

The Admissions Process

The first stage of our admissions process is to provide you with a tour of the School and setting, and then invite your child to join the Pre-School for a taster session. Please contact: admissions@rydalpenrhos.com to talk more and move on to the next stage.

Moving Up To Reception

We hope for and encourage all of our Pre-School to move into the next class, i.e. Reception when they are ready. Every week the Pre-School have a ‘getting to know you’ taster with our Reception teacher to make it a smooth transition.

School Lunches

The School, which provides lunches and snacks for the Pre-School, currently, has a maximum score of 5 with Conwy Environmental Health. All our meals, snacks and drinks are selected to ensure that children are having a healthy start to life. All food is prepared freshly on site by the School’s domestic staff, who are trained in advanced food and hygiene.

All dietary requirements can be catered for. The School produces seasonal menus that run over a three-week period.

And remember to send your child in with…

• A daily water bottle.
• Wet wipes & nappies (if needed).
• Spare clothes for those little accidents!
• And waterproofs and Wellington boots to let the adventure begin….