At Greenbank Preschool we aim to create a calm atmosphere where children can purposefully explore and play. Our committed staff feel that it is important to have a familiar routine for children and to support their curiosity without changing the basic structure of each session.
Sessions run from 8.25am to 2.35pm Monday to Friday (fully funded 1140 hours). Families can alternatively attend 8.25am to 3.30pm Monday to Thursday. Parents also have the option of paying for a full week to 3.30pm Monday to Friday.
Parents also have the option of self-funding their child’s place immediately after their 3rd birthday up until the term when they have a funded place.
Our committed staff feel that it is important to have a familiar routine for children and to support their curiosity without changing the basic structure of each session.
To enter nursery, please use the gate at the side of Greenbank Church which is clearly marked “Welcome to Greenbank Preschool”, ensuring the gate is closed securely behind you. Dogs must be tied to the fence at the door; prams or buggies are best left tucked to the right side inside the door before going down the stairs.
Your child will be given a coat peg with his/ her name and keyworker colour for easy recognition. Please put outdoor shoes in the box provided; soft-soled shoes (but not slippers) can be worn indoors for wet days.
Children must be brought and collected from nursery by a parent or carer aged 16 years upwards. Please let the staff know in advance if someone else is to collect your child from Preschool.
It is essential that staff are informed about any alternative drop off or pick up arrangement. Staff will not allow your child to be collected by anyone else if they do not know in advance.
Preschool opens at 8:25am for all families. Parents/carers should collect their child (and any craft work from their drawer) between 2.25 and 2.35pm or 3.20 and 3.30pm.
A child who is unwell should be kept at home, even if they want to come. If your child is unwell, please let preschool know by 9.30 am. If your child has contracted an infectious disease such as Chicken Pox, please notify us immediately, and do not bring them to Preschool until they are better.
Head lice can occur in the cleanest hair but early identification and treatment prevents a rapid spread. It is important that all parents and carers check each child’s head on a regular basis using a special comb.
Independence is encouraged and develops gradually, but from the very beginning of nursery experience it really helps if children:
We believe that healthy eating is an important part of the preschool day. Children have a morning snack break and enjoy lunch together each day.
We base our activities around the latest government guidance – REALISING THE AMBITION. This document highlights the importance of establishing consistent, high quality experiences, spaces and interactions.
Interwoven into this provision is the use of the Scottish Curriculum for Excellence and it’s 4 Capacities and 8 Subjects. As a staff we work together to self evaluate our provision regularly and we display our working progress. We work together on our School Quality Improvement Plan.
We create an ethos of belonging and encourage all families to be as involved as possible with all that we do. We promote outdoor play as we know how valuable this is for our children’s health and wellbeing.
We communicate and interact with children in many different ways and through many different activities. Children are constantly supported to share their ideas and access all spaces and experiences.
We give children many opportunities to explore shape, space and measure. We support children to solve problems, test out their ideas and find solutions.
We have resources that support children to design and engineer. They can work out how things fit together and what makes things work. Much of our science exploration takes place outside and through sensory play.
We have a painting space every day and children can help themselves to anything they want from our craft trolley. They can use our small world spaces to design and to act out their ideas and imaginative play. We have several music sessions each week and children can play percussion instruments and learn songs and dances from all over the world. We have weekly yoga sessions, ballet and early moves inputs.
We have some lovely outdoor garden spaces with upcycled resources in them. Every year we try to do a big day where families come together to refurbish our outdoor spaces, plant flowers and vegetables and upcycle our water features.
We have a green flag eco status and have successfully maintained this since 2016. Children are actively encouraged to reduce waste, to recycle and to reuse resources wherever possible. They are instilled with a sense of their responsibility to the planet and how to take care of plants and animals.
Our behaviour policy encourages children to choose positive actions. “Positive Behaviour” means that children are recognised for their efforts and staff try at all times to praise good behaviour. The emphasis is on promoting positive behaviour.
Each child is regarded as an individual, but is also a member of a large social group. The staff encourage sharing and caring through positive reinforcement of behaviour. The staff act as positive role models imparting respect, consideration, responsibility and honesty. Any issues are discussed at Welcome Circle or Together Time. In this context children are introduced to the Golden Rules.
A child who misbehaves is given a safe choice to encourage a change in behaviour. If a child cannot make a choice sometimes a short time out ( with the visual support of a sand timer) to calm the child and then rejoining an activity when they are ready can help.
Where appropriate the staff may talk to the child to see if there is any particular reason for their behaviour. Where another child has been upset, staff would encourage some understanding of the hurt caused and suggest an apology. Where a child persistently misbehaves, staff will discuss the situation with the parents.
In consultation with the children we have created Golden Rules which help to keep our preschool a happy place. We remind the children regularly about the values we want to promote in our preschool. We try at all times to praise good behaviour. The Golden Rules are:
If a child misbehaves we do the following:
Ready to find out more? Apply for a place or get in touch to arrange a visit and see Greenbank Preschool for yourself.
