Contact us

Thomas Whitehead CE Academy
Angels Lane,
Houghton Regis,
Bedfordshire,
LU5 5HH
Tel: 01582  865466
Email: office@twa.dsamat.co.uk
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Key Information for parents and carers 
We would like to welcome you and your family to Stars Pre-School which is part of Thomas Whitehead CE Academy in Houghton Regis.
Our aim is to offer a warm and caring environment in which your child can easily make the change from home to school life. We aim to provide a varied and balanced curriculum, following Guidelines for the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).
We know that these first stages in your child's school life can be more effective if we build a partnership with each other- all working together for the best interests of the children.
We want you to share in the experiences of watching and helping your child to develop and become independent learners.
The information provided below aims to answer some of your questions and to convey our commitment to the learning, development and well-being of the children in our care. 

Our Vision
As a Church of England school we offer every pupil an education rooted in Christian values and strive to ensure that every child is supported to achieve their fullest potential.

• We believe that every child should be given the opportunity to be the very best they can possibly be.
• We will work together to deliver a high quality, values driven curriculum where children are happy, safe and engaged within a Christian Community.

Working together for you children
At Stars Pre-School we maintain the ratio of adults to children in the setting that is set through the Welfare Requirements of the EYFS. This helps us to:

• Give time and attention to each child
• Talk with the children about their interests and activities
• Help children to experience and benefit from the activities we provide
• Allow the children to explore and be adventurous in safety

The staff who work at our setting are:

• Mrs L Mackay-  Room Leader
• Miss Haque- Pre-School Assistant
• Mrs A Lemmon- Pre-School Assistant​

We use a key person approach. This means that each member of staff has a group of children for whom s/he is particularly responsible. Your child's key person will be the person who works with you to make sure that what we provide is right for your child's particular needs and interests. When your child first starts at the setting, s/he will help your child to settle and throughout your child's time at the setting, s/he will help your child to benefit from the setting's activities.

Values Education
We are a values school and as part of Thomas Whitehead CE Academy, Stars Pre-School will mirror these values too. Our core values are love, forgiveness and thankfulness. Values Education aims to:

• Raise Standards by promoting a school ethos which is underpinned by core values that support the development of the whole child as a reflective learner.
• Demonstrate the values of Christian life and promote the Christian ethos of the school.

Throughout the year we also focus on other Christian values such as cooperation, honesty and respect. At Pre-School we teach these values through child and adult led activities, as well as modelling how to live these values in everyday relationships and actions throughout the Pre-School.

Special Educational Needs and Disability
As part of the Pre-School's policy to make sure that its provision meets the needs of each individual child, we take account of any special educational needs or disabilities a child may have. The Schools Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO) is: Mrs H Long. We aim to work in partnership with parents and carers in order to meet a child's individual needs.

Settling in at Stars Pre-School
We know that starting Pre-School is a huge step for your child and a sign of growing up. Although it is an exciting time, for some parents and children it can also be an anxious and emotional time. We want your child to feel safe and happy and to recognise other adults as a source of help, friendship and authority.
Our settling-in procedures aim to help you both feel comfortable in the Pre-School and to ensure that your child can benefit fully from what the setting has to offer. The staff have many years of experience between them, and will work with you to decide on how to help your child to settle into  Pre-School. Any individual problems will be dealt with sympathetically and you will be kept informed of your child's progress.

​The Session
We organise our sessions so that the children can choose from, and work at, a range of activities and, in doing so, build up their ability to select and work through a task to it's completion. The children are also helped and encouraged to take part in adult-led small and large group activities which introduce them to new experiences and help them to gain new skills, as well as helping them to learn to work with others.
Outdoor activities contribute to children's health, their physical development and their knowledge of the world around them. The children have the opportunity, and are encouraged, to take part in outdoor child-chosen and adult-led activities, as well as those provided indoors.
For children that stay with us all day, the sessions are organised so that children can take part in a variety of child-chosen and adult-led activities. These take account of children's changing energy levels throughout the day. The setting caters for children's individual needs for rest and quiet activities during the day.

Session times
Monday-Friday (Term Time only)
Morning Session 8.45am - 11.45am
Lunch Club 11.45am - 12.15pm
Afternoon Session 12.15pm - 3.15pm
It is very important that children arrive at Pre-School on time so they are able to settle into the routines and activities planned for the day. At the end of each session children must be collected promtly as late collection can lead to undue stress and worry for young children. Regular late collection of children will incur a charge as there are implications on staff supervision. If you are unable to collect your child, please let us know. If something unexpected happens, telephone Pre-School giving the alternative adult's name, authorising them to collect your child. We will NOT send children home with people we do not know.

Fees
We accept funding for eligible 2,3 and 4 year olds through Central Bedfordshire, as well as child care vouchers. Fees for any non-funded sessions are charged at £18 per 3 hour session (morning or afternoon) which is payable on a half termly basis. Lunch club is charged at £3 per session. We will issue an invoice for this non-funded care. Fees are still payable during short absences from Pre-School, including sickness.

Accident or Illness
The Pre-School ensures that at least one member of staff who is fully trained in First Aid will be on duty each session. Accidents, however small, are entered into the Accident Book and parents will be informed.
Please keep you child at home if he/she has an infection and inform the Pre-School as to the nature of the infection so that we can alert other parents/carers if necessary.
Parents/carers are asked not to bring a child to Pre-School who has been vomiting or had  diarrhoea until 48 hours has elapsed since the last attack.

Snack and meals
Snacks and meals are a social time when children eat together. We provide morning and afternoon snacks. There is a choice of milk or water to drink and a choice of fruit to eat. At certain times other food will be available according to our themes and celebrations.
Children that stay for lunch club will need to bring a packed lunch with them from home. We encourage children to eat a healthy balanced diet and ask that lunch boxes do not contain chocolates, sweets and fizzy drinks. Lunch boxes must be labelled with your child's name.
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Clothing
Children need to wear clothes that they can undo and do up themselves, as this encourages their independence. Therefore pull on clothes, simple jumpers and Velcro shoes are ideal. High heeled, open toed or strappy shoes are dangerous, especially for the many outdoor activities that we do. We will be encouraging the children to take part in lots of messy activities so please ensure they are not wearing their best clothes.The children will have access to the outside area daily, in all weathers, so please make sure your child has suitable clothing for the winter and summer months. It is strongly recommended that your children has a rain mac, warm coat, gloves, hat and Wellington boots at Pre-School in the winter. During the summer months children should have their shoulders covered and bring a sun hat to stay safe in the sun. Please clearly name all clothing and footwear.

Nappies and Toilet Training
Children are accepted into the Pre-School in nappies. We ask that you provide a few nappies, wipes and a change of clothes in a labelled bag which can be kept at Pre-School. We work with parents towards toilet training, unless there are medical or other developmental reasons why this may not be appropiate at the time. As a child moves from nappies to being fully toilet trained, the parent or carer and key person will meet and agree how best they can work together to support and assist the child during these early stages.

​Safeguarding children
Our setting has a duty under the law to help safeguard children against suspected or actual 'significant harm'. We work to procedures which are set down in the 'Keeping Children Safe in Education' document.
Our Child Protection Officer is Ms D Mitra (Assistant Headteacher) and in her absence, Mrs Britnell, Mrs Glastonbury and Mrs Souter.
We hope that you and your child enjoy being members of Stars Pre-School. Our setting recognises parents as the first and most important educators of their children. All of the staff aim to work in partnership with parents and carers to provide care and education for their child. The Pre-School team are always ready and willing to talk with you about your ideas, views or questions. We look forward to working with you to enusre your child has the best possible start to their learning journey.