Documents to Download
Advice for new starts [PDF, 103KB]
New term memo to parents [PDF, 59KB]
Info for New Parents
- Settling In
- Clothing
- Useful Donations
- Talents
- Children's Trays and Personal Learning Planning
- Individual Children Profiles
- Organic Snack
- Treasure Box
- Communication
- Notice Board
- Change of Address
- Suggestions or Complaints
- Child Protection Guidelines
- Health and Safety
- Outings and Special Events
- Social Events
On your child’s first day there will be two other children starting at the same time. One member of staff will be designated as your child’s key worker. This staff member will spend time helping your child to settle. It is helpful if you allow time to complete an “All About Me” book with the key worker and your child. You will be helped to settle your child by the staff who are always willing to discuss, in confidence, any problems or anxieties you may have.
Aprons are provided for painting and gluing but everyday clothes will still get messy. Easy fastenings make it simpler for your child to go to the toilet unaided. The children are encouraged to play on the climbing frame and take part in gym activities so suitable footwear is essential.
Please throw nothing away before thinking about whether we could use it. We always need - and are grateful for - a constant supply of `junk' items such as small cardboard boxes, yoghurt cartons, egg boxes, foil dishes, milk tops, shiny paper, cardboard tubes, birthday and Christmas cards, margarine tubs, odd rolls of wallpaper, buttons, bobbins, wool, ribbon, pieces of material, etc. The children’s "gluings" are always proudly presented by the children and represent a great deal of thought and ideas.
Please note we cannot accept toilet rolls or any packaging that has held nuts. It is important to read any packaging before donating items to ensure that we remain a nut-free zone.
If you have a job, hobby or skill that may be of interest to the children please let us know. The more people who participate in the Pre School, the more varied the children's experience will be. We hope you do not feel pressurised to take part but we would welcome you if you do.
Children's Trays and Personal Learning Planning
Each child has their own drawer for their artwork and any letters etc are placed there. These should be checked regularly. It is also a good idea to use the drawers to distribute party invitations or Christmas cards so as to avoid hurting children who are not on your list. Your child’s Personal Learning Plan or “Learning Story” will be kept in their tray. It is very positive to talk this through with your child but please only ever take this home for one night at a time so that staff can have it available every day.
Confidential records of each child are kept by Pre School. These allow us to keep a record of each child's progress including any other professional involved eg Speech and Language referrals, Hearing test etc These are available for parents to see and discuss, where necessary, with the Pre School leader. If you would like to see your child's records, please arrange a mutually convenient time.
We provide a daily healthy snack. Parents should bring £2 each week, collected on Mondays please, which provides a mixture of organic fruit, vegetables, savoury biscuits and ingredients for baking. Organic milk, or water, is provided. Please notify any food allergies to the staff. We operate a rolling snack which is on offer throughout the sessions.
We cook with the children regularly, and they really enjoy making something appetising for everyone to taste, from soups and savouries to smoothies and biscuits.
When it is a child’s birthday he or she will bake a cake helped by a friend. This is then shared at snack time. Please note that it is not necessary or desirable for a child to bring sweets.
We have a Treasure Box beside the coat pegs, which allows children to bring things from home and keep them safe during the day. It is helpful if children place their own toys in this box as it stops them being put away or misplaced at the end of the day. We do encourage children to bring things from home that are related to our current themes. They can use circle time
to discuss and share these items.
Please tell staff the day before if your child will be arriving late or telephone by 10am to let staff know if your child will be absent on that day. Good communication between staff and parents is important. Help us to help your child by telling us about anything at all which may be worrying either of you. Similarly we would aim to speak with you as and when anything particular occurred during pre‑school, on the same day if possible.
There is an open information evening held in Pre School during the first term. Parents can meet with staff and discuss the year ahead. In the summer term a profile report for pre-school children is discussed at an individual meeting to let you know how your child is progressing. A meeting is held with parents of three year olds in March.
Where other agencies are involved with your child e.g. Social work, Speech and Language Therapy, Health Visitor, Occupational Therapist etc. then, where appropriate, and after discussion with you, they may be given reports on the child. These reports will be made available to parents/ carers before being sent away.
There is a Pre School notice board with day‑to‑day and special information displayed. Pre School also issues regular newsletters, which contain calendars of events and other relevant information. The current term's duty rota list is also there for ease of reference. These are all available on the website. The same information for parents is also stored in the Partnership with Parents Folder in the Parent's area.
Please feel free to use the community notice board if you wish to contact other parents.
Please ensure you tell the admissions secretary and staff of any change of address and/ or telephone number so that we can always get in touch with you in case of emergencies.
If you have any suggestions or complaints, we hope you will feel you can discuss them with the staff. Your views will be useful in helping us to improve the care provided. If, for any reason, you do not wish to discuss your complaint with them, you can contact the Chairman of the management committee by telephoning or writing to:
Janet Allan
116 Polwarth Terrace
Edinburgh
EH11 1NN
0131 313 4445
The Scottish Care Commission
Stuart House
Station Road
Eskmills
Musselburgh EH21 7PB
0845 603 0890
The Management Committee will deal promptly with any complaints or problems.
As a Partnership Provider Pre School we follow the Child Protection Guidelines. We are committed to working in partnership with parents. As well as constantly striving to build children’s self-esteem and confidence, we place a high importance on the safety and protection of children. Greenbank Pre School has Child Protection Guidelines in place that all staff must follow where there are concerns about a child. Should any parent/ carer wish to see the guidelines these can be made available.
Parents helping on the rota should be aware that they are only asked to work in the main room alongside a member of staff.
In line with these guidelines we would inform the Social Work Department if we suspect that a child has been abused in any way. Therefore, in order to avoid any misunderstanding, we would ask that if your child has any bruising which may be more than an active healthy child would sustain, please let us know. Similarly any new cuts or scrapes should be shared with the staff.
Simple first aid is applied when appropriate in Pre School. If an accident needs a doctor's attention, we try to contact you first. Therefore, it is essential we have an up to date address and telephone number where we can contact you. If anything more serious occurs we would always call for an ambulance first.
If you are concerned that we are overlooking some element of health and safety, please tell us immediately.
Each term the staff and the committee organise special events and visits. Parents are encouraged to join in with these. The Christmas Party, Sports Day and summer outing to name but a few are good fun for parents too.
The Social committee endeavour to arrange a social event each term and to create different sorts of occasion to suit all tastes! We have had many enjoyable evenings including Christmas Shopping with stalls at Pre School, Quiz Nights, Drinks followed by Dinner and Information Evenings eg Child Development. Ideas and suggestions for future events are always welcome.