Session times

Monday: 9:00-12:20

Tuesday: 9:00-3:30pm (Includes 30min 12:00-12:30 Lunch Club)

Wednesday: NOT OPEN

Thursday: 9:00-3:30pm (Includes 30min 12:00-12:30 Lunch club)

Friday:9:00-12:20

Funding and Fees

At Christchurch, as a charity (CIO) we endeavor to make the setting supportive and engaging for all of the children, parents and carers. We are a not-for-profit charity and any profits go straight back to the pre-school to serve the children.

We accept childcare vouchers, and are registered for the Government’s tax-free childcare scheme. Please note that our fees are reviewed annually.

We do not currently have any FEET funded or Pupil Premium Funded places available for this 2023/2024 year. We offer a waiting list for these places and would be happy to add you to it if you would like, please see Jo to discuss.

Daily Routine

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 its 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 in the hall.

Our sessions begin at 9am with the children seated for a quiet registration and story. Following the story, the children then choose their own activity from the themed daily activities set-out for them. During the session we have a rolling snack time from 10.00 to 11.00 with children choosing when to break from their play to come for their snack. The setting makes snacks a social time at which children eat together in small groups. Children bring their own healthy snack of fruit or vegetables and are also given a breadstick and a drink of milk or water. Do tell us about your child’s dietary needs and we will make sure that these are met.

The last part of the session is usually a whole group physical activity such as music and dance, parachute games or playing outside, and the session ends with a group circle time before the children are collected. Tuesday afternoons offer more structured learning for the rising-5’s, with a gentle introduction to phonics in preparation for school. They are each given a handwriting book, and each week we focus on a different ‘sound’ – they are encouraged to bring to pre-school with them an item beginning with that letter. With our 2 English and Spanish speaking staff members, we host a special Spanish class on a Friday morning consisting of basic vocabulary and lots of songs.

In addition, in the term before the children move up to school, we include some more focused activities to help them become school-ready, including P.E. “lessons” and dressing up in school uniform.

The children do not have to wear a uniform, but many parents like to purchase a Christ Church Pre-School Playgroup t-shirt and / or sweatshirt for their child to wear.

Outdoor Learning

At Christ Church we are committed to using our garden in all weathers, giving the children the opportunity to play, explore and learn in a natural environment. Activities are as varied as bug hunting and cooking marshmallows (as a special treat!). As well as being great fun, research has shown that the benefits to the children of participating in an outdoor educational experience include:

• Increased self-esteem, self-confidence  and social skills  
• The development of language and communication skills  
• Improved physical motor skills  
• Improved motivation and concentration  
• Increased knowledge and understanding of the environment  

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