About Us

About Us

Charfield Pre-School (formerly Charfield Playgroup, originally established in 1967) has been operating from it’s current location since February 2002. We play out of two buildings and outdoor play area. We share our home with the Charfield Out Of School Club.

Aims & Mission

Aims:

  • To provide a safe, happy, caring, secure and stimulating environment for your child;
  • To strive to always look forward and maintain continuous improvement;
  • To enable all children to develop their capabilities as successful learners, confident individuals, responsible citizens and effective contributors to society;
  • To help all children prepare for the future.

Our Mission:

To transform the lives of the children and families we work with, through creating a preschool which feels like home with an extended and supportive family environment.

Our learning environment

We are committed to meeting the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) , which is the standard for learning and development of children up to the age of 5 years.

The over-riding aim of our Pre-School is to provide a “play-based approach to learning and development”. Our sessions are designed to strike the right balance between “free-flow” play and adult-lead activities (e.g. craft, cookery, etc), to ensure that our children are given the best possible choices and opportunities to develop their skills.

Each child’s progress is monitored against the 7 areas of learning, as set out in the EYFS:

  • Personal, Social, Emotional Development
  • Physical Development
  • Communication – Language
  • Literacy
  • Mathematics
  • Understanding the world
  • Expressive Arts and Design

Pre-School fees 

Enhanced transition fee

We feel an enhanced transition into preschool is the best way to start; however this is entirely up to you.  We can provide a home visit before your child starts and two x 1 hour settling in sessions without parents.

  • The benefits of the home visit:-Getting to know the key worker in their own environment.
  • Parents/carers can talk to the manager in a relaxed and more intimate environment and can help complete forms.
  • We can find out more information about your child – what do they like to play with, do they have any allergies and how will they settle.
  • We will remind you of what to bring and what we would like in their packed lunch
  • A discussion of the routine/day and drop off and collection times etc.

The benefits of the settling in sessions:-

  • Your child will gradually get to build up their relationship with their key worker and will familiarise themselves with the environment.
  • Your child will feel more at ease with a gradual settling in process.
  • Your child will adapt quicker to the preschool routines of the day.

The cost of the enhanced transition is £30.00* (one off fee), payable in advance.  If you choose not to take up this offer we will provide you with a start date at the open day and please be rest assured that we will settle your child with care as soon as possible.

* 2-year-old eligibility grants for families receiving certain government support are exempt from paying. 

Session Fees

For 2 year olds, the fee per 3 hour session is £25.17 (or £8.39 per hour)
For 3/4 year olds, the fee per 3 hour session is £18.21 (or £6.07 per hour)

Consumable charge

 

Additional Consumable Charge

We are required from April 2025 by the Government to clearly break down any charges made for your childcare with us.

Government Funding is to cover the Basic Early Years Foundations Stage provision which includes such things as:-

  • Small world figures, role play, puzzles, books and basic craft supplies
  • Sand and water play
  • Construction toys
  • Staffing levels that meet the minimum Government ratios.

The government funding does NOT include:-

  • Any snacks
  • Tissue, wet wipes and nappy sacks
  • Emergency spare clothes and nappies
  • Enrichment activities such as Jolly Melodies, cooking and different cultural food tasting
  • Special events such as the Christmas Party, gifts at Christmas, Easter & leavers and graduation party
  • Access to online learning Journal and care diary

We charge an optional fee of £1.00 per session, so if your child attends 15 hours/week that equates to £5.00/week and 30 hours/week the optional cost will be £10.00/week, invoiced at the start of each term.

Break down of costs:-

Snack charge – 25p/session

Tapestry online learning journal – 75p/session

We will be reviewing the amount of money we receive termly to see if all the extras that we provide are possible.

Government Funding

All 3 to 4-year-olds  in England can get 570 hours of free early education or childcare. The free early education and childcare must be with an approved childcare provider and stops when your child starts in reception class (or reaches compulsory school age, if later).

The hours are usually taken as 15 hours a week for 38 weeks of the year. You can get it from the term after your child’s 3rd birthday.

Working parents in England with children aged from 9 months up to school age can now get up to 30 hours free funded childcare per week.  The entitlement is for 38 weeks per year.

If you’re not working, some 2 year old children (in England) are eligible for 15 hours a week of free childcare if their family receives certain Government benefits or if your child has a disability or additional needs.

Please check your eligibility  https://www.beststartinlife.gov.uk/