Children arrive. Taking their name-card from outside in the entrance area, they register themselves by sticking the card on our register wall. 

Children who are able to do so put their own coats and bags away in the right places - we help them to practise! Lunchboxes are taken by staff to the fridge. 

Children meet on the mat to sing the 'Welcome' song with a member of staff. Children choose songs to sing - often fitting with our learning themes. We play a maths game, practise a phonic, tell a story or share news.

Free-flow activities then take place - these are activities set out for the children to visit as they wish. Both indoors and outdoors, each activity area links closely to the seven areas of learning in EYFS. This is also a good time for staff to work with their key-children individually or in groups to monitor their progress or help them achieve next steps. All staff observe the children in these sessions as well as caring for them so that they are happy, stimulated and safe. This session lasts until lunch time and includes...

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Snack time! This is at about 10.15am. Children wash their hands and sit to have snack. Sometimes they have helped to prepare the snack first, or they have a little task to complete, such as buttering their bread. See our snack menu in the 'Resources and Files' area. Although drink is supplied all throughout the day and can be reached independently by the children, snack time is a good time to enjoy free milk provided by 'Cool Milk' if parents which to take advantage of this offer. Alternatives are available for those with dairy or lactose intolerances.

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Before lunch, we return to the mat for group learning again. This is a time for formal phonics teaching, and the development of early writing. We use songs, technology, gesture and whiteboards, puppets and many other techniques to make phonics and writing fun. An aspect of maths is also explored. We often sing songs related to a group objective in our plan, such as learning days of the week. We praise effort, concentration, perseverance and success, rewarding the children with stickers, group praise or being named 'Star of the Week' when a little certificate is also sent home. 

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We wash hands and then sit together for lunch. We practice our speech and our manners as we ask politely for help or say 'please,' 'thank you,' and often 'pardon me!' Children dispose of their rubbish in the right places - packaging can go in the recycling tubs on tables, and leftover food goes in the food waste containers. Sometimes we have special lunches where we eat the food we have made, try new foods from around the world or have themed foods which relate to a topic. We always seek parental permission first.

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More free-flow activities now, often with a quieter focus as we let our food go down! This is also a good time for Key Child activities organised by an adult. The afternoon sessions often include some music and movement, whether it is singing and dancing to 'Sticky Kids, ' simple team sports/gymnastics, ballet with Sian or races timed by the children in the hall. Once a fortnight, we try to send something home in the post - children create something or show how well they can write their names...perhaps they demonstrate how well they know their shapes or send a photo of an experience they've had. The children post the letters themselves at our local postbox. 

At home-time, parents have the option of changing their child's book from our little lending library - we have lots of picture books with or without words to share at home. The children can retell favourites from story time with people at home! 

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For the few children who stay with us until later, there are different activities offered and a snack which is often a little heartier or hot to fill a little space before going home for dinner. 

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