St Matthews Pre School

St Matthews Preschool was established in 1973 as a playgroup for families in the local area. Since then the preschool has grown into a popular and friendly group with a strong connection to local Primary Schools. The school is open Mondays to Fridays from 9am until 3pm with the day divided into morning and afternoon slots of 3 hours each for 38 weeks of the year. The Free Entitlement for children 3 years or older is for 15 hours per week and families choose whether to take this as a full day (6 hours) or as morning or afternoon sessions. We accept 2 Year Old Free Entitlement funding - please come in for a chat about your child's needs. Our last Ofsted inspection achieved a 'Good' standard. The preschool has a large garden and a covered play area for use in the wet weather. All our staff members are qualified Early Years Practioners or are training towards a relevant qualification, all staff also hold paediatric First Aid certificates. We are committed to keeping up-to-date with the latest courses on offer from West Sussex for Early Year's Foundation Stage (EYFS) education. The preschool encourages children to be independent in their choice of activities and also to help in the tidying up of equipment at certain times of the day. Adult lead activities are designed to encourage children to enjoy learning and to build confidence. Mornings snacks are prepared by all members of staff who have Food Hygiene certificates. Children are encouraged to sit with adults and share fruit, toast, crackers and other healthy snacks. Drinks at snack time are milk and water only (no squashes). Water is available at all times and children are encouraged to be independent in getting their own. Children who stay all day or come to an afternoon session bring a packed lunch; we encourage parents to provide healthy lunches such as fruit and sandwiches with a flask of drink if children do not wish to have water. We operate a key worker scheme with each child allocated a member of staff to record details of progress and interests. There are regular times throughout the year to meet formally to discuss Development Journals but you may see your child's records at any time.