About our Setting
We are a Flying Start Childcare setting based in Gors Community School. The setting has undergone refurbishment and modernisation from existing school classrooms, and provides childcare for children aged 2-3years living in the Flying Start catchment area. We run two childcare sessions per day from 8.50am-11.20am and 1-3.30pm. We aim to provide children and their families with free high quality childcare in a warm, friendly and stimulating environment.
Our promise
All children will be cared for by highly qualified, experienced and dedicated staff – all trained in Child Protection, Food Hygiene, First Aid, as well as many ongoing courses to support continuous professional development. We will operate on a 1:4, adult/child ratio, promoting a key worker system, and will provide all children with a happy, safe, secure and stimulating learning environment. Staff will be pro-active in helping parents support their children’s learning and development, offering advice and support when necessary. We will work closely with the wider Flying Start team including Health Visitors, Speech & Language therapists, Family Facilitators, the Early Language development team and Gors School to ensure all families receive early intervention and support if needed.
Admission
All families must register on the Swansea Council Portal to check eligibility before a childcare place can be allocated. Families can be referred through the Flying Start central team via the Health Visitor. All eligible families must contact the Flying Start Childcare Manager to enquire about a childcare space and if possible a convenient date and time for a home visit. During this home visit a settling in plan will be agreed and a plan of transition will be completed for each child, reflecting their needs. Parents will be invited to an open day giving them the opportunity to visit the setting with their child, so that the child has the opportunity to get used to the setting and staff before beginning full sessions. All the paperwork will be shared and completed either during the open day or the home visit to ensure the child’s file is up to date. All children will be considered on an individual basis so that their individual needs can be met. All staff have the relevant skills and knowledge to provide a range of activities/experiences appropriate to each child’s needs which will support their overall development in preparation for school.
What we provide
We will provide children with a snack which will always include fresh fruit/vegetables, and a choice of milk or water. We ask that you inform us if your child has any special dietary requirements as we will be happy to accommodate individual need. As a setting we will be promoting Health and Wellbeing through the ‘Healthy & Sustainable Pre School Scheme’ this means that we cannot give out birthday cake within the setting, each child will have a piece cake to take home. We love celebrating Birthdays so the birthday hat & glasses and a super cool photo will create lovely memories for your little one.
Uniform can be purchased if you so wish
Polo shirts £7.25 Jumpers £8.95
Please let a member of staff know if you would like to place an order, money must be given when order is placed.
What you provide
Parents are required to bring their own nappies, wipes and a change of clothes in a clearly labelled bag. We ask that all clothes are clearly labelled with your child’s name. Please bring your child’s wellies every Wednesday as we go exploring around Gors School.
Please ensure that you provide suitable clothing for all weathers. E.g. a hat and sun cream if its sunny and a hat, gloves and warm coat if it’s cold, as we go outside everyday whatever the weather. J
Parents should act appropriately whilst on the school premises and treat staff, other parents and children with respect.
Learning and development
Within the Flying Start setting, children will have a broad and balanced range of activities/experiences appropriate to their needs that will support their development. We understand that children are individuals and are at different stages of development; therefore the planning of activities will be based on what the children know and can do as the starting point. We will provide an environment that invites children to explore, question, investigate, create and imagine. Staff will provide the children with good role models of language and focus on developing their speaking and listening skills. The safe and secure outdoor play area will be accessible to the children on a daily basis, which will encourage active learning and risk taking. We will follow a daily routine offering individual activities, small group and large group time, informing parents each day of activities/experiences their child has had via an information board of ‘daily activities’ that will be posted daily on our Class Dojo. We will liaise closely with the Nursery teacher/staff to offer a variety of joint activities to ensure a smooth transition from Flying Start into the Foundation Phase.
The Childcare Manager will gather information from the relevant members of the Flying Start team and specialists in the school if additional learning needs are identified to inform transition into the Nursery. English will be the main language within the setting, but the use of Welsh and other languages will be incorporated into everyday activities.
Keeping you Informed
Parents will be welcomed into the setting at all times. Parents will be informed and involved in both the planning and assessment of their children, and will be encouraged to contribute wherever possible to the life and work of the setting. Staff will provide parents with information of any activities/events taking place in the setting and regular ‘Toddler talks’ will be arranged to discuss children’s progress and development. Our Class Dojo is a fantastic platform to shar all important information - we are now a paperless setting.
Please ensure you read our daily fun activities and what we had for snack to keep yourself updated with your child’s daily activities and any important reminders.
Please contact us as soon as possible if your child is unable to attend.
Opening Hours/Dropping off and Collection
Morning childcare session: 8.50am – 11.20am
Gates will be closed at 9.15am and reopen at 11.15am
Afternoon Childcare session: 1pm– 3.30pm
Gates will be closed at 1.15pm and reopen at 3.00pm
Please report to Gors School Reception
if you are going to arrive before or after these times
or call the Flying Start office
(staff will be available Monday - Friday between 8am – 4pm).
It is important that all children are dropped off and collected at the times stated above. We will not be able to take any child earlier then the start time as staff are busy preparing and setting up the childcare room. It is also important that all children are collected on time as staff need time to discuss the session and plan for future activities. Please inform staff in advance if someone else is collecting your child. We will NOT allow any child to leave with anyone other than their parent/carer unless we have been informed in advance.
Policies and Procedures
We follow daily procedures to ensure every child’s safety. There are procedures in place for health and safety, food hygiene, cleanliness, toileting, and many more. All equipment and activities are fully risk assessed to ensure children’s safety at all times. Policies, procedures and risk assessments are reviewed on a regular basis. Parents are encouraged to read through the policies and procedures that are in place. Please ask a member of staff for more details.
We have a duty of care to your child and as such we share information with Flying Start Service providers and other agencies such as Health Visitors, Speech and Language Team and Children’s services as appropriate to safeguard your child following our Child Protection Policy.
Suggestions, Complaints or Praise
The management team at Gors Community School strive to ensure that the happiness, wellbeing and needs of all families accessing the school are being met. If you have any queries, would like to make a complaint or make any positive comments regarding the setting please feel free to chat to the Flying Start Childcare team.
Registered Provider: City & County of Swansea
Responsible Individual: Fiona Gibbard Head Teacher
Person In Charge: Victoria Hann, Flying Start Childcare Manager
Contact:
‘Gors Little Learners’ Gors Community School
Flying Start Childcare 01792 522202
01792 420421/07957217742