Castor and Ailsworth Pre-School is an established rural setting based in the Village Hall and serves the local community of Castor, Ailsworth, Marholm, Sutton and Upton, but also welcomes children from surrounding areas.
The Pre-School has good links with Castor primary school and the Village Community. We enroll children from 2 years 6 months.
Affiliated to Pre-School is the ‘Tots’ group that runs each Wednesday morning between 9.30-11 am, during term time. Children from birth upwards can come with their parent/carer, to play, socialise with other children and familiarise themselves with the setting.
We are voluntarily managed by an elected committee of parents and run under the guidelines of a constitution. We are a non-profit making Pre-School holding charitable status and are approved by OFSTED (Office for Standards in Education).
Under the Government funding scheme, all children that attend our setting are entitled to use their 15 hours per week funded childcare from the term following their 3rd birthday. Parents who qualify will also be allowed to use the additional 15 hours a week funding from that time. This means many parents will get 30 hours a week funding.
• Provide high quality care and education for children below statutory school age.
• Work in Partnership with parents/carers to help children learn and develop.
• Add to the life and well-being of our local community
• Offer children and their parents a service which promotes equality and values diversity.
Parents are regarded as members of our setting who have full participatory rights. These include a right to be:.
• Valued and respected
• Kept informed
• Consulted
• Involved; and
• Included at all levels
The views, support and involvement of all parents/carers is a much valued part of our Pre-School.
As a member of our Pre-School your child:
• Is in a safe and stimulating environment.
• Is given care and attention.
• Has the chance to join with other children and adults to live, play, work and learn together.
• Is helped to take forward his/her learning and development by being helped to build on what he/she already knows and can do.
• Has a Key Worker who makes sure they make satisfactory progress.
• Is in a setting which sees you as a partner in helping your child to learn and develop.
• Is in a setting in which parents help to shape the service it offers.
8.30-9.00 Breakfast Club
9.00 - 10.00 Registration time, settling in and free play.
10.00-10.20 Snack time – everyone comes together for a drink and snack, group discussions and singing.
10.20-11.00 Free play/planned adult led activities.
11.00-11.30 Key group sessions/free play
11.30 -11.45 Tidy up time
11.45 - 12.00 Group session (story, show and tell, singing)
12.00 - 1.00 Lunch time
1.00 - 1.30 Free play/planned adult led activities
1.30 - 2.00 Key group/free play
2.00 - 2.30 Free play/tidy up time
2.30 - 2.50 Afternoon snack and drink time – everyone sits together
2.50 - 3.00 Getting ready for home time
3.00 - 3.15 Group time (story, singing, adult led activity)
3.15 - 3.30 Home time
Activities from outside agencies through the week include Sports instructor. Sign language. Dance & Drama lessons (postponed during the Pandemic).