Before your child starts we wll arrange a visit to give you a tour of the setting, we will go through your paperwork together and answer any questions you may have, your child's keyperson will be introduced and will spend some time getting to know your child. We are currently settling the children by starting with shorter sessions and gradually extending them as they become more confident. This works well for most children, if however, your child struggles with the separation, we will allow one parent to accompany them until they are ready for you to leave.
We use Tapestry to document your child’s learning journey. Tapestry is an app that you download – you can view your child’s observations and upload your own. When it is time to leave we convert your file to PDF so you can store it digitally.
We have a closed Facebook group for current parents which is monitored by our chair. We will always endeavour to post urgent information on our FaceBook page and Tapestry. All our newsletters and invoices are sent via Tapestry.
Children are funded the term after their 3rd birthday and they are currently entitled to 15 hours of funding spread over 38 weeks per academic year. If you wish your child to start from their 3rd birthday, we offer 3-hour sessions at a subsidised rate of £15 per session until they are eligible for funding. Once funded your child can stay for up to 15 hours per week – we claim the funding on your behalf.
You can choose how to spread your funding, some families choose five mornings: 9.00am-12.00pm, others prefer three five hour days: 9.00am-2.00pm and some have different hours each day, up to a maximum of 15 hours. Some families are eligible for 30-hour funding, this is usually if both parents work a minimum of 16 hours a week - to see if you are entitled, check out the Childcare Choices website https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk.
It is possible for you to share funding over two settings.
We ask for £2 per day consumable charge to cover snacks and all the other extras we provide such as our weekly Zumba sessions. This is invoiced at the start of each term. Children who receive Pupil Premium are exempt from this charge.
Although we do not have a uniform we sell Clifton Street Preschool T-shirts in a rainbow of colours. We suggest your child wears clothes that you don't mind getting dirty so they can have fun without worrying about spoiling them. We suggest they wear clothes that are easy to get on and off to promote their independence.
We also sell book bags to keep your precious artwork safe until you get it home. They are available for £6 each.
We offer a healthy snack every morning. We provide milk or water to drink and toast, breadsticks, pitta bread, crackers, cheese or cereal alongside fresh fruit or vegetables every day. We also introduce foods from other cultures. All our food is vegetarian.
If your child is unwell please inform us by email: cliftonstreetpreschool@gmail.com or call 01793 491187 after 9.30am. If they have sickness or diarrhoea your child must stay at home for 48 hours after their last bout.
If for any reason you decide that you no longer require your child’s place at preschool we require 4 weeks of notice in writing.
If you are planning to take a holiday please let us know the dates you will be away.
We hope you and your family enjoy your time at Clifton Street Preschool. We work really hard to provide a high standard of care and education for your children. If you have any concerns, please do not hesitate to air your views to the manager or the chair of our committee.
Contact Details
Clifton Street Preschool, Clifton Street,
Swindon, Wiltshire, SN1 3PY
