A Typical Day at St Michael's Pre-school

09.00-09.10 Welcome

Parents, carers, and children are welcomed by a member of staff at the door. Children say goodbye to parents and carers, come into Pre-school, hang coats up and find their name card. All children join together on the carpet for register and carpet time.

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09.10-09.40 Wake and shake

Children will engage in ‘funky fingers’; table activities and crafts such as playdough and threading, designed to help them strengthen their upper body (gross motor skills) and fingers and hands (fine motor skills).

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09.40-10.30 Free flow

This is a long period of unbroken play during which there is free flow between the indoor and outdoor areas. Children are free to choose from a wide variety of opportunities and activities, supported by members of staff.

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10.30-10.40 Snack time

Pre-school provide a healthy snack, milk or water to drink. Children wash hands and are then encouraged to sit down to prepare and enjoy their snack, supported by a staff member.

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10.40-11.50 Outside play and nurture groups

During this period, staff members will lead planned small group activities inside. All other children will continue to play outside.

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11.50-12.00 Story or song time

Children gather on the carpet for a story or song. Children staying for lunch remain sitting on the carpet. Children going home are taken outside to greet their parents and carers. Children may also be arriving at this time, and they are welcomed into the setting.

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12.00-1.00 Lunch

Children sit in friendship groups to eat their packed lunch, supported by staff members. Children return to play outside once they have eaten their lunch (or, if bad weather, an indoor activity away from the lunch tables).

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1.00-1.15 Carpet time

Children that are going home are taken outside to greet parents and carers. Children may also be arriving at this time and are welcomed into the setting. Children gather on the carpet for register and are then led by one member of staff to introduce the topic and activities for the afternoon. Children are invited to participate in various carpet time activities, such as Yoga, ‘Letters and Sounds’ or ‘Days of the Week.’

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1.15-2.55 Child-initiated learning

This is another long period of unbroken play during which there is free flow between the indoor and outdoor areas. Children are free to choose from a wide variety of opportunities and activities supported by staff.

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2.55-3.00 Home

Children are taken outside to greet parents and carers.