The parents’ rota

We operate a system of parent/carers helping at sessions on a rota basis and hope that you are able to contribute. Usually you will be asked to help at one or two sessions per half term.

Helping at the session enables you to see what the day-to-day life of the pre-school is like and to join in helping the children to get the best out of their activities.

It is stimulating and fun. Your child will love to share their pre-school experience with you. This parental help is invaluable and enables us to offer a very high adult to child ratio and widens the scope of activities we can offer to each child.

If you have any ideas for helping, making equipment or new activities, we would be delighted to hear from you.

Sharing your interests and experience

The rota is not the only opportunity for you to join in a session. You can offer to take part in a session by sharing your own interest and skills with the children. This could be to play an instrument, introduce a pet or share with the children customs and traditions practised in you and your child’s home. Not only is this of great value to the pre-school and all the children but your own child will be delighted! Please feel free to discuss any possible visits with our staff.

As a member of the Pre-school Learning Alliance, we recognise parents as the first and most important educators of their children. All of the staff see themselves as co-workers with you in providing care and education for your child. There are many ways in which parents take part in making the pre-school a welcoming and stimulating place for children and parents, such as:

• exchanging knowledge about their children’s needs, activities, interests and progress with the staff
• helping at sessions of the pre-school as part of the parents’ rota (see above)
• sharing their own special interests with the children (see above)
• helping to provide, make and look after the equipment and materials used in the children’s play activities
• being part of the management of the pre-school
• helping with fundraising activities and events
• taking part in events and informal discussions about the activities and curriculum provided by the pre-school
• joining in community activities in which the pre-school takes part
• building friendships with other parents in the pre-school