Kindergarten, International Preschool and Nursery
ATTENDANCE
If children arrive late, they miss out on learning activities that begin at 7:30 am. Consistent morning routines are imperative to building a child’s sense of independence, balance and confidence.
Please give us as much notice as possible of any absence. If your child is absent without an explanation for more than two weeks, their place will be offered to another child.
ARRIVING AT, AND LEAVING, PRE-SCHOOL
Arrivals and departures can be busy times, and parents must take responsibility for their child and any siblings that may be with them, until their child is settled and they have left the building.
Please arrive with you child just before the beginning of a session and wait outside until we open the door at the start of each session to give us time to be ready. The door is opened at 7:00 when you and your child will be welcomed into the Pre-School.
Please endeavor to collect your child/children on time. The door remains locked during the session and is unlocked and monitored during collection times. Please ring the bell to gain access at other times.
It is essential that you telephone the Pre-School to let us know if you are delayed. If we have not heard from you within 15 minutes of the collection time, we will make every effort to contact you using the telephone numbers provided on your registration form.
If you have arranged for another adult to collect your child, please send a written letter to the Administration and also notify a member of staff.
LUNCH/SNACK
You will need to provide a packed lunch for your child. Small lunch boxes are preferable, and should be clearly marked with your child’s name. Can you please include a cold pack during warm temperatures.
The setting makes snacks a social time at which children eat together. Water is available throughout the school day for your child to access if needed. Please tell us about your child’s dietary needs.
Please provide suitable foods for very young children.
To help us promote healthy eating, we suggest you do not include any of the following in your child’s lunchbox:-
- Fizzy drinks
- Sweets/chocolate
- Fried foods
Please do NOT send glass containers or NUTS
- Glass containers
- Food containing Nuts or Nut products.
SETTLING IN
It is important for parents and staff to work together to help your child to feel confident and secure in the group as an unhappy child is unable to play or learn properly. This can take longer for some children than for others and parents should not feel worried if your child takes a while to settle.
SPARE CLOTHES/DIAPERS
Children will need to bring in a bag of spare clothes in case of ‘accidents’ or if they become wet or dirty. This bag can be left on their coat peg and locker. If your child is in diapers, please remember to bring in spares, wipes and creams.
Children in the nursery class are required to bring a packet of diapers, while they are still being trained, as WE DO NOT SUPPLY DIAPERS. A container of Wet Wipes, marked with your child’s name is also required each month.
DAILY ROUTINE
The Pre-School has a routine, which includes free play, structured activities, song and stories, physical play and refreshment breaks. Children under 3 years are provided with stimulating activities, encouraged to share with others and integrate with the older children at various times throughout the day.
NAME LABELS
We would be grateful if you could put your child’s name in their clothing. A lost property box is provided.
SUN CREAM AND SUN HATS
Please ensure that on hot days your child is wearing sun cream on arrival and have a suitable hat to wear.
GROUP ACTIVITIES
The children are also helped and encouraged to take part in adult-led small and large group activities that introduce them to new experiences and help them to gain new skills, as well as helping them to learn to work with others.
Outdoor activities Contribute to children’s health, their physical development and their knowledge of the world around them. The children have the opportunity and are encouraged – to take part in outdoor child-chosen and adult-led activities.
RECORDS OF ACHIEVEMENT
The Pre-School keeps records about each child, including observations about their experiences and achievements at Pre-School. These help us to celebrate together his/her achievements and to work together to monitor progress and plan the next steps in line with your child’s interests. We believe that parents know their children best and we ask them to contribute to their learning by sharing information about what their children like to do at home and how they, as parents, are supporting development.
PARENTS
Union Preparatory International School recognizes parents as the first and most important educators of their children. All our staff see themselves as partners with parents in providing care and education for their child.
COMMUNICATION WITH PARENTS
Two parent-teacher conferences are scheduled during the year, one in December and one in March.
DISCIPLINE POLICY
- There is no hitting: abusive language, harsh humiliation treatment, nor any other kind of child abuse or neglect.
- Methods of guidance and support are positive and consistent with the developmental need of the child.
- Children are not isolated without adult supervision. Discipline is consistent.
When a child is not cooperating in the group, the teacher will call attention to children who are good listeners and who are cooperating (positive reinforcement). If the child continues to be uncooperative, the assistant teacher will sit with the child in the group. If the negative behavior persists, the child will be removed from the group and placed elsewhere within the classroom.
Parents will be informed if negative behavior persists.
HEALTH AND SAFETY
We cannot look after sick children at the Pre-School. For further information, please see our policy on administering prescribed medication. Please inform the staff about any allergies or medical conditions. If your child has head lice, please treat promptly to ensure they don’t spread to others.
Please do not bring children to the Pre-School if they have an infectious disease or have suffered diarrhea or vomiting in the past 48 hours. If a child becomes unwell in Pre-School we will make every effort to contact the parent or the alternative contact number.
There is always a recognized School Nurse on duty during a session. We will keep parents informed of any accident that has occurred to their child whilst in our care and an accident/incident book will be signed by the parent/teacher of any child with an injury.
Please inform us of any injury your child has sustained whilst in your care as this needs to be recorded in our records.
SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN
Union Preparatory International School aims to create an environment which promotes and safeguards the welfare of children which includes protecting children from maltreatment, preventing impairment of children’s health or development, and ensuring that children are provided with consistent, safe and effective care.
BIRTHDAY PARTIES
Birthdays are special occasions for young children. We will celebrate your child’s birthday. Please keep the following in mind:
- Cupcakes or a Birthday cake may be brought in by parents.
- The classroom teacher will send you a note of how many children are in the class and how many teachers.
- Birthdays are celebrated as a part of our snack time which is prompt at ……. and ending at …
FIELD TRIPS
Children enjoy going on field trip as they are an exciting, enriching part of a Pre-school program. A release for field trips form needs to be signed prior to participating in field trips.
Destinations and dates will be announced in advance of such trips.
