OUR FUNDED PRESCHOOL
We offer up to 32 full time funded preschool places every year. These are 9:00am to 1:30pm daily and includes the opportunity of a hot school lunch every day.
Our 32 children are split into two smaller classes with a maximum of 16 children in each preschool class. Each class will have 2 members of staff every day, the team is managed by head teacher Mrs Nicola Coulter.
​
Curriculum
We follow the Preschool Curriculum Guidance NI and are inspected by The Department of Education ETI. At our last inspection some of the report comments include
"very good opportunities for learning in all areas of the preschool curriculum"
"development of language acquisition is a particular strength"
'interactions and involvement of the staff with the children are of good quality'
'good links with parents"
"comprehensive arrangements in place for safeguarding of children"
We are also quality inspected by South Eastern Early Years Team. They have reported:
"amazing indoor and outdoor opportunities for children"
"a wealth of learning opportunities"
"obvious care for each childs individual development"
"highly trained staff"
​
Mrs Coulter and the team work very hard to plan each activity, play area and routine to develop each of the 6 areas of development for preschool. We use a lot of natural resources to excite childrens natural curiosity to achieve learning outcomes. Children are observed at play to allow staff to plan to suit each childs needs and ensure each individual child reaches their full potential.
Outdoor Play
Our Outdoor Play ethos is very important to us. Children love outdoors and love freedom to move! We have outdoor play every day in all weathers. We provide a puddle suit for every child when they start so that children are free to explore without the possible constraints of getting dirty. We have a 1 acre outdoor space solely for our use and designed and dedicated to preschool learning.
We have large climbing and swinging equipment, a real fishing boat, a sand hut, bug hotels, growing patches, balance beans, obstacle course, outdoor bbq area, a real car, mud kitchens, water areas, music areas, an outdoor stage, a full fairy and sensory garden....and much more.
We offer forest school sessions and also follow the Muddle Puddle ethos outdoors.
Applications
You will apply for your childs place in the January before the September they would be due to start.
Applications for funded preschool places are done through the Education Authority application portal. Open days for preschools and nurseries are usually held in December with the application deadline being early January.
You can view our admissions criteria here
