About Footsteps
Footsteps Pre-Nursery seeks to provide a welcoming atmosphere where children can participate fully in an educational curriculum based on learning through play.
We aim to nurture and inspire the children in our care, and will guide them as they grow in independence, imagination, and ability.
We strive to fulfill this mission through listening, understanding, communicating and planning. We will respect individuality while fostering a strong sense of community and developing the bonds of friendship.
Learning through Play
Through the medium of play, we aim to provide a curriculum which will develop language, develop conceptual skills, aid physical development, help children learn about life and feelings and encourage mathematical, scientific and artistic understanding.
Early experiences are a preparation for life. We provide encouragement, praise, love, and cuddles to help in this transition period and throughout your child’s time with us.
Footsteps is fully Ofsted registered and inspected. The report from our very successful inspection can be viewed on the Ofsted website
No two days are the same at Footsteps but to get a feel for the routines we have in place, please come in and see us
Examples of recent activities include; Understanding our Senses, the world around us, summer trip to a farm, baking, art, helping create decorations for fundraising events, Easter show and Nativity, Divali and Halloween.
Day in the Life of…
9.15 Self registration with name recognition, Free Play
10.30 Story time, Snack time
11.00 Out side play
12.00 Circle time, songs and magic box
12.15 Home time or lunch and home time
Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Framework
Footsteps follow the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework as set out by the government. This is a single coherent development and learning framework for all young children from 0 to five years. Our staff regularly attend training courses and keep up to date with curriculum development and recommended best practice.
This gives structure, guidance and goals as to the standard of care and development offered to your child.
Learning journals are regularly updated and shared with you to record your child’s experiences.
The framework
History & Management
Launched in 2002 at the Scout Hut, for just three mornings a week, for 3 hours. There was no kitchen, no home corner, no garden, or fence or garden toys! With considerable efforts from staff, parents and committee we have successfully moved to be where we are today.
Footsteps often hold fundraising events such as fetes, parties, quizzes and messy play sessions. As a “non-profit making” business any fees and fundraising are put back into the pre-school.
As a registered charity, Footsteps depends on the goodwill of many people to ensure that the Pre-Nursery can continue to provide the safe and fun environment for the children in which to begin their education.
Management
The Management Committee works behind the scenes to support the dedicated and professional teaching team and ensure the Pre-Nursery can flourish.
All of the committee are volunteers and without their dedication and enthusiasm, Footsteps would cease to exist. They fulfill a legal requirement set by Ofsted and the Charity Commission, as well as performing a variety of vital business and administrative activities, and support functions.
We each choose to give a little of our time to support Footsteps because we appreciate all of the benefits that it has given to our children, and we want those same opportunities to still be there in two years’ time for the babies being born today.
As the children are constantly transitioning through the Pre-Nursery, there are constantly opportunities for parents and carers to have a say in how the pre-nursery is run, to help at events and to volunteer with the children (DBS checks permitting).