Little Gems Pre-school 

Tel: (01981) 250218 (option 1)

Spaces Available

7.45am - 5.30pm

Monday - Friday

At Little Gems Pre-School we aim to create a foundation for learning for preschool children by providing a caring and secure environment for all physical and educational needs, in which they can learn and develop through contrasting combinations of structured and free play.

We welcome 2 year old funding, which you can apply for on the Herefordshire Council website to check if your 2 year old is eligible for 15 hours free childcare a week, as well as the government's recent increase in funding for 3 and 4 year olds. This means, your child could be eligible for 30 hours of free childcare a week. 

Their day is interspersed with activities such as creative, physical, imaginative and intellectual play. This is balanced with free play where they can choose their own play activity, moving around freely, making choices and building and developing their own friendships. As each child progresses through pre-school they gain confidence in preparation for that all-important first day at school.

The Early Years Foundation Stage

The early years foundation stage (EYFS) sets standards for the learning, development and care of your child from birth to 5 years old.

All schools and Ofsted-registered early years providers must follow the EYFS, including childminders, preschools, nurseries and school reception classes.

Areas of learning

Your child will mostly be taught through games and play.

The areas of learning are:

1. communication and language
2. personal, social and emotional development
3. physical development
4. literacy
5. mathematics
6. understanding the world
7. expressive arts and design

Assessments

Your child’s progress will be reviewed when they’re between 2 and 3 by an early years practitioner or health visitor.

Their class teacher will assess them at the end of the school year when they turn 5.

Little Gems Pre-School ensures that the early years framework is followed at every stage of a child’s development. We lovingly implement the EYFS principles, which ensures that every child is prepared for life when they leave us and start school, so they can reach their fullest potential.

Working closely with the EYFS, parents and providing high quality learning through our dedicated staff, we are confident to provide the right foundation children need to make the most of their abilities and talents as they grow up.

Forest School

Our very own manager, Sarah, is a qualified Forest Schools Practitioner. Forest Schools comprises of It comprises regular sessions of Forest School activities in natural environments, such as woodland, and is based on 6 core principles:

• Forest School is a long-term process of regular sessions, rather than one-off or infrequent visits; the cycle of planning, observation, adaptation and review links each session.
• Forest School takes place in a woodland or natural environment to support the development of a lifelong relationship between the learner and the natural world.
• Forest School uses a range of learner-centred processes to create a community for being, development and learning.
• Forest School aims to promote the holistic development of all involved, fostering resilient, confident, independent and creative learners.
• Forest School offers learners the opportunity to take supported risks appropriate to the environment and to themselves.
• Forest School is run by qualified Forest School practitioners, who continuously maintain and develop their professional practice.

Forest School activities are designed to engage children across multiple different learning aims, developing practical skills that align (but are not bound to) all areas of the curriculum such as Physical Development, Literacy, Mathematics, Art and Expression, Communication and Language, and Understanding the World.