Starting at St Bridget's Pre-school

When to start?

Children are eligible to start our Pre-School in the September the year prior to their admission to primary school.

We will endeavour to find a place for your child, but this will sometimes depend on availability due to the children already enrolled.

We offer sessions Monday to Friday during school term time, and pride ourselves in being flexible for families where possible.

Flexibility

All three & four year old children are entitled to 15 hours per week, state-funded, from the term after their 3rd birthday. The 15hrs can be flexible, and you may use them over two or three days (not one), five mornings/afternoons, or share them with another provider - just ask and we will do what we can to help. Of course, if you'd like your child to do more than the state-funded 15 hours, or want them to start before they're eligible for them, then our fees are shown below. We have a limited number of "30 hours" places available. Please talk to us if you would like more information.

Sessions

All day: 08:40 - 15:40 (includes lunch club)

Lunch club

Children will be served with a hot dinner and supervised in the primary school hall, where they can familiarise themselves with the school routines and prepare for the transition in the following September.

As the lunch is provided in the primary school, lunch monies are payable separately to Wirral Council.

St Bridget's Pre-school has been awarded "Healthy Eating" status.

Fees

Fees are to be paid by the date on the bill. We accept child care vouchers, just give us the details.

Registration fee: £25. For all new starters, non-refundable
Deposit: £50. This will be deducted from your first term's fees
Hourly fee £5.50 per hour
Activities are charged at £20 each per half-term

Uniform

Yellow polo shirts, royal blue sweatshirts and useful pump bags are available to purchase through our online shop, and can then be collected from the Pre-school.

Starting

Parents/carers and children are encouraged to visit us before their starting date, to familiarise themselves with the staff, children and surroundings.

St Bridget’s Pre-school is a fun place to be, a place where your child will gain valuable independence as our friendly experienced staff endeavour to make the transition from ‘Home to Pre-School to Big School’, as easy for you and your child as we possibly can.

Settling in

If your child does not settle, parents are advised to return and stay, or alternatively come back for the next session and leave the child for a set time, and gradually increase that time over a number of weeks, until the full session time is reached.

Parents/carers of unsettled children are advised to pick up their child a few minutes early.

We try the following techniques to help your child settle:

Reading a story
Offering a choice of activity
Helping with a special task
Painting a picture for the family
Introducing them to other children

Please contact us to arrange a visit.

Early Years Foundation Stages

Each child's developmental progress is observed, with different members of staff looking after the various components of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). This is recorded on the Tapestry web portal for you to view securely online.

St Bridget’s Pre-school adheres to the Birth to Three Matters Framework and the Foundation Stage Curriculum and work closely with the reception teachers in St Bridget’s Primary School.

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