Parent Information
Prospectus
Please click on the link to view our prospectus which includes information about St Mary’s sessions, fees, admissions, snacks and various other information.
Inductions
When a child starts at St Mary’s they are allocated a Key Person (see section on Staff in About Us). A settling in plan is agreed and parents may wish to stay with their child for the first session or two whilst their child gets used to the new environment. At subsequent sessions parents are welcome to stay for as long as they feel appropriate to ensure their child settles. An ‘All About Me’ form is completed so that we have detailed knowledge of the child from the first day. Each child has a basket in which personal possessions and messages between staff and parents are kept. We have recently introduced family photo books which are a collection of photos of people, places and objects familiar to the child. Children can access these photo books whenever they want to and share the pictures with friends or staff. We have found this to be very successful and popular with the children.
Tapestry Online Learning Journal
You can view your child’s Tapestry Online Learning Journal by clicking on the following link: https://tapestryjournal.com/
Login details will have been communicated to you.
User guides for the iPhone and android apps and the Learning Journal can be viewed by clicking here.
The following Parents’ Guide to Tapestry has been sent to all parents: Parents Guide to Tapestry
Themes
Please find below the themes planned for the academic year. We use these themes to inspire the activities that we design for the children.
Autumn 2024: All About Me, Nursery Rhymes
Spring 2025: Favourite Books
Please refer to the noticeboard outside of Pre-School for more information.
Early Years Foundation Stage
For information on the Early Years Foundation Stage, how your child will be learning and what you can do as a parent/carer to help your child’s learning, please read the Parents’ Guide To The Early Years Foundation Stage Framework.
Early Years Foundation Stage: What To Expect, When?
The Department for Education and 4Children have put together a free booklet called What to expect, when? A parents’ guide. It aims to help parents know what to expect during their child’s first five years by focusing on the seven areas of learning and development covered in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). The booklet can be viewed by clicking here.
Rhymes
The great thing about rhymes is that you can sing or say them anywhere, you don’t need to be in tune! Just have fun together. Rhymes benefit children and families by helping children learn and develop, as rhymes are often repetitive, making words easier to learn. They support social skills, children learn naturally about taking turns and joining in. They get children ready for school as rhyme, rhythm and repetition are key ways to develop reading skills. They also support emotional well-being and they can help parents and practitioners to develop children’s imaginations.
‘Rhymes help children feel confident with words and will also help them as they begin to learn to read’ – Julia Donaldson, Waterstones Children s Laureate 2012-2013.
‘Children who are better at detecting rhymes tend to be more successful at learning to read’ – Bradley & Bryant 1985; MacLean et al, 1987; Bradley, 1988; Ellis & Large, 1987.
‘Experts in literacy and child development have discovered that if children know eight nursery rhymes by heart by the time they’re four years old, they’re usually among the best readers by the time they’re eight.’ – Mem Fox, ‘Reading Magic’, 2001
Here are a few rhymes for you to share at home:
Tiny Tim
5 Currant Buns
Leo the Lion
More information about rhymes and stories can be found at www.bookstart.org.uk
More songs
Display Board
The following posters are on our display board in our Pre-School building. However, as parents/carers are not usually in the building, please see the links below to view these posters:
Equality of Opportunity
Information Sharing
Uncollected child
Making a complaint
Safeguarding Children display board
Bruising In Children Who Are Not Independently Mobile Leaflet
Keeping Children Safe In Education
Parent Involvement
At St Mary’s we truly value the involvement of our parents and carers in all aspects of Pre-School life. We strongly encourage parents/carers to come and help out as “Mummy Helper”, “Daddy Helper”, “Granny Helper” etc for a session. Not only does this assist the Pre-School with tasks such as preparing snacks, preparing craft activities, and reading and playing with the children, it also provides an invaluable opportunity for parents to get to know the St Mary’s staff and environment and to watch their child playing and interacting with others. If you would like to help, please speak to a member of staff.
“Being Daddy helper for a morning gave me a nice insight into my daughter’s daily life and she loved seeing Daddy at school!” (X’s Daddy)
Trustee Committee
For further opportunities to be involved, St Mary’s has a very friendly committee. There are plenty of committee roles for those wishing to be an integral part of the Pre-School.
2024/2025 Trustees:
- Kim Oakley
- Mark Treliving
- Louise Harrington
-Tina Hillson
- Pippa Bennett
“Being on the Committee made me feel like I could make a real difference to St Mary’s and the children that attend. It gave me a great sense of pride in the Pre-School.” (X’s Mummy)
Fundraising
Our fundraising team organises several events throughout the academic year to raise additional funds for the Pre-School which enable us to fund outings and to purchase new resources and facilities. Please see the Fundraising page on this website for more details of funds raised.
How Can You Help Me Prepare For Big School?
How can you help me prepare for big school
Phonics information For Parents
Information on how phonics is taught when children start Reception
Transition to Primary School
Transitioning onto school or another setting is an extremely important period in a young child’s life. We aim to make this as smooth as possible for our families.
At the end of a child’s time at St Mary’s, parents are invited to download their child’s Learning Journey from their Tapestry account to enjoy for years to come. We complete an Early Years Passport with parents and Progress Tracker for all children and this is handed to the receiving school, along with any other relevant information. In addition we invite Reception teachers to visit the children in our setting.
For those children who have additional support, our SENCo will arrange a transition meeting with parents, inviting all agencies who have been involved. If considered appropriate additional play sessions with the new setting will be arranged and their dedicated support worker will accompany children.
“X has settled in well to school life. (She) has made good friendships and will actively join in with other children’s play. (She) is enthusiastic about learning and will often put her hand up to answer a question. She is able to access the resources she would like to use and will ask for adult support if she requires it. Well done X” (X’s First Term Report, Reception Teacher, Newdigate School)
Primary Schools – Open Days – Autumn 2024
Please click School Open Days – Autumn 2024 to view the open day dates for various local schools.
Primary Schools – September 2024
St Mary’s children left the Pre-School in July 2024 to attend the following primary schools:
- North Downs, Brockham/Betchworth (8)
- St Paul’s, Dorking (3)
- St John’s, Dorking (3)
- Newdigate (6)
- Powell Corderoy (1)
- Scott Broadwood, Capel (2)
- Warnham (1)
- St Martins (4)
- West Hill, Leatherhead (2)
Primary Schools – September 2022
St Mary’s children left the Pre-School in July 2022 to attend the following primary schools:
- North Downs, Brockham/Betchworth (9)
- St Paul’s, Dorking (2)
- St John’s, Dorking (1)
- Newdigate (4)
- St Josephs, Dorking (1)
- Powell Corderoy (1)
- Scott Broadwood, Capel (14)
Primary Schools – September 2021
St Mary’s children left the Pre-School in July 2021 to attend the following primary schools:
- North Downs, Brockham/Betchworth (6)
- St Paul’s, Dorking (5)
- St John’s, Dorking (4)
- Newdigate (6)
- St Josephs, Dorking (2)
- St Michaels, Mickelham (0)
- Powell Corderoy (0)
- St Martin’s (1)
- Scott Broadwood, Capel (3)
- West Vale, Horley (1)
- Eastwick (2)
- Rudgwick (1)
- West Hill, Leatherhead (1)
Primary Schools – September 2020
St Mary’s children left the Pre-School in July 2020 to attend the following primary schools:
- North Downs, Brockham/Betchworth (6)
- St Paul’s, Dorking (8)
- St John’s, Dorking (0)
- Newdigate (5)
- The Weald, Beare Green (0)
- St Josephs, Dorking (1)
- St Michaels, Mickelham (0)
- Powell Corderoy (3)
- St Martin’s (2)
- Scott Broadwood, Capel (2)
- Dovers Green (1)
- Eastwick (1)
- Rudgwick (1)
- Ewhurst (1)
Primary Schools – September 2019
St Mary’s children left the Pre-School in July 2019 to attend the following primary schools:
- North Downs, Brockham/Betchworth (7)
- St Paul’s, Dorking (7)
- St John’s, Dorking (6)
- Newdigate (5)
- The Weald, Beare Green (4)
- St Josephs, Dorking (4)
- St Michaels, Mickelham (2)
- Powell Corderoy (2)
- Warnham (1)
- St Martin’s (2)
- Scott Broadwood, Capel (4)
- Dovers Green (1)
Primary Schools – September 2018
St Mary’s children left the Pre-School in July 2018 to attend the following primary schools:
- North Downs, Brockham/Betchworth (9)
- The Weald, Beare Green (5)
- St Paul’s, Dorking (4)
- Powell Corderoy (4)
- St John’s, Dorking (2)
- St Josephs, Dorking (1)
- Newdigate (1)
- Eastwick, Bookham (1)
- Ewhurst (1)