Facilities & Sessions
Peter Pan Pre-school is situated in a bright, airy hall. The hall is laid out to promote the children's free choice of a variety of activities and offers flexibility to change activities quickly as children's interests develop during the session.
We have a role play area which is regularly changed to reflect children's interests, e.g. a train station, baby clinic, vets etc. Children access our listening station, cameras and electronic toys independently, and make use of our well stocked creative crafts base to support their ideas and exploration. We have a cosy book corner with a wide variety of books to choose from, and a lending library from which children and parents can choose books together to take home.
Cupboards and resources are arranged so that our children can access resources by themselves. Outside we have an all-weather surfaced garden which children can access whenever they want, whatever the weather. Children grow flowers, fruit and vegetables in raised beds, play on bikes and scooters, climb on the climbing crest and cook in the mud kitchen. We have a play house and seated area, and regularly hunt for bugs and insects around the garden.
Our large hall gives us flexibility so that towards the end of the day we can clear a large space to enjoy parachute games, obstacle courses and music and movement.
Our Sessions - a snapshot of a day at Peter Pan
Our approach to child development is based on the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework - you can read more about how we work with children and parents here. Our day begins with children self-registering on a board outside the main hall. Children can then choose from activities in the hall that have been carefully selected to reflect the children's interests and needs. Once everyone has arrived we all gather together for Circle Time. This is a time when everyone is welcomed, we share news, celebrate achievements and look forward to the activities that are planned for the day. Children then continue with the activities available. We have a mixture of adult-led and child-initiated activities; children are encouraged to select their own activities and gather resources by themselves. Children can choose freely which activity they would like to participate in, or how long they spend at different activities.
At 10 - 10:45am the children have a rolling snack where they are encouraged to come and have a healthy snack and drink and have a chat with their friends and an adult. The children are able to pour their own drinks, butter their own bread and wash up their cups to encourage independence. Snack time provides the children with the chance to talk in a smaller group and participate in a shared activity. Once they have finished they are able to choose what they would like to play with next, including garden time.
At around 11 am all the children gather in their Key Person groups for adult led activities where they might play a counting game, create a picture or play with the Beebots. After this all the children come together and we sing songs and rhymes, play Literacy games or play musical instruments and tap sticks.
At 11:45 all the children have their packed lunches which provides more opportunities for independence and time to talk in smaller groups.
The session is finished with a story, a chat and a reflection on what the children have enjoyed or what they might like to do next.
The afternoon session is organised similarly, but with the addition of snack time for everyone. Children are chosen as snack helpers, preparing the tables, carrying jugs and counting out the cups and napkins. After snack there is time for a large group activity near the end of the day, such as parachute games, ring games, obstacle courses and music and movement sessions. The afternoon session finishes with a story.
Our large, light hall gives us the flexibility to utilise the space to suit our needs.