Christmas Hours

Check when Council Services will be closing over this Christmas period.

Christmas hours
Playgroup open school term only
77 Lees Road, Oldham, OL4 1JW

Contact phone

0161 785 9227 or 07756 318 582

Contact email

info@a-starkids.co.uk
Ofsted URN: 2705783

Ofsted rating

Good

Age

From 2 years to 5 years

Vacancies

5

Opening times

Monday to Friday, Full day - 9am -3.30pm, Morning session 9am - 12pm or afternoon session 12.30pm - 3.30pm

Free childcare possible for 2 year olds

Yes

Free childcare possible for 3/4 year olds

Yes

Takes childcare vouchers?

Yes

Description

  • 8.45am-9am - Get moving Active session (15 mins exercise class) - Free

  • Full day 9am-3.30pm - £25

  • 9am-12pm morning session - £14

  • 12pm-12.30pm Lunch

  • 12.30pm - 3.30pm Afternoon session - £14

  • Breakfast Club - 8.15am-8.45am - £3.50

  • After School Club - 3.30pm - 4.15pm £3.50

  • Fortnightly Forestry session for A-Star Kids Pre-Schoolers - Free

Registered for 30 hours free childcare

Special diets offered

On discussion with Parents

Provides for different cultural needs

Yes

How do you identify special educational needs and disabilities?

At A-star Kids Pre-School, each child is assigned a designated key person, their role is to develop a partnership with you as the parent and to ensure accurate and dutiful sharing of information. If any parent has concerns about their child’s development they can discuss this with the SENCO or Neelam, Mewhish or Rimsha. We take pride in recognising early intervention through ongoing observational assessments at key stages such as on entry, 2 year check and transition to school also termly child development is assessed by conducting a chap document which is a summary of learning to identify whether your child is working within their expected age of development and milestones.

How do you involve parents/carers?

When first registering with A-Star Kids Pre-School, parents are required to provide detailed information on their child in order to help us better understand each child and to establish where the children are starting their learning journey with us. We expect parents/carers to share any medical needs including any reports from health visitors/health care professionals or speech and language therapists. Termly, reports are shared and parents can comment and include information where possible. If any areas are identified with requiring additional actions, parents and carers will work together to implement and meet the child’s needs.

How do you support a child’s learning and development?

We hold ongoing open days where you can come and meet our highly qualified Pre-School team. Our childcare practitioners hold a range of well accredited and recognised qualifications ranging from Childcare level 3 up to master’s level. We will invite the child and parent to attend our open day and if you are comfortable with everything, you can register with us and we can give new parents a welcome pack to help you get settled in. The pack will contain an ‘All about me’ profile to complete about your child. This will help us to share information about your child’s strengths and needs. Planning is based around children’s individual needs and interests. The Pre-School SENCO will explain how children’s individual needs can be met by planning support using an individual plan and child centred approach.

How do you meet a child’s educational needs?

Your child’s key person and our Pre-School SENCO will work together to make sure that the environment, routines and activities support your child’s needs, to they will communicate with the rest of the staff to provide consistency and understand within our team. Our highly qualified practitioners are welcoming and friendly providing an inclusive sensitive and positive approach. They provide good role models for positive behaviour and are consistent in the day to day care of all our children. We are flexible in our routines to provide a positive environment for your children’s needs and provide personal care such as nappy changing. We also offer a regular outdoor forestry curriculum whereby our pre-schoolers have the opportunity to visit our forest school and take part in holistic, wholesome learning experiences which help to ensure the child’s needs are being met.

How do we know my child is achieving agreed outcomes?

We initially observe children around 6 weeks after they have first joined with us and feedback to parents about how well their child is settling in. At A-star Kids Pre-School, systems are in place such as the 2 year progress review, under 3's next steps and over 3's next steps which are all linked to the EYFS ages and stages of development. Parents are able to monitor their child’s learning journey and development through our tapestry portal and have peace of mind that the learning documenting systems in place are working effectively.

How do you adapt for a child with extra needs?

We are proud to say we have a sensory room to meet child’s needs should they need to use it. Activities will always be adapted to ensure your child is able to interact fully will the environment and visual strategies such as a visual timetable is used to help them understand our routines. Our book areas are welcoming and provide a quiet area to retreat to if your child is tired or needs some quiet time. We also have a ‘quiet room’ if children need some down time and to take a nap.

How accessible is your service, outside and inside?

We boast a large carpark where free parking is available to the rear of our pre-school and also there is the carpark on Lees road for front access. We have a prominent, visible position on Lees rd and we can be easily recognised. We have a FREE FLOW indoor- outdoor ground floor system where children are able to access the outdoor environment at all times. We have lowered stair rails so children can easily access the first floor open play areas which are protected well with safety rails.

How do you involve children in outings and trips?

All children are welcome and encouraged to take part in after school clubs. We have regular educational visits that are accessible to all. We aim to make our fortnightly forestry sessions as accessible as possible for those children with SEND.

How do you work with other organisations?

We receive support from external agencies to ensure SEND pupils are accessing the curriculum and their needs are well met. Some of these agencies include QEST, Educational Psychology Service, CAMHS (Child and Adult Mental Health Service), SALT (Speech and Language Therapy) and OT (Occupational Therapy). We also get help from the Early Help Team. When working with external agencies we review the child’s progress, agree what everyone will do to make teaching more effective and learning easier and we then set targets for the pupil. We discuss how we will work together and action plan next steps for the child. At an agreed date we will review how well the pupil is doing, evaluate the impact of our involvement and decide what we need to do next. We include the parent/carer in these discussions.

How do you support children when they start and leave?

When joining A-Star Kids Pre-School: Where possible we try to gather as much information as possible from previous settings, parents/carers. We hold meetings with staff and parents/carers to discuss the needs of the child. If appropriate we may contact Health Visitors and other professionals after parental consent has been sought. Leaving Pre-School: We will provide the next school with the necessary information to assist them in meeting the needs of the child to enable smooth transition for our pupils. We hold meetings with SEND staff and arrange additional transition visits for our SEND pupils and their parents/carers.

How are you/staff trained in extra needs?

We ensure all our staff are trained in SEND. This is to ensure a uniform team structure where everyone is on the same page and level of understanding. Our staff are trained in a variety of approaches which means that we are able to adapt our teaching to cater for a range of SEND: specific learning difficulties (including dyslexia), Autistic Spectrum Condition, speech, language and communication needs; and behavioural, social and emotional difficulties. We use a number of approaches to learning- visual, auditory and kinaesthetic, appealing to a variety of learning styles. Our staff are all involved in appropriate training for SEN and Disability. All children who receive SEN Support have a Profile which enables visiting staff or new teachers/teaching assistants to support them in the best possible way. Student Profiles care accessible to key staff only.

What is your policy on compliments, complaints, concerns?

The first point of contact for a parent/carer would usually be the Pre-School manager or key worker who would then involve the SENCo and/or the nominated Ofsted person. Concerns should be raised with these people first and if parents/carers are not satisfied they should request the complaints policy and follow the policy for complaints.
Updated: 22/07/2024