Call Siobhan on 087-1369180

email us at beogapreschool@gmail.com
Dear Parents/Carers,

We would like to welcome your family to Beoga Pre-school.

This booklet contains information outlining the running of our pre-school.
Parents/carers are welcome to speak to staff before or after sessions. It is important that
your child settles in smoothly, is happy and their time with us is rewarding, in order to progress
in their development and learning.
Our aim is for your child to enjoy learning and become a confident learner ready to transition to
school.

Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Programme

The ECCE programme is a universal programme available to all children within the eligible
age range. It provides children with their first formal experience of early learning prior to
commencing primary school. The programme is provided for three hours per day, five days
per week over 38 weeks per year and the programme year runs from September to June
each year. Beoga Preschool provides an appropriate pre-school educational programme
which adheres to the principles of Síolta, the national framework for early years care and
education.

Entrance Requirements

As a result of additional funding provided in Budget 2016, children will be able to start in
free pre-school when they reach age 2 years and 8 months by the 1 st of September, and
will be able remain in free pre-school until they transfer to primary school .school
.Providing free pre-school for children from the age the age of 2 years and 8 months was
a key recommendation of the Expert Advisory Group on the Early Years Strategy.
Hours of opening

Monday-Friday: 09.15am - 12.15pm (morning session)

School Calendar

Our pre-school terms works to term calendar which works in tandem with the national
school.
The school year starts every September and ends in June. The school will also be closed
for holidays at Christmas, Easter, mid-term breaks, bank holidays.
Term dates will be displayed on our notice board, along with other information which is
located inside the door. Each house will also receive a school calendar outlining holidays
and days off. In the event of unforeseen closure families will be contacted by telephone.

Parent Communication

Weekly Newsletters

Newsletters are distributed to the parents on a weekly basis. The newsletters will outline
the contents of work to be carried out on that particular week.
In the case of other events which may pop up; parents will be notified by phone call, texts
or when collecting your child.

Text Messages

Parents will receive text messages as a reminder of any events or important information
that they may need to know.
Curriculum

Aistear

The provision for children's development and learning is based on the early childhood curriculum
Framework called Aistear also adhering to the guidelines of siolta.

What is Aistear

Aistear is the new curriculum framework for children from birth to six years in Ireland. It gives
information to help plan for and provide enjoyable and challenging learning experiences so that
all children can grow and develop as competent and confident learners. Aistear describes the
types of learning that are important for children in their early years, and offers ideas and
suggestions for how this learning might be nurtured. The framework also provides guidelines on
aspects of early childhood practice.

Síolta – The National Quality Framework for Early Childhood Education?

What is Síolta?

Síolta is a quality framework for all services working with children 0 – 6 years of age in
the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) sector in Ireland. Published by the CECDE
in 2006, it provides a framework to guide the reflection and enhancement of quality in all
ECCE services. It is designed specifically within an Irish context and for use within all
ECCE services regardless of curriculum or approach (for example Childminding, Montessori
or Play based approaches)

The Montessori Curriculum

Montessori curriculum comprises of five subject areas: they are Practical Life, Sensorial,
Language, Maths and Culture. Maria Montessori based her curriculum on her observations
of children at various ages and developed her method based on these observations.
Throughout the "work time" the children are introduced to various material in the five
areas, on a one to one level with his or her teacher.
Our Sessions

Our sessions are organised so that the children are provided with a balance between more
structured activities that may require a greater degree of adult support and free play which is
more child directed. Such activities allow children time to explore, play and learn independently,
with adult support when necessary. The children have opportunities to play and learn on a one to
one basis, in small groups and participate in whole group activities, both indoors and outdoors.
There is a balance between quiet times, i.e. listening to a story or pencil control activities and
the more energetic play.
We endeavour to provide opportunities and activities that can help to prepare a child for
statutory education and aim to assist children in acquiring the necessary skills for an easy
transition into school life.

Activities

Creative Activities
Role Play
Physical Activities
Drama, Music & Song
Constructive Activities
Story Telling & Rhyme
Imaginative Play
Art & Craft
Sensory Activities
Outdoor Play

Our intention is to focus on:

Physical development: The changes in size, shape, and physical maturity of the body, including
physical abilities and coordination.
Intellectual development: The learning and use of language; the ability to reason, problem-
solve, and organize ideas; it is related to the physical growth of the brain.

Social development: The process of gaining the knowledge and skills needed to interact
successfully with others.

Emotional development: Feelings and emotional responses to events; changes in understanding

one's own feelings and appropriate forms of expressing them.

Moral development: The growing understanding of right and wrong, and the change in behaviour
caused by that understanding; sometimes called a conscience
What to bring

Mid-morning Snack: Children are required to bring a packed lunch each day it. If we have any
Birthdays to celebrate, it is during this part of the morning that we sing Happy Birthday and
share cake with our birthday child . We ask parents to make it known to the pre-school any food
allergies their child may have and record it on their Child Record Form.

Clothing: Children should wear play clothes that are washable to school. During cold or rainy
weather appropriate clothing should be worn. If children need a change of clothes they can be
brought in a separate bag and left in the preschool or brought in daily.

Policies

Copies of the policies and procedures are always available for you to read at the preschool.
Please speak to the manager if you require a personal copy.
The preschools policies help us to make sure that the service provided by the setting is a high
quality one and that being a member of the setting is an enjoyable and beneficial experience for
each child and her/his parents/carers.
The staff of the preschool work together to adopt the policies and is reviewed annually. This
review helps us to make sure that the policies are enabling the preschool to provide a quality
service.
Art and craft
Sensory play
Early literacy and Numeracy
Outdoor Play
Role play