Living to make a difference
It is important to us that we get the opportunity to discuss your child’s development with you. Due to Covid -19 we are not able to invite you into the setting; instead we have set up this page, where you can book a time slot to speak to your child’s Key Person.
Please click on the room which your child attended, then their Key Worker. From here you will be able to book an appointment with your Key worker.
Due to Covid – 19 it is not possible to conduct in person tours of the setting at this time.
We know that starting Nursery is a huge step for you and your child. Although it is exciting, for some parents and children it can also be an anxious and emotional time. Children pick up on your reactions. If your child notices that you smile and are relaxed in the company of the staff, they will take this as a cue that it is fine to stay. They will also notice and react if you appear anxious and may respond by becoming fearful and clingy. While most parents are naturally a little anxious about how their children will get on, try hard to remain calm and positive, as negative vibes will rub off on your child. Maybe your child has a comforter or a favourite toy that they could bring with them on their first few visits to nursery. Our settling-in procedures and key-person approach aim to help you both to feel comfortable in the Nursery and to ensure that your child can benefit fully from what we have to offer.
When your child starts St Michael’s Church Pre-School and Nursery, he / she will be assigned to a member of staff who will become their Key Person. The Key-Person’s role is to build close bonds with you as parents and meet the needs of each child in their care and respond sensitively to their feelings, ideas and behaviour. The Key Person will offer security, reassurance and continuity. They are in the best position to understand your child’s needs and share information with you about your child’s experience in Nursery.
At St Michaels Church Pre-School and Nursery we regard meal and snack times as an important part of the day.
Our lunch is provided by Early Years Catering. Jessica Williams is a Health Promotions Specialist for Early Years Bristol who balances their menu to ensure a balance of the four main food groups: starchy foods, fruit and vegetables, meat, fish, eggs beans and other non-dairy sources of protein, milk and dairy foods. All dietary requirements are catered for.
Meal and snack times are a happy, social occasion for children. Food is served in a calm and pleasant atmosphere, where children sing or say a prayer before mealtimes begin. Practitioners support children’s positive experiences of food encouraging them to try new foods and support them at serving themselves and developing their independence.
Snacks are available for children twice a day. In Caterpillars and Butterflies children have access to a snack bar in the morning and afternoon. Fresh drinking water is available throughout the day.
Every child who attends St Michaels Church Pre-School and Nursery has a profile. The Profile is a very important document which is used to track your child’s development throughout the Early Years Foundation Stage. It enables us to build up a story about your child, his/her learning, friends and activities he or she enjoys.
Throughout each day your child’s key person will observe your child in a number of situations and will record them in their profile; these observations include photographs, children’s mark-making, observations and learning stories. Your contribution to your child’s Profile is very important. When we share information on your child’s learning and development it gives us a clearer picture and together we can plan more effectively to help extend their learning.
We advocate that learning is messy: Children need to be dressed in old clothes or clothes that you don’t mind getting covered in gloop, paint or even mud!!! When your child returns to you with muddy knees or their sleeves covered in gloop it is a sign that your child has expressed their innate creativity, explored, experimented and discovered!
Staff are positive role models and give consistent, calm reminders so children know what is expected of them. Children are very well behaved and have good manners. They develop the skills and attitudes needed for their future learning”. (OFSTED)
We understand that choosing a Nursery for your child is one of the most important decisions you will ever make.
Our ethos is to serve the community with quality childcare in a Christian environment. We provide high-quality learning environments where children receive the highest standard of care, based on effective practice. We are committed to continuous improvement through reflection and evaluation, ensuring that our setting is a safe, stimulating learning environment where children can express themselves.
We value every child as an individual, who is unique and special. At St Michael’s all children have equal access to opportunity regardless of age, sex, culture, religion, ability, disability or background.
Our nursery provides full daycare for children aged 0 – 5 years.
We have a dedicated, professional staff team. We follow a programme of learning through play indoors and outside.
We are open on weekdays from 8 am to 6 pm all year round, except for Bank Holidays and the week between Christmas and New Year.
St Michael’s Church Pre-School is what many of us used to call playgroup, but with a carefully structured programme of learning through play, indoors and outside.
Our professional staff provide morning and afternoon sessions for 3 and 4-year-olds, on weekdays during school term times. We offer full days, morning sessions and afternoon sessions
We know that starting Nursery is a huge step for you and your child. Although it is an exciting time, for some parents and children it can also be an anxious and emotional time.
Learn More
Our Nursery and Pre-School adheres to The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Curriculum (Department of Education 2012). This Curriculum is the first stage of the National Curriculum focusing on the distinct needs of children from birth to the end of their reception year at Primary School.
Learn More
We are open 8am to 6pm all year round, except for Bank Holidays and the week between Christmas and New Year.
At St. Michael’s Church Pre-School we are very proud of our staff and their commitment to the Pre-School. We have a highly experienced and well-qualified childcare team and staff turnover is very low. The Pre-School staff regularly attend courses to keep their training up-to-date and are always striving as a team to work together to find new and exciting ways of delivering the Early Years Foundation Stage.
Pre-school sessions are only available to those children aged 3 and over.
If you are entitled to 30 hours funding and want to access all your funded hours you are able to request a Wednesday, subject to availability in the Nursery we may be able to accommodate this.
We know that starting Pre-School is a huge step for you and your child. Although it is an exciting time, for some parents and children it can also be an anxious and emotional time.
Learn More
Our Pre-School adheres to The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Curriculum (Department of Education 2012). This Curriculum is the first stage of the National Curriculum focusing on the distinct needs of children from birth to the end of their reception year at Primary School.
Learn More
Children attending Pre-school will be asked to provide a packed lunch which must not contain nuts and must be both healthy and nutritious.
Healthy, balanced snacks will be provided halfway through both the morning and afternoon sessions.
We recognise and support parents as their child’s first and most important educators, and welcome them into the life of the setting. There are many ways you can get involved: Come and play: Jump into your child’s shoes and come and play in the setting and experience what they do day-to-day. Or come and share one of your skills and talents with the children.
Parents Forum: Join our parents forum, this is a great chance to meet other parents and really get involved in the life of the setting.
We currently have three vacancies at our Pre-School and Nursery, please download the role descriptions below and contact preschoolnursery@stmichaelsbristol.org or phone 0117 923 6395 for more information.
Please do not send your child to Nursery or Pre-School if they are unwell or suffering from an infectious ailment such as a sore throat, bad cough, heavy cold, impetigo, sickness and/or diarrhoea etc (children are to remain at home until 48 hours after their last bout of sickness or diarrhoea). Apart from the very real risk of infecting others, it is important to remember that what may be a mild attack in an older child may be very serious indeed to a younger child or baby.
If an accident occurs during Pre-School or Nursery you will be asked to sign an accident form where an explanation will be given. If a serious accident occurs we will telephone you and call for an ambulance.
It will also be necessary for you to sign the accident book noting any fresh visible marks eg. grazed knee on your child prior to a session starting.
Please ensure that you inform the staff of any allergies your child may have. To avoid any unnecessary emergencies please do not allow your child to bring any sweets or food into Nursery with them as some children have very serious allergies.
The Special Educational Needs Co-ordinators (SENCO) for St Michael’s Church Pre-School is Vanessa Rennolds. Vanessa is responsible for ensuring that all children with Special Educational Needs (SEN) get the extra help that they need. If you have any concerns about your child’s development or if your child is already being seen by a Speech and Language therapist, paediatrician or has an ongoing medical need, please speak to Vanessa and ensure she has all the relevant information required.
The Pre-School and Nursery have a folder available at every session should you have any points you wish to raise. Suggestions can also be given to the parent rep who will be pleased to pass them on to the staff.
In case of complaint or query about any aspect of the Pre-School or Nursery, in the first instance please speak to the Manager, Deputy Manager or a Committee Member who will endeavour to help you. Details of the current Committee can be found on the notice board.
Should this prove unsatisfactory a formal complaint or matter for consideration should be made in writing to the Chairperson who will ensure that the complaint is raised and discussed in confidence at the next meeting or a special meeting if the matter is urgent.
At the Chairperson’s discretion, certain circumstances may require the person making the complaint to attend the meeting.
In the event that the above procedure does not resolve your complaint or concern please contact Ofsted at the address below:
Ofsted Early Years, NBU, 3rd Floor, Royal Exchange Buildings, St Ann’s Square, Manchester, M2 7LA.
At St Michael’s Church Pre-School we are fully committed to valuing diversity and providing equality of opportunity. The curriculum we provide encourages children to develop positive attitudes about themselves as well as to people who are different from themselves.
We believe that children and adults flourish best in an ordered environment in which everyone knows what is expected of them and children are free to develop their play and learning without fear of being hurt or hindered by anyone else. We aim to work towards a situation in which children can develop self-discipline and self-esteem in an atmosphere of mutual respect and encouragement. If you require any more information please see the full policy.
