Parent Information

Creative activities, sensory exploration and messy play are part of everyday life at Little Oaks. However, we understand that there may be days when your little one doesn’t feel like joining in, and we always respect this.

We gently encourage participation and leave the door open for children to join whenever they feel ready, but we will never force a child to take part or cause them distress for choosing not to. At this age, playing with friends, having fun, exploring the outdoors and developing physical skills are just as important as taking part in a planned activity.

Creativity comes in many forms – through singing and music, dancing, open-ended play and discovery, movement, storytelling and imaginary play. Every child has their own way of expressing themselves and learning through play.

Always remember that they may have been busy discovering something new, making memories with their friends or simply enjoying their own little adventure. These experiences are just as valuable!

Sensory and messy play form the foundation of our curriculum at Little Oaks and are an important part of what we do every day. Through hands-on activities, our little ones explore a wide range of textures, materials and ingredients as they learn and discover through play.

We ask parents to share any known allergies with us during the application process so that we can understand each child’s individual needs. If your child has an allergy or you have any concerns about the materials used in our activities, we encourage you to discuss these with us. We are always happy to provide more information about our sensory play programme and the types of activities we typically offer, so that we can consider your little one’s needs together.

Starting school is a big milestone for both you and your little one. While some children happily run into the classroom from day one, others need a little more time, reassurance and encouragement to feel comfortable in a new environment. Separation can be an emotional experience, and every child responds differently.

At Little Oaks, we understand that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to settling in. We take each child’s individual needs and personality into consideration, helping them feel supported, understood and increasingly confident as they become familiar with their new surroundings, teachers and friends.

At the beginning of each new school year, the first week is planned specifically to support settling in and help the children transition into their new environment. For children starting during the school year, we will arrange a settling-in plan with you before their first day.

Although we understand how difficult it can be to say goodbye, parents and caregivers do not stay in the classroom during the settling-in process. Having a clear and consistent goodbye helps children begin building trust in their teachers and becoming comfortable in their new environment. We encourage one parent or caregiver to do drop-off, say a warm and confident goodbye, and then leave without prolonging the separation. We know this can be hard, but our teachers are there to offer comfort and reassurance as your little one settles.

If your little one finds the separation particularly difficult, we will keep you updated and send a photo once they have settled, to reassure you. If we feel that an earlier collection would be in their best interest, we will contact you to discuss this.

Settling in is a process, and we will work closely with you to find the best approach for your child while keeping the needs and routines of the whole group in mind. Our aim is to help every little one gradually feel safe, secure and truly at home at Little Oaks.

We do not currently offer extra-mural activities at Little Oaks. Our mornings are filled with a variety of intentional play-based activities, sensory exploration, movement, music, creative experiences and opportunities for little ones to learn and grow through play. We believe in making the most of our time together, allowing the children to fully immerse themselves in their daily adventures without needing to rush from one activity to the next.

Please ensure your little one has had breakfast at home before arriving at school, so they are ready for a morning full of play!

We ask that lunchboxes contain a variety of healthy, age-appropriate snacks to keep little ones fuelled throughout the morning. Each child should also bring a clearly labelled water bottle containing either water or diluted juice, so they can drink regularly throughout the day. Juice boxes on their own are not a suitable substitute for a water bottle, as we want to ensure that water is readily available whenever they need it.

Ample parking is available in the church parking lot for easy and safe drop-off and collection.

Please park considerably and respectfully, no double parking, parking in demarcated no parking bays/zones/disabled bays, or blocking the main gate or walkways to any part of the church or school area.

We welcome recycled objects for our creative work. Useful items include:

– Bubble wrap

– Brown packaging paper

– Big brown paper bags

– Polystyrene sheets or trays

– Cardboard boxes

– Toilet rolls, carlton roller towels or egg-boxes

– Bottle tops, lids, corks

– Yoghurt cups or tubs

– Old pots or utensils for our kitchen play

If you would like to donate second hand toys or books, we are always happy to receive more play items!

Please let us know if anything is happening at home that may affect how your little one is feeling or coping at school. This could be something significant, such as a parent travelling, a change in family circumstances or a bereavement, or something more everyday, such as a lack of sleep, constipation, discomfort or simply having an off day.

Knowing a little about what is happening in your child’s world helps us better understand their emotions and behaviour, and allows us to offer the extra care, patience and support they may need. Anything you share with us will be treated with sensitivity and discretion, so that we can work together to support your little one in the best possible way.

If you have a concern or would like to discuss something in more detail than a quick update at drop-off allows, please let us know and we can arrange a time to chat. This ensures we can give you our full attention and that we have the time and space to talk things through properly.

School fees are set as an annual fee and may be settled either in 12 equal monthly instalments or 4 quarterly instalments for convenience.

These instalments do not represent payment for attendance in a specific month or term, but rather a portion of the total annual fee.

All school fees are to be paid in advance.