Your Frequently Asked Questions Answered
1) How will you help my child settle in? What happens if they don’t settle easily?
Before your child is due to start at Muddy Boots we invite you for a visit to discuss settling in and agree upon the approach we think will best suit your child. Every child is different and the same approach won’t suit all. Our most successful approach sees parents spend a little time settling their child to an activity or task before then saying goodbye.
We know that some children find it harder to leave their parents and begin their pre-school adventure than others, so if a child won’t settle their key worker or the settings manager will work with the parent to make a plan to support the child.
2) What happens if my child is ill?
If your child falls ill while at Muddy Boots we will contact you and ask you to come and collect your child. If they need medical care, such as asthma inhalers, before you arrive our trained staff will administer or take any appropriate action. Staff are only permitted to administer medication prescribed by a GP/hospital. This should be clearly labelled to show prescription information and dosage instructions. Parents must complete a permission form before prescribed medication can be administered by staff.
If your child falls ill at home we ask you to call or email the pre-school and advise us your child will not be attending the setting. If your child suffers from sickness and/or diarrhoea please ensure that they remain at home for 48 hours after the last episode of illness. This will help to prevent the spread of illness to other children and staff.
In the case of COVID symptoms, staff will advise parents of the correct course of action once they make contact with the office.
3) What if my child is not fully toilet trained?
If your child is still in nappies when they begin Muddy Boots we are happy to help you with toilet training. We will follow your lead and mirror the approach you are taking at home and work closely with you. We have three children’s toilets adjacent to the main playroom which the children can access freely at all times. We also have nappy changing facilities. A member of staff is always available to help children use the toilets should they require assistance. We ask you to provide at least one change of clothes for your child should an accident occur during the toilet training process. Please label the clothing clearly with your child's name. If needed, we do have a bank of clothes available for children to borrow.
4) How do I find out what is going on at pre-school?
We send out a ‘Parents Note' at the beginning of each half-term explaining what our topic for the term is, any special dates we will be observing and an overview of what we will be covering in each of the seven learning areas. These are Prime areas (Communication and Language, Personal, Social and Emotional Development, Physical Development), and Specific areas (Literacy, Mathematics, Understanding of the World and Expressive Arts and Design.)
In addition to this, the planning of our sessions is centred around the characteristics of effective learning and teaching;
- playing and exploring - children investigate and experience things, and "have a go"
- active learning - children concentrate and and keep on trying if they encounter difficulties, and enjoy achievements
- creating and thinking critically - children have and develop their own ideas, make links between ideas, and develop strategies for doing things
We display a weekly breakdown of the seven areas of learning on the noticeboard in the entrance hall. We also send out a newsletter containing news about the setting, events and work covered towards the end of each half term. We also have a Facebook page where we frequently upload pictures of the activities we are undertaking on a day to day basis. If at any time you would like more information about the curriculum or anything that is happening at Muddy Boots don’t hesitate to ask the staff.
5) What should my child wear to Muddy Boots?
Your child should wear clothes suitable for messy play (glue, water, paint and other messy stuff!). Please avoid "best" or precious clothing items.
Muddy Boots has a uniform which is available to buy through the office (prices and options are available in your welcome pack.) Uniform is not compulsory. We ask that children are dressed appropriately for the weather. In winter please provide warm coats, hats, gloves and suitable footwear. During the summer months please provide a sun hat. We are not allowed to apply sunscreen to children, so we ask you to ensure they attend the setting wearing day-long protection.
6) Who can pick up my child?
Anyone you nominate can collect your child. However, you must inform pre-school and provide contact details for the nominated person. We will not release your child to anyone unless we have permission in writing. Please email us with this information.
7) Do you provide lunch?
No. We ask that children bring their own packed lunches. There is a trolley in the entrance hall where packed lunches are stored. We ask you to provide a drink along with a balanced selection of foods which your child will enjoy. We have a certificate reward system to help encourage fussy or reluctant eaters. If your child has food allergies we will monitor their eating and ensure they only eat the food you have provided.
8) Do you provide snack?
Yes - we provide a healthy morning and afternoon snack for the children to enjoy. This always comprises of a selection of fruit and vegetables and something like cereal, raisins, yoghurts or toast. We also provide healthy drinks. The daily snack offering is displayed on a board beside the front door as you enter the setting. We ask for a voluntary contribution of £1.50 per child, per session to cover our costs.
9) Do you provide nappies?
No. Please provide enough nappies or pull ups each day for your child.
10) What are your term dates?
We always mirror Walgrave Primary School term dates. These are always displayed on our Facebook page, in the entrance hall at Muddy Boots and provided at the beginning of each academic year or in welcome packs for new starters. You will also find them on our website.
11) How do you keep my child safe at Muddy Boots?
Child safety is a priority at Muddy Boots. We have very good security gates which no one can enter without speaking to a member of staff through an intercom. Once in the setting the door to the entrance hall buzzes a loud alarm to alert staff of a visitor. The door to the playroom is accessed by a key code known only by staff. The woodland area is behind the setting and surrounded on three sides by fences neighbouring the school grounds and on the fourth by a six foot fence.