We believe that developing a partnership between you and your child’s key person is the best way to support your child during their time at pre-school.
Little Pippins is charity and we need and strongly encourage all parents to get involved in some way.
A charity-run pre-school is a ‘not for profit’ organisation, which means that all money is re-invested in the pre-school unlike at private pre-schools which need to pay wages to the owners. This money is spent on staffing, equipment, resources – anything which could enrich the experience of the children.
It also means parents have the chance to get involved in managing the pre-school and parents and carers can influence the direction of developments.
Parental involvement has been recognised by the Government as being key to a child’s successful development too. Research shows that there are clear benefits for children when parents become actively involved in their child’s learning and development from an early age.
As part of our commitment to involving you, you are invited…
- to attend committee meetings throughout the year – but more importantly you are invited to put your name forward to become a committee member. Little Pippins is a charity run by a committee made up of parents just like you and as children move on, so do many of our members. It is, therefore, vital that new parents become involved. Whilst it can be hard work it is also very rewarding and ensures that the views of parents are properly represented.
- to make an appointment to view the pre-school with a view to securing a place for your child.
- to a ‘taster’ session before your child starts. You will be introduced to your child’s key person and have the opportunity to ask questions and discuss any concerns you may have. You will be invited to contribute details about your child – likes and dislikes, friends and family. This will help your key person to support your child during the settling in period.
- to sign up to help out throughout the term. (See below for more details).
- to peruse and contribute to your child’s online Learning Journal which forms a unique and individual record of your child’s time with us.
- to meet your key person to discuss your child’s progress at regular ‘How are things going?’ meetings throughout the year.
- to complete a yearly questionnaire so that we can gauge how successfully we are meeting your family’s pre-school needs.
- to use the post its next to our suggestion box in the entrance lobby. This is another opportunity for you to have your say.
- to peruse and help yourself to the leaflets available in the lobby on topics that may be helpful from time to time. For example, Dealing with Headlice and My toddler is biting. What should I do?
- to download the Little Pippins Parents Guide which explains the Revised Early Years Foundation Stage Framework and what it means for you and your child.
- to download a copy of ‘What to Expect When’ – a guide to children’s learning and development stages in the EYFS.
- Let us know if we can apply for additional funding for your child – Early Years Pupil Premium
- to be aware that Safeguarding children is everyone’s responsibility – Safeguarding for Parents and Carers
- Follow our Facebook page for weekly updates and reminders
As part of your commitment to Little Pippins you could…
Sign up regularly to help out during sessions
When registering a child at Pippins, parents agree to help during a session at least once per term. Parents, carers and grandparents are all welcome. You don’t need any special skills for this as there are always lots of little jobs to do like tidying up, helping to prepare snacks for the children, reading stories, cleaning paintbrushes, tidying away the wellies. You can sign up for all or part of a session. We appreciate that it isn’t always possible to help during the daytime but there are many other ways you can help.
Find out more about what being a parent helper involves
Let us know what your particular skills are!
If you like to knit or sew, speak to Emily. There are always small items that we need made/repaired. If you have other skills – music, gardening, DIY let us know! If you’re not sure what you can do to help, just ask!
Join the Committee
Little Pippins is a registered charity, which exists solely for the benefit of the children who attend. Any money raised from fees or fundraising is put back into the pre-school to improve the facilities and the care we can offer to the children. To keep costs down and prices low, the pre-school does not have a paid-for management team. Instead, the pre-school is run by a committee of volunteers which must include current parents for us to legally stay open. The committee has a wide remit, ranging from the more serious elements like budgeting and compliance to the more enjoyable like marketing and fund-raising and garden maintenance. We know that it can sound daunting to join ‘a committee’ but we’re a very ordinary group of people – just like you – and remember that you only need to get as involved as you want to.
Find out more about the committee and what we do.
Become part of our Fundraising Team
Throughout the year, the Little Pippins Fundraising Team run a number of events to raise money for the pre-school. Over recent years, these have included a Winter Ball for the grown-ups, the annual Christmas Tree Festival where local groups like the WI and Fun Club compete to produce the best-decorated Christmas Tree and Santas Grotto at the Harwell School Christmas Fayre, a raffle and stall at the Harwell Feast over May Bank Holiday and cake sales.
We are always looking for extra volunteers to help organise and attend these events. If you would like to join this informal group of parents – or even if you can’t help directly but have an idea for fundraising which you’d like to share – please contact us to be included in the Whatsapp group – meetings are usually in the pub or village hall coffee area.
Recently fundraising as paid for garden resources, play sheds, IT resources and equipment to enable us to move to online learning journals.
Easyfundraising
Raise funds for Pippins while you shop online at a wide range of online stores (including your weekly online grocery shop) via www.easyfundraising.co.uk. Select Little Pippins Pre-school as your preferred cause. Then just login to easyfundraising, select the store and you will directed to their normal website and we will receive a donation at no extra cost to you.
Recycle to raise funds
From time to time we arrange used clothing collections: you can donate unwanted clothing which helps to raise funds for the pre-school.