Butterflies is our Preschool Group.
Butterflies aim is to provide a safe, caring and happy Christian environment where children can learn
through play and develop as an individual.
We provide a broad, balanced and
relevant curriculum with a Christian bias based on the early
learning goals and the birth to three matters, set out by the
Department for Education and Skills. (See below). The children work
towards these goals through a carefully planned curriculum building
upon their own interests, providing first hand experience, giving
clear explanations, making appropriate interventions and developing
their play and language.
Butterflies is part of the church community and its leaders hold Christian values and attitudes.
We admit children who are two and a half
years old and open five mornings a week from 9.15-11.45 am. We run a
lunch club from 11.45-1.00 pm and take children onto the afternoon
session at St Mary’s nursery. We have an experienced and well
qualified staff of four and also have permanent volunteers.
We were the first pre school group to be
accredited in Trafford by the Pre School Learning Alliance. We are
Ofsted registered and therefore have access to government funding a
term after the child is three years old.
Information from Government Pages - Playgroups
Early learning from three to five:
what your child will learn
The Foundation Stage is for children aged three to five, and covers
the years they spend from the beginning of nursery or pre-school to the end of reception class in primary
school. This is recognised as a distinct stage of learning, when children learn best through active play which builds on
their individual needs and interests.
Where to go for Foundation Stage learning
All children aged three and four are entitled to government-funded Foundation Stage places in:
- nursery and reception classes
- playgroups
- pre-schools
- nurseries
- or with accredited childminders in approved childminding networks
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Learning at the Foundation Stage
Wherever your child goes, staff who work with them help them work towards the Early Learning Goals.
These goals set out what most children are expected to achieve by the end of the Foundation Stage, and
help people who work with children aged three to five focus on what children need to learn.
There are six broad areas of learning.
Personal, social and emotional development
Your child will learn to be self-confident, take an interest in things, know what their own needs are, tell the difference between right
and wrong, and be ableto dress and undress.
Communication, language and literacy
Your child will learn to talk confidently and clearly, enjoying stories, songs and poems, hearing and saying sounds, and linking them to the
alphabet. They will read and write some familiar words and learn to use a pencil.
Mathematical development
Your child will develop an understanding of maths through stories, songs, games and imaginative play. They will become comfortable
with numbers and with ideas such as 'heavier than' or 'bigger'. They will be aware of shapes and space.
Knowledge and understanding of the world
Your child will explore and find out about the world around them, asking questions about it. They will build with different materials,
know about everyday technology and learn what it is used for. They will find out about past events in their lives and their families' lives. They
will find out about different cultures and beliefs.
Physical development
Your child will learn to move confidently, controlling their body and handling equipment.
Creative development
Your child will explore colours and shapes, trying out dance, making things, telling stories and making music.
The goals do not put pressure on your child as most of the time they feel they are just playing and having fun.
Sometimes they will choose what they want to do. At other times they take part in activities that helps them learn how to concentrate or
develop a particular skill, like using scissors or gluing card.
Your child's progress
An assessment made at the end of the Foundation Stage is called the Foundation Stage Profile.
The Foundation Stage Profile is a national scheme that enables teachers to record observations and
summarise your child's achievements at the end of the Foundation Stage. It is used to summarise their achievements of the Early Learning Goals
and covers all six areas of learning. Teachers record achievement based on their observations of your child's activities through out the
Reception Year. They do not need to carry out any set assessment activities.
Early learning
from birth to three
It is never too early to learn. Babies and young children benefit from new experiences and learn through a variety
of activities, interaction with people and by exploring the world around them.
Your child from birth to three
High quality childcare and early education can help give your child the best start to their development and learning,
which stays with them as they start school and beyond. Research has shown that even babies have highly developed learning skills.
If your child attends a nursery or playgroup, staff working with your child may follow the guidance contained
in ‘Birth to three matters: a framework to support children in their earliest years’. This is aimed mainly at those working with children who
are under three, but may also be of interest to parents.
The framework looks at a child's learning, growth, development and environment in four areas:
- a strong child
- a skilful communicator
- a competent learner
- a healthy child
A strong child
Between the ages of birth and three, your child finds out who they are, what they like and what they can do.
They experiment with different ways of relating to those around them, and need to be recognised and valued.
Staff working with your child may provide play and practical activities by:
- providing a variety of mirrors in different places to help babies explore what they look like and who they are
- letting children make decisions about how and where to display their paintings or allow them to select which toys to play with
- using different voices to tell stories and get your child to join in wherever possible, using puppets or soft toys
- providing dressing up clothes and materials that help children find out what it feels like to be someone else
- providing experiences that involve using all the senses, such as relaxing music, soft lighting and pleasant smells
Through encouragement and support your child develops emotionally, and will be able to respond to successes and challenges.
A skilful communicator
As your child grows, they become increasingly sociable, learn to communicate effectively, understand others and make choices.
Staff working with your child may provide play and practical activities by:
- role playing and dressing up, visits to parks, shops, or libraries encouraging children to take on roles, meet others and express feelings and thoughts
- providing tapes of rhymes and stories, sounds and nursery rhymes, spoken words; some that require your child to respond, others that engage them to listen
- responding to what your child shows they’re interested in and wants to do by providing activities, stories and games
- providing opportunities for babies to make choices; for example, which spoon to choose, which bib to wear, the size of paintbrush to use, whether to go outdoors or stay in
A competent learner
Drawings, words and imaginative play encourages your child to explore and develop their creativity.
Staff working with your child may provide play and practical activities by:
- providing resources for babies to play with, like pots and pans, wooden blocks, soft toys
- making a diary of photographs with your child to record an important occasion such as visiting a special place
- providing opportunities to play with sand, water and play dough
- having a collection of everyday objects such as wooden pegs, spoons, pans, corks, cones and boxes that can be safely explored alone, shared with adults or other children
A healthy child
As your child grows they learn to express feelings and cope with new situations.
Your child develops physical skills and learns about their body. They also learn about boundaries, rules and asking for help.
Staff working with your child may provide play and practical activities by:
- providing stories, pictures and puppets, which allow children to experience and talk about feelings
- taking a consistent approach when responding to challenging behaviour such as scratching and biting
- providing non-specific play materials such as boxes and blankets so that play can move in different directions.
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