Welcome to Little Saplings

Little Saplings is our friendly pre-school class at The Elms Primay School, for children aged 3 years and over. We provide a safe, caring and stimulating environment where children learn through play, supported by our experienced Early Years team.

Our aim is to help children feel happy, confident and secure, while developing the independence and skills they need for their journey through school.

We warmly invite families to arrange a visit and come and see our pre-school in action.

Funding and Sessions

Children attending Little Saplings may be eligible for 15 or 30 hours of Government-funded childcare*.

Children can attend:

• Morning sessions 9:00am – 12:00pm

• Afternoon sessions12:00pm – 3:00pm

• All day 9:00am – 3:00pm

Children who attend all day will need to bring a packed lunch.

Additional paid for sessions may be available and are charged at £15 per session (each session is 3 hours).

The pre-school operates within clearly defined opening and closing times to ensure the safety, wellbeing and welfare of all children and staff.  Parents and carers are expected to collect their child promptly at the agreed finishing time. If a parent or carer anticipates being late, they must contact the school office as soon as possible.  Late collection may incur an additional fee to cover the costs of staffing and operational requirements.  Details of late collection fees are available upon request and will be applied at the discretion of the pre-school.

Persistent or continuous late collection is taken seriously and may result in a review of the child’s pre-school place.  The pre-school reserves the right to withdraw a place if late collection continues, following appropriate consultation and written notice to parents or carers.

Our Staff and Key Person System

Little Saplings is led by a caring and experienced team. We use a Key Person system, meaning each child is supported by a named member of staff.

The Key Person:

• Helps your child settle into the setting

• Supports their learning and development

• Builds a strong, trusting relationship with your child and family

Staff work closely with parents and carers to ensure every child feels safe, supported and valued.

Working in Partnership with Families

We believe that strong links between home and school help children thrive. Parents and carers are encouraged to share any important information with staff and are always welcome to speak to us at the beginning or end of a session.

Families are kept up to date through:

• Regular school newsletters

• Class Dojo

• The school website

Children enjoy sharing news from home during circle time. Each child has a book bag and can choose a book twice a week. Parents and carers are encouraged to write in the reading record when they share a story at home.

Our Provision

At Little Saplings, we offer high-quality care and meaningful learning experiences, tailored to each child’s individual starting point and previous experiences.

Our classroom is a happy, busy and welcoming space. Children are encouraged to become confident and independent learners, with staff offering positive praise, encouragement and clear expectations.

Children at Little Saplings benefit from:

• Familiar routines to help them feel secure

• Free-flow access to the outdoor garden during sessions

• Opportunities to play alone, with friends, and in small or large groups

The indoor and outdoor areas are carefully organised to support all areas of learning. Children can choose from a wide range of activities, including:

• Sand and water play

• Malleable and creative activities

• Painting and mark making

• Puzzles and construction

• Small world and role play

• Maths and investigation resources

• Books, story sacks and gardening

Curriculum

Our curriculum is based on how young children learn best. We focus on:

• Playing and Exploring

• Active Learning

• Creating and Thinking Critically

Children take part in both adult-led activities and child-initiated play, following their interests wherever possible. Each term, we explore exciting and age-appropriate topics across different areas of learning.

We follow the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework, using Development Matters to support children’s learning and development.

Contact Us

For more information or to arrange a visit, please contact the school office:

📧 office@tep.cambrianlt.org

We would love to welcome you and show you around our school.