Welcome to our PreSchool
General Information
Mrs Morfoot (EYFS Lead)
Miss Bell (Reception)
Mrs Bowman (Preschool)
Mrs Cruddace (Preschool)
We make up the EYFS team and will be happy to discuss anything with you.
Our Preschool Room
Welcome to Early Years at Staindrop CE Primary School
Welcome to our Early Years Provision, where your child will be supported by a warm,
caring, and passionate team of teachers and practitioners. Our staff are highly experienced
and work closely with every child to help them grow into confident, capable, and curious learners.
We take the time to really listen to the children and find out what they’re interested in.
These interests are then reflected in our planning, Floorbooks, Classdojo updates, and classroom displays.
By using what excites and engages your child, we create learning spaces that are fun,
challenging, and meaningful for everyone. We make sure every child’s voice is heard and valued,
and we love to celebrate the wonderful diversity of our school community.
Our learning environment plays a big role in how children learn—we even call it the
“third teacher”! We use natural and open-ended resources (which we call provocations
and invitations) to spark your child’s imagination and encourage them to explore and investigate.
This helps them build a deeper understanding of the world around them in a hands-on and playful way.
With the support of our dedicated team, inspiring spaces, and a thoughtfully designed curriculum,
we aim to help your child become independent, confident, and ready for the exciting journey through school.
Starting school is an exciting time for both children and parents, and we know there’s a lot to take in—especially
when it comes to early years education. It’s a very special stage that’s all about helping young children grow,
explore, and develop in a way that feels natural and joyful. We focus on the whole child—not just what they learn,
but how they learn, and how we can support them to become confident, curious little learners.
Sometimes, the early years world has its own way of doing things—and even its own language!
You might hear us talk about things like “continuous provision” or “enhancements,”
or phrases like “planning in the moment.” Don’t worry if these sound unfamiliar—we’re always happy to explain.
Continuous provision is a big part of how we set up our classrooms. It simply means the different learning
areas your child can explore every day—like the creative area, water play, construction, or role play.
These areas are always available and full of open-ended resources that children can choose from and use in their own way.
We usually update these areas to reflect the themes we’re exploring at school and the children’s own ideas.
Some areas stay the same for longer if the children are really enjoying them. We plan these spaces carefully
so they support a wide range of learning and help children become more independent in their play.
We’d love for you to come and see it all in action! You’re always welcome to join us for our stay and play sessions,
and we’re always open to your thoughts and feedback.
A few common Q&A’s for new starters to Pre-school
- The Preschool day starts between 8.45–9am. We ask that parents come through the wooden side gate
through to EYFS where you will be greeted by a member of the team. - A morning session finishes at 12:15pm and children will be collected from the side gate.
- At lunchtime your child can have a school dinner at the cost of £4.95
(including care – lunchtime care is £1.25). This price is effective from 20.4.26. - An afternoon session starts at 12:15pm and finishes at 3:30pm. The side gate opens at 3:30pm.
We ask that you try to stick to dropping off and collecting times to help sessions run smoothly. - We offer a rolling snack consisting of fruit and milk. This means children can choose when
they come for snack rather than stopping play at a set time. - Please provide a bag of spare clothes to keep on your child’s peg. Children take part in PE sessions,
so please include shorts, a t-shirt, and plimsolls if they attend PE. - We encourage school uniform in Pre-school. Please ensure children also bring wellies and waterproofs.
All belongings should be clearly labelled.
You may add additional sessions to your child’s free 15-hour entitlement at the following rates:
From 20.4.26
Half session £15.75
Whole day including lunch £36.45
Extra sessions are bookable through the office. Your child may be eligible for 30 hours funding,
which must be applied for independently through the government website. A code will be issued
and must be provided to school before a full-time space can be offered.
If you have any queries, please speak to a member of the EYFS team or email
dsdjmorfoot@staindropce.co.uk.