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Fees and Funding

Fees and Funding

Sessions are charged at £17.00 per session, or can be funded using either the 15 hours of free childcare for all 3 and 4 year olds (details available here) or using the additional 15 hours of funding (details and application form). For 3 and 4 year old funding, the child can only receive a funded place from the start of the term after their birthday (subject to their birthday being before the funding period date).  Funding periods start on 1 January, 1 April and 1 September each year.  

At Hilltop, parents may also access and use 2 year old funding (details).

Lunch Club is charged at an additional cost of £3.50 per day, payable at the beginning of each term, which is non refundable.  

A consumable donation is charged at £8 each term, this covers morning and afternoon snacks, as well as some activities, like baking. This is not a mandatory fee, however without this being paid we would be unable to offer a healthy snack to all children and provide such a high range of activities.

There is an admin fee of £10. This is applicable only for children who pay fees.

Job Vacancies

Job Vacancies

Portishead Pre-school

We have an opportunity for three qualified Early Years Practitioners to join our experienced team at Hilltop preschool (Based within Portishead Children’s centre) providing excellent care for children aged 2-4 years.

Requirements for Post

  • We are looking for an individuals who are flexible, hardworking and passionate about children’s learning, play and development,
  • Holds a Level 3 early years qualification,
  • First aid qualification-desirable,
  • Food hygiene certificate- desirable,
  • Excellent understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage.

The role will involve

  • Supporting children’s unique developmental needs
  • Safeguarding children
  • Key person responsibilities
  • Liaise with parents/carers/other professionals 
  • Observations, planning activities that provide learning experiences for children.
  • Attending planning/staff and committee meetings
  • Supporting/attending fundraising events through-out the year
  • One of the roles includes becoming Hilltop’s inclusion officer supporting children with SEND and the team- Experience desirable
  • Hours of work per week average  21 hours over 3 days

(This can vary depending on number of children attending)

  • Start date: September 2020.

If you are interested in any of these positions please contact:

Chris Hunter administrator@portisheadpreschool.co.uk for an application form

Closing date for applications: Friday 26th June

Portishead Pre-school are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all of our children. We follow a Safer Recruitment process, an Enhanced DBS check and two suitable references will be required. These posts are exempt from the provisions of the Rehabilitation Act 1974.

Role one: INCCO and key person

Days/hours of work:

Monday 8:45-3:45

Wednesday 8:45-3:45

Friday 8:45-3:45

Role two: Key person

Monday 8:45-3:45

Tuesday 8:45-3:45

Friday 8:45-3:45

Role three: Key person

Tuesday 8:45-3:45

Thursday 8:45-3:45

Friday 8:45-3:45

Re-opening of the Pre-Schools

Re-opening of the Pre-Schools

First of all we would like to thank you for your good wishes and emails regarding the re-opening of pre-school. We have been working closely with committee to plan for a date to re-open. Due to staff being furloughed and time constraints we are now planning to re-open on Monday 8th June.

We have received a number of emails enquiring what the pre-school will be like for the children when we return, therefore I have attached the latest risk assessment that we have put in place for when re-open. I have listed a few main points below which have been a recurring theme in emails we’ve received.

  • We will be using staggered start and finish times to enable a social distanced approach to drop off and pick ups and staff will at times be wearing increased PPE.
  • Children will be collected from the main gate at Brampton and side gate at Hilltop by a staff member, as parents will not be permitted into the building. We will not be able to store bikes/scooter/pushchairs during this period.
  • No toys from home will be permitted.
  • Only children that attend all day will be able to stay for lunch.
  • We will not be offering any changes to sessions children already attend.
  • There will be a cap of 15 children per session, although due to the nature of how we operate children will mix with other children through-out the week.
  •  We will allow children who attend other provisions (as well as the pre-school) to attend preschool to support working parents.
  • Equipment/toys will be washed after each session.
  • Children will be helped to wash hands when entering pre-school and hand washing will have an increased focus throughout the session/day.
  • Children who are unwell or displaying symptoms of illness will not be permitted into pre-school until well.
  • We will where possible use small group work however we will not be able to prevent children from interacting through-out the session/day.

This list is not exhaustive and there will be activities on going that we will need to amend to help minimise cross infection. We want to reassure you that although we have put these measure in place, we are still the same people and will continue to support and teach your children in a caring and fun environment.

Please check your emails and our pre-school website for updates going forward. We look forward to seeing those of you who are returning, and wish others a lovely summer.

Planned Re-opening of the settings

Planned Re-opening of the settings

*Please notify Sarah via email as soon as possible if you intend to send your child back to pre-school from June 1st*

The team are currently preparing the settings for a possible June 1st reopening, as per the phased guidance from the government.

We want to reassure you that the welfare and safeguarding of your children, and our staff, are of paramount importance and we are working hard to ensure we can minimise risk, wherever possible, at the setting. Going forward we will require your support and cooperation with changes to our daily operation, which will be sent out in due course.

Our intention, is to open each session everyday and offer lunch club only to those children who attend all day. Due to the uncertainty of the numbers of children who will return next term and to plan effectively, we need to know if you intend to send your child back to the pre-school from June 1st . (Potential opening date)


Can you please email: manager@portisheadpreschool.co.uk as soon as possible with your decision.

Ideas for Home Learning

Ideas for Home Learning

Dear Parent/Carers,

A few links below for things to do with your children, to keep them occupied and continue learning through fun play based activities.

www.gonoodle.com

www.j2e.com/jit5#

theimaginationtree.com/stay-at-home-survival-guide/

arvr.google.com/earth/

www.oxfordowl.co.uk/for-home/advice-for-parents/fun-ideas-learning-at-home/

www.dkfindout.com/us/

www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/blog/2020/03/nature-detectives/

www.duolingo.com/

https://www.activityvillage.co.uk/

thedadlab.com/

www.sciencefun.org/kidszone/experiments/

www.activityvillage.co.uk/

Coronavirus Updates

Coronavirus Updates

To all our wonderful parents,

We have tried our very best to remain open as long as possible to support children of frontline workers, however we have now reached a point where we need to close for the time being.

I would like to thank all of our families for their emails and our Pre-school Committee for their on-going support during this unprecedented time.

We have loved working with your children and will miss them while Brampton & Hilltop Pre-Schools remain closed. 

I hope that you all remain safe and well and hope we are able to re-open as soon as we can.

Although the settings are now closed you can still contact me or Chris via email:

Sarah:  manager@portisheadpreschool.co.uk

Chris:   administrator@portisheadpreschool.co.uk

Best wishes, Sarah Bailey, Manager, Brampton & Hilltop Pre-schools

Mother’s Day Hamper Raffle

Mother’s Day Hamper Raffle

**POSTPONED DUE TO CORONAVIRUS SITUATION**

We are really pleased to be holding our Mothering Sunday Hamper Raffle again this year. We have had some brilliant prizes donated by local families and businesses:

£15 for Phasebeauty.com

Cut, Wash and Blowdry at Quayside

5 class pass for Clubbercise Portishead (Worth £25)

Bottle of Blueberry Gin and a pair of gin glasses (worth £20)

£10 voucher from Bosscut Barber and Ladies

A bottle of Prosecco (donated by Sainsburys)

An evening of babysitting (donated by a Karen Whittle)

A selection of beauty products and Chocolates

Thank you so much to everyone that has donated prizes – we really appreciate the support. Tickets will be £1 each and will be coming home with children from the 9th March. To purchase a ticket, return the stub, with the correct money, in a sealed envelope to either Brampton or Hilltop by Midday on Friday 20th March. Extra Tickets will be available from settings.

The draw will be held at 3.45pm, and all winners will be notified that evening. Thank you for your support.