## **Annual Report for Tiny Tots Preschool Stewartstown June 2024** 

## **Curriculum** 

We follow a curriculum which operates under 6 areas of learning through weekly, monthly, termly and long term planning. The six areas are: 1) Personal, Social and Emotional Development, 2) Physical Development and Movement, 3) Language Development, 4) Early Mathematical Experiences, 5) The Arts and 6) The World Around Us. Through this curriculum we seek to identify specific needs for each individual child and provide opportunities for further development. The preschool welcomes children from all communities in Stewartstown and the surrounding area. As part of the PEAGS Initiative we have an Early Years Adviser Nuala McCormack. She visited us during the year to advise us on the day to day running of the playgroup and Child Development. She was also responsible for organising the Cluster training days which we attended. In September 2023 we had children 19 children on the register in their preschool year availing of PEAGS places. 

## **Staff** 

The preschool has a team of enthusiastic staff who are committed to create a happy and safe learning environment for the children. They keep abreast of current childcare and education trends and continually update their training. We have a low staff turnover, the staff are child centred and there is a high staff to children ratio. 

The staff are as follows: 

Preschool Leader Grace Mallon who is qualified in leadership and management Level 5. Deputy Leader Sarah Craig who is qualified to NVQ Level 3 Preschool Assistant Lynsey Smyth who is qualified to NVQ Level 3. Preschool Assistant Lynn Maneely who is working towards her Level 3. 

All staff hold a First Aid Qualification and have attended Child Protection Training. Staff also have a range of other qualifications. During the year the staff attended several clusters and training events i.e. 

Leaders Day Training, Paediatric First Aid Special Educational Needs Supporting Children with Transitions The importance of Schemas in child Development Safeguarding The importance of play 

## **Getting Ready to Learn** 

This year Tiny Tots Preschool Stewartstown took part in Getting Ready To Learn, which is part of The Early Intervention Transformation Programme. It is focused on improving outcomes for children in pre-school by engaging and empowering parents to help them create and sustain positive home learning environments. The Big Bedtime Read focuses on supporting parents to read regularly to their children at bedtime and on encouraging good bedtime routines. It also aims to increase parents' awareness of reading opportunities throughout a young child’s day. 



## **Inspections** 

We are inspected by social Services Annually. We had our annual Social Services Inspection in December 2023. The Report is available to read in the porch. Our Social Services Contact is Carla Taggart. We are also inspected about every 7 years by the Education and Training Inspectorate. Our last Inspection from the Education and Training Inspectorate was in April 2016. We received the highest level for overall effectiveness in a preschool inspection undertaken by the Education and Training Inspectorate. Environmental Health also visit about once a year unannounced to carry out an inspection on the premises. Our hygiene rating is 5. 

## **Committee** 

A committee is responsible for the running of the Preschool. The committee is mainly made up of parents of the children in attendance at Tiny Tots. It is a great way of being involved in the pre‐ school and help with fundraising activities and assist the leader and staff deal with the day to day running of the setting. It is also a great forum for parents to highlight any issues and to be part of the wider community as well as providing a support system for parents, grandparents and carers