Frequently Asked Questions

Sending your child to pre-school for the first time is a big step, and can seem quite confusing as there is a lot to think about.

Hopefully the information given on this website will help a little bit, and if there is anything else you need to know, please don't hesitate to contact us.

Can I stay with my child if they are not happy to be left on their own?
We are happy to let parents stay on into a session if their child is upset at them leaving. The staff will aim to reassure the child so that they are happy for their parent to leave. Eventually most parents will just drop their children off, say goodbye, and go, however we recognise that all children are different and will take different times to get to this level of confidence. Taster sessions, available from 2 years, where the parent attends the pre-school with the child, can be a valuable way for the child to get used to the pre-school.

What happens if I am late picking my child up?
Please always phone the pre-school if you know you are going to be late. It can be very upsetting for a child if their parent does not turn up when they are expecting them. We have set procedures to follow if a parent or notified replacement does not pick the child up on time. We will never allow a child to leave the pre-school on their own or with a person whom the parent has not notified to us in advance.

Can I change which, and how many sessions my child attends mid-term?
We aim to be as flexible as we can in accommodating your needs. Assuming there are spare spaces in the sessions into which you want to swap, we will always allow you to change. A change can be permanent, or for just a few occasions, for example to fit around holidays.

I would like to send my child to your pre-school, but I can't afford the fees. Is there anything you can do?
Corfe Castle Charity offer anonymous help with funding to qualifying families. Please ask to talk to the pre-school leader or administrator to discuss this in confidence.

Can I take my children out of pre-school for holidays?
Pre-school education is not compulsory so you are free to take your child out whenever you like. We would ask that you let us know beforehand if possible so that staff can plan accordingly.

How will the pre-school keep me informed about how my child is doing?
We like to keep parents as informed and involved as possible. You will be able to speak informally to your child's key worker, and other staff, at the beginning and end of each session. In addition your child will have a ‘once a month' book which will include some of their work from the pre-school, which will be sent home for you to add your comments. Once a term you will have a formally arranged meeting with your child's key worker to discuss their progress in depth.

My child has special needs. Can he/she still attend your pre-school?
We have experience in accommodating special needs children into our classes, and will always do our best to welcome every child. Several of our staff have extra qualifications in special needs care, and we can provide extra staff for one-on-one care in some cases. Sadly there will be some children whose needs mean that the pre-school is not a suitable environment even with extra care. Please contact us if you wish to discuss this.

What precautions do you take to keep my child safe?
All children are supervised by the staff for every second they are at the pre-school. With our present staffing arrangements, there will never be more than 8 children per staff member. All our staff have been checked by the Criminal Records Bureau. Children will never be allowed to leave with anybody who the staff do not recognise as a parent or authorised carer. We have a comprehensive health and safety policy, which is subject to regular Ofsted inspection. Any accident, however minor, will always be recorded and discussed with the parent.