Today is a day that we at preschool dread.  Every year it gets harder and harder to let our ‘Adventurer’s’ leave our place to belong.  We spend all year having the MOST exciting adventures together in anticipation of this transition time. We grow and learn together as we prepare to ultimately watch them get ready to set sail ‘into the unknown’ and their next set of adventures.  Each and every-one of them leaving an imprint on our hearts.   

As a staff team we work tirelessly to ensure that every day is a new adventure and then worry that ‘we’ are not ready to wave our goodbyes. Usually this final term is jam packed full of events to cement everlasting memories for our children that will hopefully last a lifetime…
…this year it is particularly difficult as our tribe feel cheated by all the missed time together that the last few months has brought and with it worries- are the children ready?

As a lead and manager,  I am passionate about legacy and ensuring that we leave the right ‘footprints’ in the heart of our children, it does sound a little contrived but the simple fact is that WE as early years educators have one of the most important jobs alongside our children’s parents. 
It is usually at this time of year that we get to see the impact of our work through the reams of data, the transition meetings with local schools and most importantly from the children themselves as we measure their developmental changes and the impact that we have had.
However, as I watch these amazing Adventurer’s confidently walk through our doors for their final sessions, even after having such a large gap in their time spent with us- I realize the true impact that we have had. 

Read More...Into the Unknown?

At Pollington Preschool, we are all about community. We are always totally absorbed in teaching our children how to just ‘be’. Yes we do all the twiddly bits that our early years curriculum requires but essentially a large focus for us here is supporting the children to- 'be' resilient, 'be' kind, 'be' confident, 'be' themselves. We aim to support strong values (supported by parents at home of course) ready for them to conquer the next chapters of their learning.

As we do this we often get consumed in the fun, glitter and general day to day rhythms. We live through the highs and lows of our families with them. We immerse ourselves in preschool events together, we laugh at our performances together and cry at our goodbyes. Sometimes it is honestly so easy to get submerged in our little community bubble that it is easy to forget that there is anything outside of the school boundaries at times.

We work hard to support our own identities and individualities and hold strong beliefs that our children are taught about themselves, their family values and the meaning of our community together and how they fit diversely into this and the world around them in their own unique way.

Read More...A cup of community spirit