Afternoon sessions have slightly less children than the mornings & they are our oldest children. A healthy lunch box is bought into preschool from home, we are happy to help with suggestions of foods for that work well. At the start of each term, parents are made aware of any dietary restrictions that are not allowed at preschool, such as peanut butter. This helps with inclusion to all children & must be adhered to. The children are seated across 2 upstairs rooms, all with a member of staff who sits & eats with them. This is a quiet time for eating & conversations around the table, similar to those at home. The children are encouraged to open their own packets, in readiness for school, although we are always on hand to assist. After a tidy up & a change of resources, the children are able to spread across the 2 floors again & more teaching commences, generally on a ratio of 1:6 or less. This ensures that observations can be recorded, the children’s personalized next steps can be worked on & there is time to listen and let their voices be heard.
The session ends in the same way as the morning session, with a group time where the children come together for a story or singing session before emptying their trays of any craft they have made & they are then handed back to parents one at a time.
