About Us
Happy Faces is a not-for-profit business and a registered charity.
We have a written set of policies and procedures detailing the running of the Pre-School. A copy of these are kept in the hall. Click here to download this document.
We recognise that parents are the primary educators of their children and should be involved in all aspects of their child's education. Because of this, we welcome parents' participation in the life of the Pre-School.
If you would like to be involved in the running of Happy Faces, why not join our committee? This is elected from the parents every year at the Annual General Meeting (AGM). The committee is responsible for the running of the
Pre-School and organises fund-raising activities throughout the year. Details of the Pre-School’s income and expenditure are presented formally to parents at the AGM.
There is a list of current committee members in the hallway and here.
Our regular newsletter will keep you informed of the latest news and future events.
The Early Years Foundation Stage
At Happy faces, children are moving through the Early Years Foundation Stage, from when they start pre-school until they reach the end of the reception year in Primary School. It is so called because it provides the foundation for their later learning in life. The Early Years Foundation Stage is divided into 3 prime areas of learning.
These are:
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Personal, Social and Emotional Development
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Communication & Language
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Physical Development
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And 4 specific areas of learning. These are:
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Literacy
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Mathematics
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Understanding the World
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Expressive Arts & Design
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Our programme is directed towards helping children meet targets in these areas, called the Early Learning Goals. These set the educational level which most children are expected to achieve by the end of the Early Years Foundation Stage. However, each child is an individual and develops at his or her own pace. At Happy Faces the staff record a child's achievements, encouraging them to build on their successes to progress further, so that they are able to reach their full potential.
Each child has their own profile which records their personal development and parents are invited to make comments and contribute to this. You can help your child by always having pencils, crayons and paper available to encourage pre-writing skills. When you are out of doors, point out signs and notices which are all around us e.g. "bus stop", "Sainsbury's". Counting can begin with the shopping e.g. "let's count the bananas/tomatoes". Keep it light-hearted and children will find learning fun!
When your child is 2
At some point after your child turns 2, the Key Person working with your child will give you a written summary of how your child is progressing against the 3 prime areas of learning. This is called the progress check at age 2.