Key Information

Children can start at Red Balloon Pre-School from the term before their 3rd birthday, in January 2022 we changed our admission policy to allow these children to access any of our sessions. These are Monday-Friday; 8.45-11.45am or 11.45- 2.45pm, the fee for each session is £13.00.

If your child attends our morning session they will be having a School Dinner or Packed Lunch. There is 2 year old funding for low income families and information on this is available through Northumberland County Council, click here Is your child two?

All 3 and 4 year olds are entitled to universal 15 hours funding per week and up to 30 hours funding by the Local Education Authority for working parents. (Please remember funding is per child and not per setting). Tax Free Childcare is available; a new Government scheme will offer working families 20% support towards childcare costs, please click on the link Childcare Choices.

Red Balloon is open every morning 8.45-11.45 and every afternoon 11.45-2.45 to incorporate the government’s 30 hour funding for 3 and 4 year olds, (parents do not have to take the full 30 hours – if an eligible parent wants to take up, for example 21 hours per week, these will still be funded). This entitlement can also be shared between settings. For Further details click on this link :Childcare Overview

Application Form

If you would like your child to attend the Red Balloon Pre-School please either visit us, ask at Tweedmouth West School reception or email us and we will send you out an application form. Returning the completed form to our address. Please allow at least five working days for a response.

To download an Application Form click here: Application Form

Further Information in regards to Funding and Additional Funding to help your child if they need additional help:

Early Years Pupil Premium

Information for Parents/Carers on Free Early Year Education Entitlement

OFSTED

Following the latest OFSTED inspection in September 2023 we were rocked that Red Balloon Pre School received an overall Inadequate rating, but got a Good for the quality of education, behaviour and attitudes of the early years provision we provide. Staff are working together to put our recommendations in place for our next inspection. A copy of the report is available to Download Ofsted 2023 Report

Extracts from the conclusions of the report were:

The curriculum is well thought out to give children the skills they need ready for starting school. Staff work with school to ensure children develop their mathematical skills. Children thoroughly enjoy playing with numbers.

Children learn how to keep themselves healthy. For example, they understand the importance of washing hands before eating. They learn about foods that are good for them as they enjoy healthy snacks. Children thoroughly enjoy picking fruit from the trees on the school field. This helps them to learn about different fruits, such as plums.

Children settle quickly into the pre-school. They leave their parents happily and, within a few sessions, they develop the confidence to choose resources for themselves. Staff support children particularly well through these early days in the setting. This helps them to become confident and start to build relationships with other children, as well as staff.

Policies

Our policies are reviewed and updated regularly, please speak to a member of staff for further details on any of our policies detailed below.

Child Protection

Children’s rights and entitlements

Safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults

Looked after children

Uncollected child

Missing child

Online Safety (Inc. mobile phone and cameras)

Suitable People

Employment

Student Placements

Staff Qualifications, Training, Support and Skills

Induction of staff, volunteers and managers

First Aid

Keyperson

The role of the keyperson and settling in

Staff: child ratio’s

Staffing

Health

Administering medicines

Managing children who are sick, infectious or with allergies

Recording and reporting of accidents and incidents

Nappy changing

Food and drink

Food hygiene

Managing Behaviour

Promoting Positive Behaviour

Safety and Suitability of Premises, Environment and Equipment

Health and general standards

Maintaining children’s safety and security on premises

Supervision of children on outings and visits

Risk Assessments

Fire safety and emergency evacuation

Animals in the setting

No-smoking

Staff personal safety including home visits

Equal Opportunities

Valuing diversity and promoting equality

Supporting children and special educational needs

British Values

Information and Records

Privacy Notice

Admissions

Parental Involvement

Children’s Records

Providers Records

Transfer of records to school

Confidentiality and client access to records

Working in partnership with other agencies

Application to Join

Registration Form

Information Sharing

Making a complaint

All Policies were updated Sept/Oct 2022

Snacks

The setting promotes a healthy lifestyle and believes in starting young. Every child is eligible for free milk at snack time, we also provide cups of water. Snacks are provided by parents: 1 piece of fruit or veg for each session (staff do not mind peeling apples etc). If your child stays for all day sessions they will need 2 snacks, 1 for the morning session and 1 for afternoon session. Such snacks could include a piece of fruit, veg or breadsticks.

Please tell us if your child has any dietary needs and we will make sure these are met.

School Lunches

Red Balloon offer school dinners which are served from Tweedmouth West Schools canteen hall. These are available each day Monday-Friday at £2.20 (from Jan 24) per day and can be paid for at the main Tweedmouth West Schools reception.

Here is a copy of the School Dinner Menu which is on offer at the present time.

School Dinner Menu – Click on this link for further information Autumn Term 23

Alternately children can take a healthy packed lunch from home.

Example School Lunch

A breakfast club is available at Tweedmouth West School daily from 8am to 9am at a price of £1.50 per session. Breakfast Club offer Toast, Cereal & Yoghurts, with a drink of Apple Juice, Milk or Tea. They also have specials for Breakfast, on Tuesday's there is Pancakes, on Wednesday's and Thursday's there is Crumpets and on Fridays there is Sausages.

Attendance for your child can be organised with the main reception at Tweedmouth West School. Red Balloon staff organise to collect children from the breakfast club at 8.45am.

Balloon Buddies is our after-school club and sessions are available until 3.15pm (to line up with Tweedmouth West pickup time), 4.15pm or 5.15pm. The prices for Balloon Buddies are 2.45-3.15pm = £2.50, 2.45-4.15pm = £7.50 & 2.45-5.15pm = £12.50

If you have questions on any of the above please speak to a member of staff who would be happy to provide more information

Balloon Buddies Poster

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