FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Helpful tips before you start

  • You are welcome to come into Jellytots, see the setting and meet the staff at any time. However if you have already been allocated spaces, it will be better to call and make an induction visit with your child’s key person.
  • On an induction visit, you need to stay with your child. This will give them a chance to have a play with you close by and for you and your Key person to get to know each other and talk through any queries or concerns. You can stay for the whole session or an hour it is up to you.
  • Jellytots is situated in a small brown mobile on the right side of the main school reception entrance. We are opposite the Early Years Classes.
  • Morning Sessions 8.45am – 11.45am – Drop off – parents can enter through the red gates within the school as these will be open and queue up along our walk-way, or wait outside under our canopy in front of the shed if raining. Collection – parents wait outside the red gates and the children will be taken there by staff members. 
  • Afternoon Sessions 12.30pm – 3.30pm – Drop off – parents wait outside the red gates and the children will be collected by staff members and taken down to the playgroup.  Collection – parents can enter through the red gates within the school as these gates are opened by the school at 3.20pm and parents then queue up along our walk-way, or wait outside under our canopy in front of the shed if raining.
  • If you need to collect your children during sessions, you will have to call us on 07858158220 to be let in, or alternatively go to the school office and they will contact us to let us know.

Funding   – Funding is paid three times a year on;

1st January, 1st April  and 1st September,

When your child is funded, we ask for a contribution towards consumables used in session such as food tasting and certain craft activities. This will be given to you in the form of a payment slip, which is for the school year Sept – July (depending on when they start)

Useful Tips

  • Please do not put your children in their best clothes, although they wear aprons you would be amazed at the places paint and glue seem to find!
  • Please put your child’s name on all coats, bags and water bottles and shoes
  • Please bring water bottles in each session – Along with a small container (child friendly) containing a healthy snack (fruit, veg, bread sticks etc.) Please try to avoid sweet snacks. This will prepare children for snack times at school.
  • Children are encouraged to hang their coats and bags under their keyworker animal in the lobby area. They are also encouraged to get their own snack from their bag and put their water bottles in the rack provided. This is all supervised by the adults in session.
  • Find out more on foundationyears.org.uk and www.mycaremysupport.com

Stories to Share

During your children’s time at Jellytots, we read and sing a core selection of books and Nursery Rhymes. The Authors below have other stories too that we share in setting but these are the children’s favourites.

If you want to be able to share some of them at home, they are as follows;

The Three Little Pigs – Traditional Story

Goldilocks and the Three Bears – Traditional Story

Handa’s Surprise – by Eileen Browne

The Ginger Bread Man – Traditional Story

Shark in the Park and Shark in the Dark – by Nick Sharratt

We’re Going on a Bear Hunt – by Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury

The Three Billy Goats Gruff – Traditional Story

The Gruffalo –  by Julia Donaldson

The Smartest Giant in Town – by Julia Donaldson

Peace at Last –  by Jill Murphy

Nursery Rhymes

We sing many different songs that the children will no doubt teach you while they are with us. Here are a few that you might want to refresh yourselves with so you can join in with them at home.

Twinkle Twinkle little star                             Old Mac Donald had a farm

Humpty Dumpty                                             The Wheels on the Bus

Hey Diddle Diddle                                          Wind the Bobbin up

Incy Wincy Spider                                         Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes

Bar Bar Black Sheep                                      It’s Raining, It’s Pouring  

Tommy Thumb Where are You

Polly Put the Kettle on

Pussy Cat Pussy Cat where have you been

Jellytots Health & Safety Information 

Here is a copy of Jellytots of safety topics we teach the children during their time with us, with phrases, words and actions that we use.  These may be useful to reinforce at home.  Jellytots Health and Safety Top Tips (Click here)

Local Offer and Health Visiting Services

If you get a spare minute, it is worth having a look at the Swindon Local Offer this is a very good online resource, it offers up to date support needs for children, young people and families who live in the Swindon area https://www.swindon.gov.uk/info/20222/services/1506/health_visitor_services.

There is also some good information with things like Toilet training, https://www.swindon.gov.uk/info/20222/services/1506/health_visitor_services/2.

The Speech and Language Therapy section has recently been updated and gives some useful tips and advice to encourage children’s communication development as well as advice for Bilingual families https://www.swindon.gov.uk/info/20224/news_and_resources/1542/speech_and_language_useful_information_and_resources