Welcome to Humpties@StMichael’s

Humpties@StMichael’s is our Pre-School for children aged 3+ situated in purpose-built facilities at the popular St Michael’s School in Lichfield.

From September 2023 our Pre-School day will run from 9 am to 3 pm and will be packed full of a graduate-led curriculum with enhanced learning opportunities in addition to the all-important school readiness activities. Our 20+ year partnership with St Michael’s School ensures that we really do make the most of all the benefits of being on a school site including getting to know reception class teachers and routines. What better way to make sure of a smooth transition to ‘Big School’ when the time comes?

We encourage families to use their 3 & 4 year old funding with us with an attractive offer including a hot lunch, snacks and a brilliant bundle of services including forest school, professional dance sessions, PE sessions and various family events making your child’s Pre-School year truly memorable.

For families who need childcare outside of school hours, our Badgers wrap-around care will provide early morning (from 7.30 am) and after-school (up to 6 pm) activities led by qualified and experienced staff, with some familiar faces from our Pre-School staff team, in the Pre-School room. This is a great opportunity for our Pre-Schoolers to start to form friendship bonds with our youngest Badgers’ children who will be in the year above when your child starts ‘Big School’.

During the school holidays our Pre-School children are welcome to come to our Badgers’ Holiday Club held every school holiday in the school. The Club is led by qualified and experienced staff who are passionate about their fun-filled itineraries which see children come back year on year throughout their primary school years.

Multi-sensory experiences

All our children are offered a wide range of multi-sensory experiences with an emphasis on holistic learning. All activities are planned so that they are age and stage appropriate, always ensuring that everything is done in a fun way. Activities such as music and movement, art and even French are taught in an engaging and enjoyable manner. Outside play is very important to us, and we are lucky enough to have a Forest School on site and a Qualified Forest School practitioner to enhance this learning opportunity.

Meeting developmental milestones

Following the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum, we support our children to meet developmental milestones whilst gently and gradually introducing the feel of a school day in readiness for their transition to “big school”.

Partnership with parents

Our partnership with parents begins from the first phone call you make enquiring about a place and we hold regular parents’ evenings and events during the course of the year for you to share in your child’s achievements and developments.

Pre-School Daily Routine

We actively promote independence skills and children are gently introduced to a more formal routine, which builds up gradually during the year to ensure they are ready for their transition to “big school”.

Example Timeline

9.00am:
Registration – Discuss letter sounds, colours, shapes, number of the week and theme/topic

9.15 – 11.00am:
Free play, Adult led activities, Free flow with free choice inside or outside play. Snack Bar with fresh fruit opens at 10am.

11.00am:
Tidy up time

11.15 – 11.30am:
Group time

11.30 – 11.50am:
Phonics

11.50 – 12.00pm:
Handwashing

12.00pm:
Lunchtime with hot cooked lunch from the school kitchen.

1.00pm:
Registration / Story / singing while children get ready to go outside (sun cream, wellies, waterproofs, coats)

1.30 – 3pm:
Free play, Adult led activities, Free-flow with free choice inside or outside play. Snack Bar with fresh fruit opens at 2pm.

3.00pm

Home time

A Stimulating Learning Environment

Forest School

With our qualified Forest School Practitioner we make the most of our time in forest school and provide a wealth of learning opportunities. Our children develop a clear and in-depth knowledge of nature and the world around them. Qualified practitioner-led forest school is proven to help build children’s confidence, resilience, emotional well-being, communication and problem solving skills.

French

Our weekly French lessons give children the early foundations of learning a modern foreign language

Music & Movement

Carefully structured, weekly music and movement sessions use fun educational themes e.g. colours, shapes, numbers and animals. The sessions provide the children with another creative opportunity to express themselves and develop self-control and confidence in their movements.

Physical Experiences

As well as the wide range of sports equipment we provide for our children to use everyday, we have a visit from a specialist PE provider on a weekly basis who helps the children learn to jump, balance, listen, follow instructions and to work as a team.

Technology

We keep investing in line with technological advances, but use only tried and tested systems for specific purposes to enhance our children’s learning experience. In this we always take a balanced approach… we will not be slaves to technology!

Opening Times & Fees

If you would like your child to join us at Humpties@StMichael’s then please telephone for an appointment to come and have a look for yourself at what we have to offer.

A booking fee of £40.00 is required with all bookings and should be sent in with completed application and personal detail forms.

All enquiries to Tim Hopkins, Manager, on 01543 416002.

Opening times

Day: Monday to Friday 9.00am to 3.00pm
Sessions: Monday to Friday 9.00am to 12.00noon and 12.00pm to 3.00pm

Full day wrap around care also available on site including 7.30am early start and 6pm finish.

Term Dates:

Autumn Term

Monday 4^th September 2023 – Friday 27^th October 2023

Half Term Holiday – Monday 30^th October 2023 – Friday 3^rd November 2023

Monday 6^th November 2023 – Friday 22^nd December 2023

Christmas Holiday – Monday 25^th December 2023 – Friday 5^th January 2024

Spring Term

Monday 8^th January 2024 – Friday 9^th February 2024

Half Term Holiday – Monday 12^th February 2024 – Friday 16^th February 2024

Monday 19^th February 2024 – Friday 22^nd March 2024

Easter Holiday – Monday 25^th March 2024 – Friday 5^th April 2024

Summer Term

Monday 8^th April 2024 – Friday 24^th May 2024

Half Term Holiday – Monday 27^th May 2024 – Friday 31^st May 2024

Monday 3^rd June 2024 – Monday 15^th July 2024

Statutory: Nursery closed all statutory Bank Holidays

Fees

Please enquire to Tim Hopkins, Manager on 01543 416 002 or tim@humpties.co.uk for further detail.

3 & 4 year old funding

30 Hours Funding for 3&4 year olds

Your child may become eligible for the 30 Hours Funding the term after their 3rd birthday.

As you may know, eligible parents can claim up to 30 hours of funding towards childcare for 38 weeks of the year.

For further detail on how to use your funding here, please enquire to Tim Hopkins, Manager on 01543 416 002 or tim@humpties.co.uk for further detail.

Healthy Eating

Our children’s meals are nutritionally balanced, freshly prepared and cooked on the premises by the school’s in-house catering team. All hot lunches are included in our day rate. We are also able to cater for children with special dietary requirements.

Our popular Snack Bars are open twice a day offering fresh fruit. These are self-serve to encourage children’s independence while being supervised by our staff team to support children to develop their skills.

Meal times are also a great opportunity to develop children’s self-care, hygiene routines, table manners and understanding of etiquette.