Frequently Asked Questions
Quick Links:
- How do we contact you?
- How many children are there in a session?
- How many staff do you have?
- Can my child receive government funding?
- Can my child stay all day?
- Do you have part-time places?
- Do you offer the full Montessori curriculum?
- Can we see your Ofsted report?
- How will I know how well my child is doing?
- Do you organise school outings?
- Can I come and see the nursery?
- Is there a waiting list?
- Which Primary school do the children transfer to?
How do we contact you?
By post - Please address all correspondence to Mrs V. Roden, 20 Commonside, Downley, High Wycombe, Bucks. HP13 5XG. By telephone 01494 442057 By email : roden-sunshine@tiscali.co.uk. How many children are there in a session?
We have up to 20 children in the morning session and a child:adult ratio of 6:1. We are a small school working to develop a close-knit family feel to our sessions. Our small size enables us to be in daily one-to-one contact not only with the children, but also the parents. By this means we are able to pass on up-to-the-minute verbal reports on progress and receive information from parents that might be of value to us in the session. How many staff do you have?
We have 7 members of staff, 3 of whom work at any one time in the morning. Up to 5 members of staff are on duty in the afternoons to provide more hands-on help for the younger and newer children. Can my child receive government funding if he/she attends Sunshine Montessori School?
Yes, you can claim government funding from the term after your child has reached 3 years of age. Can my child stay all day?
We generally provide sessional care for the children registered with us. Our children therefore come either for the morning session or for the afternoon session, but not for both. In some circumstances it is possible for your child to stay from 9am until 2.45pm. Do talk to us if you need this facility. Do you have part-time places?
We offer both full-time and part-time places. Full-time places (5 sessions a week) are available in the mornings; part-time (from 2 up to 5 sessions per week) are available in the afternoons. Do you offer the full Montessori curriculum?
Yes, we offer a curriculum that encompasses all areas of the Montessori curriculum. This includes our practical life activities; sensorial exercises; language (including speaking, listening, reading, writing, spelling, grammar, prose and poetry appreciation), numeracy, science, history, geography, art, craft, cookery, drama, music, PE and dance. We have adapted our curriculum to ensure that we comply with the requirements of the Education Department's Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum. This curriculum is designed for children aged 0-6 years and sets out the learning goals which it is hoped that most children should have achieved by the time they enter Year 1 of their primary school. We are inspected regularly by Ofsted inspectors to ensure we are providing a high standard of provision Can we see your Ofsted Report?
Yes. Please look for the relevant section on the 'Reports' page or visit the Ofsted website (N.B Look or search under provider type: Childrens Day-care Providers). How will I know how well my child is doing?
We hope to keep you fully informed about your child's progress at all times. This is achieved in a number of ways. Firstly, we have an open-door policy in which you are able to observe your child during a session. Secondly, each term you will be invited to a confidential formal feedback session in which your child's progress will be discussed in detail. Other confidential meetings can be arranged on request. A newsletter is distributed every week and other information is pinned on the school notice board. There is also time at the beginning and end of the session to pass over information. A Parent Information Evening is arranged each term in which a particular area of the Montessori curriculum is explained and ideas imparted for extending your child's learning at home. And finally when children move into full time education parents receive a written report. Do you organise school outings?
Yes, we aim to organise an outing each term. These outing are often related to the cultural topic we have been investigating at the time. In the past we have been to The Natural History Museum in London, the magnificent Hindu Temple at Wembley, Odds Farm Park. Beale Park, a classical music concert for children, our local dairy farm (to find out where the milk that we drink at break really comes from!) and the ever-popular Legoland. Can I come and see the nursery?
You are most welcome to come and view a session in action. Please contact us to make an appointment. Is there a waiting list?
We are usually very full. My advice is that if you are sure you would like your child to attend you should book early, up to two years before you wish your child to start. However, places do become available from time to time, so please do not let this put you off applying if you are looking for a place at short notice. Which Primary School do the children transfer to? Our children transfer to a great variety of schools. Many who live locally move on to our excellent range of local state schools. Some parents choose to send their children to nearby private schools. Other children who travel from further afield transfer to schools in their own district. We have details and personal knowledge of many of the primary schools in and around the High Wycombe area and are able to discuss the range of choices and their suitability for your child at the appropriate time.
