Daily Routine
The children at Chatterbox have the opportunity to take part in the following areas of activity during each session. However, they may not always happen in the same order.
Arrival and registration
Upon arrival, children gather in the main room. Children are encouraged to find their own named apple and stick it onto our tree to register themselves as having arrived. Once everyone has arrived, and after a period of free play, a bell will be rung and the children make their way to the book corner for formal registration.
After registration, the children will be told what activities are available to them on that particular day and some activities may be explained. There may also be a topic discussion or a show and tell period.
Main Playroom
In the main room each day, there will a period of time spent in small groups. Activities are set out on the tabletops and larger ones on the floor. In addition to activities that change each day, the children have access to `static’ activities such as the writing-table, home corner and book corner.
Messy Room
The messy room provides the children with access to sand and water play and other creative, scientific and discovery activities.
Outdoor Play
The paved play area is used daily and the children enjoy a variety of activities including sit and ride toys, chalk marking, balance and ball games. The newly renovated grassed play area is a firm favourite and has special wet weather matting so daily trips on the pirate ship can happen all year round! Our forest garden is also visited daily and provides endless fun and adventure.
We venture outside in all weather, and we ask our parents to ensure their child has suitable waterproof and warm kit with them every day.
Book Corner
The book corner is a place for the children to go if they want some quiet time with or without friends, they can help themselves to books to look at or they can sit on the sofa or beanbags and play with the dolls.
We have a CD player in the room if they want to listen to music.
Cooking
A variety of things are made – cheese straws, apple crumble, cakes, jelly etc. Cooking takes place a few times a term to ensure that all the children have the opportunity to be involved. Depending on what has been made, the children either take home their cooking or we taste it together at snack time!!
Snack Time
Each session has a snack time included. The children sit in small groups finding their name card and phonically spelling it out. The children take it in turns to gives out the cups and plates and we encourage them to pour their own drink (a choice of milk or water). A healthy snack is provided such as fruit, cheese, breadsticks and houmous. Due to our charity status, snack donations from parents are also welcomed.
Mealtimes
Children may bring in a healthy packed lunch or if they want to bring in food to heat up we have a microwave.
As with snack time, lunch and high tea commence with the children finding their name place setting and phonically spelling it out. Meals are served ‘family style’ at the table, allowing everyone including staff to come together to share not only a meal but to communicate with each other, promoting social development and interaction. Children are encouraged to eat their meal with utensils and remain at the table until everyone is finished.
Visits and Visitors
We invite a large range of visitors into Chatterbox to talk to the children about topic-related issues. Visitors include nurses, doctors, dentists and firemen. We occasionally visit the playgrounds or go for nature walks. All visitors are signed in and never left alone with the children. Regular visitors require a DBS check – please see the separate policy.