Semantic Coherence: Tiddlers Pre-school – Signal Evidence & AI Readability

[H2] An independant Pre-school based in Walton on Thames, Surrey
Welcome to Tiddlers Pre-school. We are a small, friendly pre-school in Walton on Thames and are based in St Mary’s Church Hall.We are a term time only pre-school providing Early Education for 2 – 5 year olds through the Early Years Foundation Stage.We benefit from a large premises with high ceilinged halls where the children learn and play through stimulating rescourses and activities. With a safe and secure outdoor play area the children have the opportunity for play both inside and out come rain or shine. This is enhanced by the recreation ground a few minutes walk away. The children enjoy a weekly sports class from an external provider as well as weekly outdoor learning sessions. We are within walking distance of the town centre where the local library is for the children to go on outings too and enjoy story time together.More about us

We provide a fun and safe environment for two to five year olds.We have qualified and experienced child care staff and a calming environment with its own secure outdoor play area.We aim to provide a fun setting that brings out the best in your children, whilst preparing them for school.We have a great range of toys and equipment including art and craft activities and stimulating toys and games for the children to enjoy.We work in partnership with parents and every child will have their own key worker who will help meet their individual needs.Find out more about Early Years Foundation Stage on GOV.UK.

We require a minimum of 3 sessions per week. This can be used over three half day sessions or one full day and a half day session. Morning session: 8:25am – 11:45am @ £30.00 per sessionAfternoon session: 11:45am – 2:55pm @ £30.00 per sessionAll day session: 8:25am – 2:55pm @ £60 per dayIf using the 3 & 4 year old 30 hour funding there is a levy fee 0f £8.00 per day.If using the 2 year old 30 hour funding there is a levy fee of £5.00 per day.Please ask for more details about what these charges include, these will also be listed in your welcome pack.Monday to Friday term time only.Please contact us for more details.
[H2] 30 Hours Childcare
Funded Early Education for 2, 3 & 4 year olds.We accept the government funded 30 hours Funded Early Education for 2, 3 & 4 year olds and it is available from the first term after the child’s second birthday (in line with Surrey’s term dates).To find out if you are able to claim for the 30 hours please go to the childcare choices website link below and follow their eligibility criteria.All you need is to provide us with an 11 digit code and your national insurance number and you are ready to go.Check Entitlement
[H2] 2 Year Old Early Learning Funding
Early Learning funding for 2 year olds (ELF)No Registration Fee is payable for EL funded children. We accept the government funded EL for 2 year olds.Please contact us to discuss how Tiddlers offer and support EL funding.Check Entitlement

[H2] Autumn term 2025
Monday 8th September – Friday 24th October(Half term Monday 27th October – Friday 31st October)Monday 3rd November – Friday 19th December
[H2] Spring term 2026
Monday 5th January – Friday 13th February(Half term Monday 16th February – Friday 20th February)Monday 23rd February – Friday 27th March
[H2] Summer term 2026
Monday 13th April – Friday 22nd May(Half term Monday 25th May – Friday 29th May)Monday 1st June – Wednesday 15th JulyThursday 16th July (School leavers only)

[H2] The role of the key person and settling-in process
We at Tiddlers Pre-school believe that children settle best when they have a key person to relate to, who knows them and their parents well, and who can meet their individual needs. Research shows that a key person approach benefits the child, the parent, the staff and the setting by providing secure relationships in which children thrive, parents have confidence, staff are committed and the pre-school is a happy and dedicated place to attend or work in.We want children to feel safe, stimulated and happy at Tiddlers and to feel comfortable and secure with the staff. We aim to make the setting a welcoming place where the children settle quickly and easily because consideration has been given to the individual needs and circumstances of the children and their families.The key person role is set out in the Safeguarding and Welfare requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. We assign a key person for each child. The procedures set out a model for developing a key person approach that promotes effective and positive relationships for children who are in settings.
[H3] Procedures
We allocate a key person when the child starts at Tiddlers. The key person is responsible for the induction of the family and for the settling in of the child into the setting. The key person is responsible for developmental records and for sharing information on a regular basis with the childs parents using Tapestry online Learning journal and parents consultations.
[H3] Settling-in
Before a child starts at Tiddlers we have a settling in process. We offer shorter sessions where the parents can stay with their child to make them feel more comfortable. A key person will be assigned at this point to welcome both the child and parent into the setting and go through the ‘All about me’ forms with the parents. The key person works with the parents who jointly decide on the best way to help their child settle into Tiddlers.
[H2] Tapestry online learning journal policy
At Tiddlers Pre-school we use an online system called Tapestry to record and store all observations and assessments relating to each child. This is a safe and secure system and one that enables parents and carers to access their child’s learning journey at any time. They can share it with their child, family and friends at home and also post any comments and photographs of their own, helping to create a fully holistic view of the child and strengthen the parent partnership.
[H3] Safety and security
Staff use tablets to take the photographs for observations which are to be uploaded to the journals. Each staff member has a secure login which is password and pin protected. The tablets are kept in a secure cupboard at pre-school and may only be taken home by staff members for specific reasons and with the express consent of management.  Staff will be allocated time at work to update journals and assess their key children’s next steps. Staff should have minimal need to work on journals at home but if they wish to do so they may access the Tapestry site using their own device. Staff are not permitted to download any photographs of the children onto their own devices.  If staff do work on Tapestry at home they should be aware of any other people around them and make sure they are not overlooked.  They must logout as soon as they have stopped working. If any member of staff suspects that their login details have been compromised in any way, they must inform the pre-school managers and new login details will be created. The Tapestry on-line Learning Journey system is hosted on secure dedicated servers based in the UK.   All data held on our Tapestry account is owned by Tiddlers; we are registered controllers of data with the Information Commissioner’s Office and are bound by the Data Protection Act. Photographs stored on the tablets are deleted on a regular basis by a member of staff.
[H3] Parents
Parents logging in to the system can only access their own child’s Learning Journey. Parents may input new observations and photo’s, and add comments to existing observations.  They do not have the necessary permission to edit existing content.  Parents are asked to sign a consent form giving permission for their child’s image to appear in other children’s Learning Journeys, and to protect images of other children that may appear in any photos contained in their child’s Learning Journey.  If parents withhold this consent their child is only ever photographed alone and no shared observations are made including that child.
[H3] When children leave
When children move to another setting we will transfer the Tapestry account to the new setting, if they also use Tapestry.  If they do not, we will email a PDF to the setting.When a child leaves the setting to start school the parents can download a PDF copy of their child’s Learning Journey so they have a lasting record of their child’s time at pre-school.  The child’s information, and their Learning Journey will be permanently deleted from our Tapestry account so no data on that child will remain with us once they have left.
[H2] Safeguarding and child protection policy
Tiddlers Pre-school will work with children, parents and the community to ensure the rights and safety of children and to give them the very best start in life.We ensure all staff are trained to understand our safeguarding policies and procedures and have completed the relevant training.The named DSL and Deputy DSL are fully trained and have passed the required training to be able to complete their job role competently and efficiently.We abide by Ofsted requirement in respect of references and Disclosure and barring service checks for staff and volunteers, to ensure that no disqualified person or unsuitable person works at the setting or has access to the children. All staff are signed onto the update service which allows us to check their eligibility regularly.We record information about staff qualifications, and the identity checks and vetting processes that have been completed including:The Disclosure and Barring service reference numberThe date the disclosure was obtainedDetails of who obtained itAll staff are paediatric first aid trained.Daily risk assessments are carried out to ensure that all doors are locked, fire exits are accessible, and the building is safe for use.
[H3] Children entering and leaving the premises
All children attending Tiddlers Pre-school will enter and leave the premises using the front door only. This is to ensure the safety of all the children and staff. The door is locked from the inside with only members of staff able to unlock/lock it.We operate a password system, for if somebody new is picking up a child from us. This password will have to be given to us in the morning, on that day, and relayed to us by the person collecting at the end of the day. This is to ensure the safety of the children and so that we do not have to call the parent for permission. No child will be permitted to leave with anybody unrecognisable to us without a correct password being exchanged.Full safeguarding policy available to view at the setting upon request.

Tiddlers Pre-school St Mary’s Church Hall Church Street Walton on Thames Surrey KT12 2QS 07975561884 contact@tiddlers-preschool.co.uk Like us on Facebook  Follow us on Instagram
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