Helping at pre-school is an excellent opportunity for you to see how your child interacts with other children and adults. It also makes a huge difference to us too…
What does a Parent Helper do?
The Play Leader may ask you to…
- Read with the children.
- Play a game with a small group.
- Tidy the book area.
- Tidy the role-play area.
- Write names clearly on children’s work (top left hand side) and put paintings on the rack to dry.
- Help the children to tidy away at the end of the session.
- Encourage the children to put on their shoes and coats when going outside.
- Maybe you have a specific still, dance, gardening, crafts that we could arrange a specific time to do with the children.
A few Dos and Don’ts
Please:
- Do let the staff know that you’re there as a parent helper when you arrive and make sure you sign in.
- Do leave your mobile phone, or any other devices with a camera, in the ‘mobile phone crèche’ in the office.
- Don’t take any child (other than your own) out of the playroom
- Don’t take any child to use the bathroom.
- Don’t apply sun cream to any child (other than your own).
- Don’t pick a child up and offer cuddles unless the child has fallen over or is distressed. Ideally it should be a member of staff.
- Do check the colour of any cloths you use eg. to wipe down tables or mop up a spill. Specific colours should be used in each area (eg. yellow for tables, blue for bathroom). There is a list of these in the kitchen.
- Do spray the cloth and not the surface when using antibacterial cleaner to avoid too may particles being inhaled by children.
- Do wear disposable gloves and apron when preparing snack.
- do check the allergies list when preparing the snack. The staff will be able to tell you which children are at that session if you don’t know them.
- Don’t tell a child they have been naughty please ask a staff member to help if an issue should arise.