Hulme Hall Pre-School: Happy Little Learners
The current Coronavirus pandemic has caused many challenges within education settings and it has been no different for Pre-Schools. Hulme Hall Pre-School has been providing Early Years provision for over 40 years but this year has been like no other. With the closure of all schools and nurseries in March, the early years setting quickly adapted to remote learning and worked hard to ensure that support was in place for its families.
Whilst work was sent home that encouraged continued learning, the onus was very much on spending time together as a family and giving the children the opportunity to create memories and learn through play. This mirrors the ethos of the setting, which allows children’s curiosity to lead planning and encourages creativity, exploration and learning.
The very fact that Hulme Hall Pre-School managed to safely reopen in early June is a credit to the Head of Pre-School, Mrs Khinda, and her team who worked hard to make the premises Covid-compliant. Mrs Khinda’s main objective was to ensure the environment was safe but in such a way that the children were blissfully unaware of any changes. It has been an unequivocal success with children receiving the same care and enjoyment as they received prior to lockdown and applications for the setting on the rise. The very fact that children run into Pre-School without a backward glance says it all!
Mrs Khinda has been an early years practitioner for over 20 years and is absolutely passionate about providing early years education and shaping the formative years of those children who are in her care. In her own words, “I love what I do and I am so fortunate to get paid for it!”
Whilst the Pre-School sits within the grounds of an independent grammar school in Cale Green, it is completely self-contained providing safe and secure access to its indoor and outdoor learning environments. It is also able to utilise the facilities on site at Hulme Hall Grammar including the sports hall, dining hall and outdoor areas.
Children between the ages of 2 and 4 are able to attend the Pre-School which is separated into two distinct age groups. Two years olds form the Early Years section of the Pre-School with a dedicated room equipped with age-appropriate resources and access to their own outdoor classroom whilst Kindergarten comprises children between the ages of 3 and 4.
They have several different areas designed to create a sense of awe and wonder including a sensory room, role play area, understanding of the world area, a purpose-built kitchen and a classroom that is utilised in the summer term as part of their transition to ‘big’ school.
In addition, £100,000 was recently invested in an outdoor learning environment which offers many opportunities to create, learn and explore through high quality play. Children have access to a mud kitchen, there is a natural area where they grow herbs and vegetables and even a wooden stage for creative role play! Of course, there is plenty of play equipment as well, along with a track that children can follow to develop gross motor skills. It has all been designed to encourage learning through play and stimulate a sense of curiosity.
All staff at Hulme Hall Pre-School are fully qualified. There are currently two qualified teachers and two members of staff educated to degree level who are supported by an early years practitioner qualified to level 3, meaning that high quality education is always delivered.
There are continuous provision areas so that children can explore different activities and the setting has moved to more open-ended, natural resources to ignite the imagination.
School readiness is also at the heart of life in Pre-school and Mrs Khinda and her team work with all the children to make the transition into the next phase of their education as easy as possible. The Pre-School offers a nurturing and warm environment where children are made to feel safe and welcome and cuddles are always on offer!
Tours of Pre-School are now available by pre-booking on 0161 485 3524 or online.
