Welcome to Sundon Stars Pre-school
The Early Years Alliance provides flexible, affordable and quality childcare across England.
Sundon Stars Pre-school is an Alliance childcare service in Luton, Bedfordshire.
We offer 34 Ofsted-registered places and were recently assessed as GOOD by Ofsted
We currently have afternoon sessional childcare places available.
Our committed, friendly and well-qualified nursery team provides care and learning opportunities for children aged between 3-5 years.
We follow the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) with a focus on learning through play and actively encourage parents to become involved in their child's learning journey within the pre-school.
Read our Ofsted Report
Opening hours
We are open from 9am - 3.30pm, Monday to Friday, term time only, excluding bank holidays and three staff training days.
Our morning session runs from 9am-12pm.
Our afternoon session runs from 12.30pm-3.30pm.
We offer
- Friendly and fun place for you and your child
- Learning through play in inside and outside environments in accordance with the Early Years Foundation Stage Profile.
- A well-qualified, kind and caring team who attend regular training to continue their professional development
- All staff are Paediatric First Aid trained
- A dedicated Key person to provide focussed support for your child in all areas of their development.
- Daily healthy snacks prepared and provided on site
- Well resourced pre-school based within a primary school site
- Close relationship with forwarding Primary school
- Strong links with community children's centre
- Encourage parental involvement- Children take home weekly their chosen book to share with family members, themed stay and play sessions and local outings.
- Termly parent consultations
- We welcome parent volunteers and also welcome comments/ ideas and suggestions
- Communication skills are encouraged through visual aids and one member of staff is fluent in BSL (British sign language)
Fees
3-5 year olds - first 15 hours funded, additional 15 hours availible to eligible families (30 hour offer)
A.M session 9.00-12.00 is £14
P.M session 12.30-3.30 is £14
Additional Lunchtime session 12.00-12.30 is £2.40 + hot school dinner £2.35
Voluntary contributions of £1 per week / £5 per half term for healthy snacks for your child per session
Find out more
To visit during our opening hours or to ask about childcare vacancies, please contact the Pre-school on 01582 591225
or email sundonstars@eyalliance.org.uk 
Term Dates
| Spring Term 2019 | Summer Term 2019 | Autumn Term 2018 |
|---|---|---|
| 7 Jan - 5 Apr | 23 Apr - 19 Jul | 3 Sep - 19 Dec |
| Half Term | Half Term | Half Term |
| 18 Feb - 22 Feb | 27 May - 31 May | 22 Oct - 26 Oct |
The nursery is closed on public bank holidays. Dates may be subject to change and additional staff training days may still be added to the above dates.
Summer 2019
Firstly, we will looking at the topic of animals including: farm, zoo and pets.The children will visit a variety of farm animals on the school site where the children will have an opportunity to pet them if they wish. We will be discussing habitats, which animals live on land, in water or in the sky. We will look at how we can care for animals who live in our homes, and talk about where we can take them if they become poorly. We will encourage the children to look at the patterns and markings on zebras, leopards and giraffes and the children will be encouraged to copy or design their own animal patterns using paint, pencils or coloured pens.This term we have been focussing on several themes and topics, and ending with celebrations and graduation.
We will also be looking at different forms of transport, on land, on water and in the air. The children will learn about the importance and procedures of road safety.
The children will learn about some different occupations centred around 'People Who Help Us’- in particular, the Police, Firefighters, Doctors and Vets.
This term we will be focussing on transitions to ensure that all our children are well prepared and ready for Primary school. As part of their transition, the children will engage in PE sessions once a week in the primary school hall. This introduces the children to a new but fun concept of their upcoming routine within a Primary school setting. The children will also have opportunities to meet their new teachers and visit their new classrooms.
Weather permitting, we will be holding our annual Sundon Stars Sports Day event where we will be inviting families to cheer on their children as they partake in a variety of fun-filled physical activities.
To finish our academic year, we will be saying a very sad farewell to our children. We will, however, be holding a Graduation/ End of Year party to celebrate every child’s achievements with us over the school year. This will be held during the afternoon session and we will be welcoming all parents and other family members who wish to attend.
Spring 2019
This term we will be looking at themes which include changes that happen during Spring, Growth and Traditional Tales.
Traditional Tales will look at the different characters featured in the stories, the setting in which the story takes place, main events and the theme the story is linked to. The children will also be asked to draw their favourite character and explain what they like / do not like about the character, and will also be thinking how they could change the ending of the story to make it their own as well as acting out their version of the tale. This topic ties in perfectly with World Book Day
For our topic of Growth, the children will be growing beans, talking about what type of conditions beans need to grow well in. The children will have an opportunity to measure and record how tall their beans are, comparing their beans to other children's beans.
In March, we will be receiving a delivery of eggs in an incubator where the children will have the opportunity to see chicks hatch. The children will have an opportunity to help care for them for a week by providing seeds and water. The children can also experience holding and stroking the chicks before they return to the Happy Chick Company.The chicks tie in nicely with our celebration of Easter.
During Spring Term, we will also be celebrating Pancake Day, Chinese New Year, Mother's Day, St Patricks day, St George’s day and helping to raise money for Comic Relief.
Autumn Term 2018
This term we will met our new families, the children made new friends and we welcomed back our current children and their families.
We focussed on the themes of ‘Me and My Family’, ‘Autumn,’ 'Diwali',' Remembrance Day',' Bonfire Night' and 'Christmas'.
For ‘Me and My Family’, the children were encouraged to talk about themselves and the special people in their lives. Children brought photographs from home to share with their Key persons and peers during focus group time. Children were encouraged to draw/ paint their portrait and these were on display.
For ‘Autumn’, the children and their families were invited to go on an Autumn walk around the school grounds,collecting leaves, twigs and other natural resources.
The children were encouraged to talk about their ‘finds’ and made a collage with these items. The children also had the opportunity to explore the “magic” that happened when we used a wax candle and water-based paints for leaf-rubbing. We discussed the patterns the leaf prints make on the paper.
We learnt all about and celebraed Diwali, the Festival of Light. The children made their own Divas, desifgned their own special Ragoli pictures, and dressed up in traditional clothes.
We also discussed Firework night- the sounds and sights fireworks made.We discussed the concepts of light and dark and children had the chance to make a dark den and, using torches, theymade a variety of shape shadows using their hands. The children created wonderful firework pictures using a range of media, materials and fluorescent- coloured paint.We also discussed the importance of staying safe around fireworks.
The children had an opportunity to make individual ‘poppy ‘pictures for Remembrance Day.
To complete our Autumn term, the children celebrated Christmas by making Christmas decorations for their homes, helped to decorate the pre-school ready for our Christmas party and practised singing some Christmas-themed songs ready for their very special concert for their parents.The children also had the opportunity to write their very own special letter to Santa and they posted their letter in the local postbox. To complete the festivities, the children all received a surprise visit and special gift from Santa Claus.
About us
We offer a stimulating approach to early years development and learning for very young children. Within a safe, friendly and fun environment, children are supported by qualified, caring staff in developing a wide range of skills and interests.
The children enjoy learning through play experiences in bright indoor and outdoor play areas with exciting outings planned regularly.
Our pre-school plans its activities in accordance with the EYFS with a strong focus on exploratory, imaginative play and healthy eating. We recognise the huge benefits free flow play has on the positive development of very young children.
Every child in our care is supported by a key person who understands their individual needs and offer special care and support to them.
Rigorous health & safety and safeguarding policies and procedures are in place to ensure every child is protected and feels safe and happy with us.
To ensure consistency of quality and practice, all Alliance settings follow the same policies and procedures which meet Ofsted and other legal requirements. These are available for you to see and you are free to discuss anything in the policies and procedures with your key person or the setting manager.
A copy of our policies & procedures are available in the nursery if you wish to see them.
Click here for a parents guide to the EYFS
Sundon Stars Pre-school is managed by the Early Years Alliance which has over 50 years experience delivering childcare and professional support to early years practitioners.
Activities at Sundon Stars Pre-school
We provide lots of exciting activities for your child to explore as they learn through their play. These include:
- Discovery area
- ICT area
- Water play
- Arts and crafts (with free choice resource trolley)
- Home corner
- Dressing up and role play
- Maths unit (with lots of resources to count, sort, match and explore shape, colour and size)
- Cosy story corner
- Small world (e.g. cars, animals, figures, trains)
- Construction (e.g. wooden blocks, Duplo, Mobilo)
- Music area
- Malleable area (e.g playdough/ shaving foam,clay,dried pasta or rice)
- Physical play (e.g. balls, hoops, see-saws, trikes, scooters, slides)
- Mud kitchen
Newsletters
| April 2019 |
| May 2019 |
| June 2019 |
Find out more
To visit during our opening hours or to ask about childcare vacancies please contact the Pre-school on 01582 591225 or email sundonstars@eyalliance.org.uk
Our Team
Our well qualified, committed and experienced team works hard to create a caring and learning environment in the pre-school.
We know every child develops differently and at different times. Every child has a key person who understands their individual needs and interests. This helps us ensure every child feels involved, stimulated and happy in our care.
We follow rigorous staff recruitment and supervision procedures to ensure anyone joining our team undertakes relevant security checks including Disclosure and Barring Service, references and qualification checks.Parents are reassured knowing that child protection and safeguarding underpins every aspect of our practice.
Your child's 'key person'
Every child who joins the pre-school receives support from an experienced member of the team. They are responsible for your child’s individual needs and known as the ‘key person’.
The key person is your main point of contact however all pre-school staff are happy to feedback on your child’s developmental progress on a daily basis or discuss any concerns with you. They will also keep records of your child’s progress and achievement, which are always available for you to see and contribute towards.
Your child’s key person will make time to find out from you about your child’s interests, likes, dislikes and special requirements. Please share any important or useful information when you register your child and throughout their time with us. This helps us to give your child the most appropriate care and learning to suit them. You can access and contribute your views to your child's progress in their records.
The Sundon Stars team
Tracey Pender - Pre-school Manager, Designated Safeguarding Officer and SPOC (single point of contact)
Tracey began her career in the childcare sector over 18 years ago, firstly as a committee member for Beechwood Pre-school, then as a voluntary member of staff at the start of her childcare studies. She started as a nursery practitioner after gaining her Level 3 in ChiIdcare and Education and progressed to Deputy Manager. Since September 2018, Tracey became Manager of Sundon Stars.
Tracey's favourite children's books are "Bear under the Stairs" and "The Gruffalo" and her favourite rhymes are " Down in the jungle " and "Wind the bobbin up".
Celeen Pryce - Pre-school Deputy Manager, Back-up Safeguarding Officer and SPOC
Celeen has a BA(HONS) in Child and Adolescent Studies. Celeen has been a key person to 2 year olds, 3 - 5 year olds as well as Babyroom leader and Acting Deputy Manager in a previous PSLA setting. In September, 2018, Celeen became Deputy Manager of Sundon Stars.
Celeen's favourite children's book is " Owl Babies" and her favourite rhymes are "Down in the jungle" and " One man and his dog".
Jennifer Mandayaya - Nursery Practitioner
Level 3 qualified. Jennifer has worked at previous PSLA settings and became part of the Sundon Stars team in June 2018
Jennifer's favourite children's book is "The Gruffalo" and her favourite rhymes are " Miss Polly" and "5 little ducks"
Rachel Cutler - Nursery Practitioner
Level 3 qualified, Rachel has worked as an Early Year's Practitioner at Sundon Stars since September 2011
Rachel's favourite children's book is "Monkey Puzzle", and her favourite nursery rhyme is "5 little monkeys."
Tracey King - Nursery Practitioner
Level 3- NNEB qualification, Tracey has been working as an Early Year's practioner at Sundon Stars since January 2017.
Tracey's favourite children's book is "The Gruffalo" and her favourite nursery rhyme is "5 currant buns"
Rachel Swain- Marsh - Nursery Practitioner
Level 3 qualified, Rachel has been working as an Early Years practitioner at Sundon Stars since February 2018.
Rachel's favourite children's books are "The Hungry Caterpillar" and "The Gingerbread Man" and her favourite nursery rhyme is "Wind the bobbin up".
Find out more
To visit during our opening hours or to ask about childcare vacancies please contact the Pre-school on 01582 591225 or email sundonstars@eyalliance.org.uk
65432217925
FAQs
Do you offer funded entitlement for three year olds?
Yes. Children are eligible for the funding in the term following their third birthday. The funding is available for 15 hours per week (term time), subject to availability.
We also offer 30 hour funding for those families who are eligible. To find out more please visit www.childcarechoices.gov.uk
Do you offer funded entitlement for two year olds?
No
What sessions do you offer?
Morning session: 9am - 12pm
Lunch club: 12pm -12.30pm
Afternoon session: 12.30pm -3.30pm
Children are able to attend am or pm sessions or whole day sessions.
How old does my child need to be to start at pre-school?
We accept children the term following their third birthday
Can my child take up more than just the funded sessions?
Yes you can pay for extra sessions above your funded entitlement.
Do you provide hot meals?
No. Children are offered snacks during each session. For those children who are attending lunch club a healthy packed lunch must be provided by parents/carers.
Are you able to accommodate children with different dietary requirements?
Yes, we could accommodate this during snack time.
How quickly can my child start?
We generally have a larger intake of children in September and a smaller intake in January. Places do become available throughout the year as children leave for varying reasons. If there is an available place for your child, we will contact you via telephone.
How do I apply for a place?
Come and have a look around our pre-school, ring us on 01582 591225, or email us
What should my child wear to pre-school?
Comfortable clothing that doesn't matter if they get mucky! We do not have a uniform, but recommend clothes that are easy to change which will help your child to become independent, e.g. jogging bottoms, t-shirts and velcro plimsolls or shoes for indoors. If your child is toilet training, then please avoid dungarees, button up vests and tight skinny jeans as these are tricky for them (and us!) to remove quickly. Please put your child's name on all clothing.
What footwear do you recommend?
Velcro plimsolls and Velcro shoes are ideal for indoor play and trainers or welly boots for outside. We do not recommend flip flops or croc style shoes as they can slip off feet very easily and might trip them up. Please avoid laced shoes/boots if possible as they are too tricky for the children to do themselves. Consider how long it takes you to put them on one child and then think of us with up to 24 pairs of children's feet! During warmer weathers we ask children not to wear open-toed shoes/ sandals as we do not want accidents to their unprotected toes.
What should my child bring to pre-school?
A named bag (preferable a drawstring bag) with a change or two of clothing and nappies/wipes if appropriate. Outdoor wear suitable for the weather conditions. This should include coat, hat, gloves in the winter and sunhat in the summer (please apply sun lotion before the session). Everything named please!
What should I do if my child cannot attend a session, e.g. if they are ill?
Please contact us by telephone on 01582 591225 or email to let us know. Some illnesses have an exclusion period and we can let you know if this is applicable. Please allow 48 hours after a bout of sickness or diarrhoea before your child returns.
How can I help my child to settle in?
All children are different, some settle in straight away, others may take a little more time and encouragement. We will work with you to help your child to settle in in a way that you are comfortable with. We ask you to stay with your child for the first hour. On the second day, we ask you to leave your child with us for one hour without you. If your child seems happy to have been left, the following day your child may stay for a full session.
How will I know how well my child is doing?
Every child has a learning journey book (their ‘special book’) in which their progress within the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is charted. You are welcome to look through your child’s book at any time and chat to us. Every term your child’s key person will sit down with you to have a chat about their progress. You can find out more information about your child’s learning journey book and the EYFS here.
How can I support my child's learning at home?
Every month, in our newsletters, we provide ideas for activities for you to do at home including ways you can support your child. This will help your child during planned activities in the nursery, Staff are always happy to discuss ideas with you. We provide a parent library with books and story sacks for you to borrow and share with your child at home. At your child’s termly review we will discuss with you activities and strategies you may wish to adopt at home to help with your child’s learning and their next steps.
How can I help with the pre-school?
We are part of the Pre-school Learning Alliance which is a registered charity, so fundraising to help pay towards new resources or donations are always welcome. You can also find us on Easyfundraising where retailers make donations towards the pre-school when you shop online with them.
Parents are always welcome to come in and help out once their child has settled in. It is an ideal opportunity for you to become involved in the pre-school community and to find out what we do! We are always looking out for parents/carers who have any cooking, musical or creative skills or talents that they could share with small groups of children during the session. Please speak to the management team or Key person if you are interested. All regular helpers undergo Disclosure and Barring Service checks.
Find out more
To visit during our opening hours or to ask about childcare vacancies please contact the Pre-School on 01582 591225 or email sundonstars@eyalliance.org.uk
Contact Us
In the first instance please contact Tracey Pender, Pre-school Manager or
Celeen Pryce, Deputy Manager
T: 01582 591225
E: sundonstars@eyalliance.org.uk
Alternatively, please contact Lisa Smith, Childcare Operations Manager on 07525 701788
Local Office: Beds & Luton Service Hub - Bedfordshire & Luton
Our other local childcare settings
Foxcubs Nursery, 30a Runley Road, Luton LU1 1TZ
Poppies Nursery, Beechwood Primary School, Beechwood Road, Luton LU4 9RD
Parktown Pre-school, Parktown Community Centre, Bailey Street, Luton LU1 3DU
Parent testimonials
"Thank you for being such a kind, loving and friendly team. C has enjoyed his years with you all."
"Thank you all so much for the help and guidance you have given R over the last two years. You have helped him grow and learn, and he has loved his time with you."
"I want to say a very big thank you to all the wonderful staff at Sundon Stars, you all made my coming to school a very good one."
"Thank you for being such a good nursery teacher to O. As a parent, I know perfect teachers are hard to find but for me you are the best teacher for my child. Thank you for your love and care you are giving to my child every day, and I truly appreciate that. Thank you!"
"To all staff at Sundon Stars. Thank you for taking care of me, teaching me phonics, helping me to put my jacket on, teaching me to be creative especially in art & craft. I will miss you a lot."
"We would like to say a big thank you to all the staff for all the hard work you do at the nursery. S has improved and developed a lot during time there and had such fun, so many thanks."
"Thank you for being so supportive for my son. Your pre-school is fantastic and you should all be so proud of how good you are with the children. It makes me feel at ease knowing J is in safe hands. I know J can be crazy & hyper but you have cared and looked after him so well.’’
"Thank you for teaching me all the clever things you have taught me. I have had a fantastic time at your pre-school. You have all been so lovely and kind to me, help me draw and count and spell my name. Most of all you have all been my friend.’’
‘"Thank you for accommodating my twins and changing timings to help me back to work."
‘"I'm so very grateful for the work you have put in with my son. His confidence has grown so very much in the short space he has been with you. You are all super stars!’’
