Abacus

Abacus sessions are especially for those children who are in their last 3 terms before starting school. Through these sessions we hope to prepare your child as fully as possible for their entrance into school. Abacus runs every afternoon according to demand (usually on at least two afternoons a week in the autumn term, increasing to 5 afternoons by the summer term) with up to 20 children in a session. We always have at least 3 staff members at these sessions. The Abacus session is from 12.30 pm to 3.00 pm

A Typical Abacus Session

12.30pm. On arrival the children are greeted at the door by a member of staff. They select their name card, introducing word and letter recognition. The children then gather for register, as they will when they go to school. While all the children are arriving the group talk about the themes for the day. For example, abacus children focus on a different colour or letter each week. The children may take it in turns to write the letter of the week on the board, while some children may have brought something starting with the letter of the week, which they will all discuss. After the register has been taken, a number or writing activity is often carried out before washing hands ready for lunch.

12.45pm. Lunch-time

Each child will have brought a simple lunch and drink with them, so they can sit and eat together. Our aim is to help children to cope more easily with everyday school life, by practising opening lunch boxes and eating lunch as a group. For two weeks we cook a hot meal for the children to practice all the aspects of having school dinners, such as queuing to be served, and carrying a tray of food back to their seat. When the children have finished lunch, they may read a book on the carpet, independently, or with a staff member.

1:30pm. The activities of the day begin. We start with a circle time to encourage social interaction and confidence building. Here we discuss the day’s activities and may sing songs, learn a new rhyme, do music and movement, imaginative games, or sorting and matching games. During the rest of the afternoon, activities may include outdoor play, painting, cutting and sticking, playdough, construction, sand, role play etc. The emphasis is still very much on learning through play and having lots of fun. Our Abacus sessions are more structured than pre-school sessions, as we are preparing the children for school. We encourage Abacus children to experience all the activities on offer during a session, often working on each activity in small groups. Our activities are thematically based and aim to further develop the pre-school skills, both social and educational, through more advanced creative projects, ICT and educational games involving alphabet and number recognition and imaginative play. Children are further encouraged to develop their social skills and personal independence. Special sessions are set aside for P.E., where the children will change into T-shirt, shorts and trainers before doing some P.E. and then getting changed back into their normal clothes – all great practice. We always encourage the children to put on their own coats, go to the toilet by themselves and wash their own hands.

2.40pm. Tidy up time. We end the day with a group story before getting ready for home.

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