Welcome to
Sharon Kindergarten

Located in the heart of Finchley
United Synagogue community

What we believe

At Sharon Kindergarten, we provide a nurturing and stimulating environment for children aged 2 to 5. We are fully registered with Ofsted and maintain strict staff ratios of 1 to 4 for 2-3 year olds and 1 to 8 for older children. Our staff are highly qualified and committed to ongoing professional development.

Our curriculum is built on the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage (2014) which focuses on ensuring children are healthy, safe and learning well. This framework also promotes “school readiness” and provides children with the foundational skills and knowledge necessary for a successful future.
 
Through good quality play, children develop important skills such as listening, concentration, creativity, cooperation, and problem-solving.
We recognise that too early an approach to formal learning can disadvantage children and turn them off schooling.
We understand that a happy and secure childhood is essential for the overall well-being and future success of our children. We would be delighted to welcome prospective parents and children to our Kindergarten and show you our facilities and approach to learning.

Classrooms

Our classrooms are designed to foster imagination, exploration, and learning through interactive spaces for role play, problem solving, discovery, creativity, and language and literacy. These spacious and well-lit environments are tailored to the comfort, security, and enjoyment of the children.

 

Our classrooms feature a variety of seating options, including tables and floor mats, to accommodate different learning styles. Additionally, we offer access to an outdoor playground with a variety of stimulating equipment, as well as an indoor soft play area complete with a climbing frame and balancing beams.

Activities

At our Kindergarten, we believe in the power of play-based learning to inspire and educate young children. Play is an often underestimated tool for capturing the attention and imagination of children, teaching them important skills and fostering emotional maturity. We design our curriculum to meet the unique needs and abilities of each child, ensuring that we cover the standards set by the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) for learning and care.
 
Throughout the year, we celebrate Jewish festivals and teach children about other religious celebrations, while also giving them opportunities to lead the curriculum through their own interests and observations. Our activities are designed to encourage self-discovery and exploration, aligning with the seven areas of learning and development outlined in the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework.
All of these activities are designed to align with the seven areas of learning and development outlined 
in the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework.

Manipulative toys,
games and puzzles

Sand, water,
dough and clay

Imaginative and role play. Discussions and sharing

Books, stories and
listening activities

Cooking and baking

Tapestry​

Tapestry is an online platform that enables us to document your child’s learning and development journey. Hosted on secure servers in the UK, Tapestry allows you to access your child’s Learning Journal from your computer, iPhone or iPad. To learn more about Tapestry, you can visit https://eylj.org.
Each child will have their own personal online Learning Journey, which will include photos, observations, and comments that align with the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum. As a parent, you will have secure access to your child’s Learning Journey through a unique email address and password. This allows you to view our contributions, as well as add your own observations and comments. We will also regularly update the Learning Journal with photos, relevant artwork, and other important information about your child.

Schedules & Fees

We offer the flexibility of two session options for your child’s learning and development journey.
We have 3 terms and 38 weeks in total for the academic year.

Morning Session: Mondays through Fridays, from 09:00 am to 12:00 pm. (Children who attend the morning session must attend all 5 days)

 

Full Day Session: Mondays through Thursdays, from 09:00 am to 3:00 pm. (You have the option to choose all or part of this session to suit your schedule)

Our programme is designed to accommodate the needs of families and provide a comprehensive learning experience for children. We understand that every family has different scheduling needs and we are happy to work with you to find the best fit for your child.
Invoice for tuition is handled through electronic means, with invoices sent to you via email prior to each term. We understand that every family has unique financial needs, and we are happy to work with you to develop a flexible payment plan that fits your budget.
 
We accept the Free Entitlement for Early Education (FEEE) starting from the term after your child’s third birthday. Additionally, we also accept Child Care Vouchers from various companies, and we are able to register with most company schemes, if necessary. If you have any questions about these options or if you need any help with registration process, please let us know and we will be more than happy to assist you.

Policies

We have a comprehensive collection of policies that outline our approach to various aspects of the kindergarten operations, such as health and safety, behaviour management, and curriculum. These policies are available for review upon request and can be accessed through a downloadable link. Some of the policies are also displayed on the Parents Notice Board for easy reference.

Our kindergarten rules are minimal and are in place solely to ensure the safety and well-being of our community. We place a strong emphasis on values such as trust, fairness, self-discipline, mutual respect, and self-esteem. We encourage and praise good behaviour, and strive to instil in all children the understanding that this is the norm.
We use observation and records to assess each child’s level of development in relation to the Development Matters Statements in the EYFS. We use an online learning journal called Tapestry, where observations and assessments are made and shared with parents/carers. Parents work together with their child’s key worker as next steps are noted.
We keep our parents informed about the kindergarten’s activities and important dates through a weekly newsletter and regular email updates.

Admissions & Enrollment

At our Kindergarten, children have the option to attend a Morning Session or a full day, subject to availability.
Morning Session children are required to attend all five mornings. Full and part-time schedules are set at the beginning of each term.
To apply, prospective parents must complete a registration form, and pay a registration fee of £50. This fee is non-refundable. Once we receive the completed registration form and fee, your child’s name will be added to our waiting list for entrance into the Kindergarten. Two terms prior to the anticipated start date, an offer of a place and a deposit form will be sent to you, which must be completed and returned. After acceptance is received, a “drop-in” session will be arranged for your child to visit the Kindergarten.
We have the following admissions criteria:
1. Siblings of children who attend/ed Sharon Kindergarten
2. Priority is given to members of Finchley United Synagogue
3. To those whose names have been on the waiting list the longest.

We strive to make the enrollment process as smooth and efficient as possible for families and we are always happy to answer any question or concern you may have.

Contact Us

To schedule an appointment with our team, you can reach us by phone at 07510 651584 or by filling out the enquiry/feedback form on our website. 

Our team is looking forward to assisting you and providing you with all the information you need about our services.