The Year

Cherry Trees Early Years is open for 50 weeks a year, closed only for 2 weeks over the Christmas period and for 3 days in August for staff training.

Full time education at Brookes begins in our Reception Class.

The Day

Pre-care for Early Years children can start at 7:30 a.m., with breakfast club. Normal sessions start at 8:00 a.m. Children who arrive before 8:30 a.m. are also able to have a hot breakfast, for a small additional fee.

At 8:45 a.m. the children are officially registered and then the Montessori ‘work cycle’ begins. The children are encouraged to take part in short carpet sessions where books are read and discussed or acted out and counting songs, rhymes and Maths activities are presented.

The children are then free to choose from the shelves, both inside and out, any activity they have been presented with, the practitioners work individually with the children, either on planned activities to support their learning or following the child’s natural path to develop their understanding further in a certain area. At 11:45 the work cycle ends and the children have lunch, followed by playtime outside on the field or on the playground with bikes and scooters. In the afternoon the children take part in all the extra activities we have on offer. The school day officially ends at 4:00 p.m. whereupon those not going home can stay in aftercare until 5:30 p.m. Tea is served at 4:30, again at a small additional charge for those in receipt of funding.

Government Funded Sessions
We offer 15 and 30 hour funded sessions over term time (34 weeks) or a reduced weekly hours total to attend year-round.

Funded 2 year olds 

Free funded 15-hour session: Monday to Friday term time.+ lunch £3.00 payable.

Funded 3 &4 year olds 

Free funded 15-hour session:  Monday to Friday term time + lunch £3.00 payable.
Free funded 30-hour session: Monday to Friday term time + lunch £3.00 payable.

Any additional hours are charged as a funded session at £6.70 an hour.  Any additional services such as trips, activities and visiting educational specialists will be chargeable if you are in receipt of Government funding. A registration fee is not required for Government Funded Sessions and will only be required if children attend extra sessions on top of their funded ones.