Chelsea, BSc (Hons) Biology student, shares her daughter's experience at our Pre-School.
UCLan’s Pre-School Centre is conveniently located in the middle of campus, just behind Foster Building. Opening at 8.30am for drop-off and closing at 5.30pm, the Centre follows the University’s own term times. Parents can book full day sessions or half days in the morning or afternoon. There are separate rooms for each age group including Baby Room: six months to 24 months, Toddler Room: 24 months to three years and Pre-School room: three to five years.
My daughter has attended UCLan Pre-School since 2018 and has loved every second of it! She generally attends full days in the week, as I have lectures most days and my husband works full time. Being in my final year, I am spending most of my time on campus and in the labs in Maudland Building, so having the Centre close by is incredibly handy. I can drop her off, have some breakfast and head to labs with plenty of time to spare. Collection times also fall in line with most lectures finishing, so I can head on over when I’m done.
My daughter loves attending Pre-School. She started in the Toddler Room and has moved up to Pre-School Room over her time there. Every day she expresses her love for the things she does, whether it’s grasping numbers and letters, learning to write her own name or splashing in the puddles in the garden, she has endless fun and enjoyment during the day. She has been able to develop her interests in a safe way, as well as learn all about the world around her – they always celebrate holidays and even help the children understand the importance of mental health.
My daughter struggled with her speech and grasping language since she said her first word. As soon as it became clear that this wasn’t improving with her normal day to day activities, the Pre-School Centre were keen to support her. They immediately put a plan of action in place and contacted Speech and Language services in Preston. They inputted a lot of different activities to help and encourage her speech, even during lockdown. The development I have seen in such a short space of time is amazing. She’s gone from not being able to initiate social interactions to always wanting to start play activities. She understands questions and knows more about her own feelings – something which she really struggled to get across in the past. Pre-School has helped her grow into such a happy, confident and lively toddler and I’m no longer worried about her transition to school in September.
By supporting my daughter in every aspect of life and prioritising a safe and friendly environment for the children, the Centre have indirectly helped my own studies and wellbeing while at university. I know she is in good hands, learning new things daily, and happy where she is which means I can concentrate on succeeding in my degree.
