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Opening hours
We are open during term time only.
Monday 9am – 3pm
Tuesday 9am – 3pm
Wednesday 9am – 3pm
Thursday 9am – 3pm
Morning sessions 9am - 12pm/1pm
Afternoon sessions 12pm/1pm - 3pm
Funding can be applied to any of these hours.
Term dates follow those of Wiltshire County Council and TD days are held in line with the local primary school. Preschool is also shut on polling days.
What our parents say
"I will forever be grateful that you gave my son your time and created a place that he has truly loved."
"All the staff are so kind and caring and it is lovely knowing my child feels happy and excited to go to preschool."
Funding
We welcome children from the age of 2 years either funded or fee paying. All children aged 3-4 years living in England are entitled to 15 hours of free childcare with some being entitled to 30 hours free childcare.
Parents can claim the universal entitlement starting from 1st January, 1st April or 1st September after their child’s 3rd birthday which allows funding for 38 weeks during the year. Children should start preschool before the “headcount week” in order to claim.
Some children may be eligible for up to 30 hours funding per week if their parents are both working at least 16 hours per week from the age of 9 months. Parents in receipt of benefits may be able to claim Early Years Pupil Premium which is extra money to support their child in preschool. In some cases Disability Access Fund (DAF) may be claimed. We make every effort to ensure that our fees remain competitive. Government funding can be used for any preschool hours.
Fees
Children are welcome to attend additional sessions, subject to availability. Hours not covered by government funding are charged at the following rates:
Two-year-olds: £7.85 per hour
Children aged three and over: £6.03 per hour
We make a small voluntary consumables charge of £2 per session, capped at £4 per day. This consists of £1 towards food and snacks and £1 towards other items used by the children. If you do not wish to pay the consumables charge, please speak to the manager about alternative arrangements.
We do not make additional charges because a child has special educational needs or disabilities (SEND).
Occasional activities, such as trips and end-of-term celebrations, may involve an additional voluntary contribution. Parents will always be informed in advance.
Invoices are sent through Tapestry, our learning journal platform, before the beginning of each funding period and can be paid in one or two instalments during the term. Payment details will be included with your invoice.
Settling In
We want your child to feel happy, safe and secure with us from the very beginning. Your child will be invited to two free settling-in sessions, and we ask parents to stay with their child for at least the first session.
Every child is allocated a key person, who will take a special interest in getting to know your child and helping them become familiar and comfortable with preschool. They will work closely with you to make sure your child’s care, learning and development are suited to their individual needs, and will also complete their observations and assessments.
As a small preschool, all of our staff get to know every child well and build warm, caring relationships with them. Your child’s key person will usually be your first point of contact if you have any questions or concerns, but you are always welcome to speak to any member of the team.
Our experienced and caring staff will give your child plenty of time, reassurance and encouragement to help them settle at their own pace.
Supporting Children with Special Educational Needs & Disabilities (SEND)
Identifying and Supporting Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities
We are committed to providing an inclusive environment where every child is valued, supported and encouraged to reach their full potential.
Our experienced staff are confident in supporting children with a wide range of additional needs and in recognising when a child may benefit from extra help. We have experience of supporting children with physical needs, including cerebral palsy, as well as neurodivergent children and children with speech, language and communication difficulties.
Nicky Cowdry is our experienced Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCo) and has undertaken specific SENCo training. We work closely with parents and carers, so please speak to Nicky if you would like to discuss your child’s needs or have any concerns about their development.
When your child joins preschool, we will talk with you about their individual needs, development and starting points. Through our everyday observations and assessments, we continually monitor each child’s progress. If we identify an area where your child may need some additional support, we will discuss this with you and put appropriate strategies and resources in place. Where needed, we will develop a support plan setting out your child’s needs, targets and the support we will provide.
We can also help families access further advice and support where appropriate. We work in partnership with Wiltshire Council and other professionals and services, including Speech and Language Therapy, Early Years Inclusion Advisors, Health Visitors and other specialist services. Where appropriate, we may also apply to Wiltshire Council for Inclusion Support Funding to help us provide additional support within preschool.
Moving on to School or Another Setting
We work closely with families and receiving schools or settings to make transitions as smooth and positive as possible. Where appropriate, we arrange transition meetings, invite staff from your child’s new setting to visit them at preschool and share relevant information, with parental involvement, to help ensure continuity of care and support.
Further Information
Wiltshire Council’s SEND Local Offer provides information for parents and carers about the services, support and opportunities available for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities in Wiltshire.
FAQs
WHO CAN PICK MY CHILD UP FROM PRESCHOOL? The safety of all children is of the utmost importance to us. At the end of each session, parents wait outside the back door and children will be directed to their parent/guardian. If you require someone else to collect your child with whom we are unfamiliar, please notify the Manager and you may be asked to provide a password for collection.
IS THERE ANYTHING I SHOULDN'T PUT IN MY CHILD'S LUNCHBOX? To promote healthy eating please do not put sweets, fizzy drinks or chocolate snacks in children’s lunch boxes. To minimise the risk of food related allergic reactions we do not let children share their food. We ask for one treat, such as biscuits, cakes or crisps only.
DO YOU OFFER SPACES TO CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS? We particularly welcome children with special needs and are very experienced in this area. Our special needs co-ordinator is Nicky Cowdry and she will be happy to answer any questions you may have. You can also visit the Wiltshire Local Offer page which will give you further information about the support available for children with special needs.
WHAT DOES MY CHILD NEED TO BRING TO PRESCHOOL? We ask that children are dressed in practical clothing that you do not mind getting dirty whilst being appropriate for the weather. Although we do have some spare clothing, we ask parents to provide a set of spare clothes in their child’s bag. We encourage children to be independent in their self care, for example when getting ready to go outside. Easy to manage clothes and shoes will help with this. In the summer we ask for your child to bring in a sun hat and named sun cream. Please ensure you have given written permission or advised us whether you wish to have sun cream applied to your child. In the winter, please send your child in warm clothes with warm coat/hat/gloves/wellies as we like to get outside as much as possible. If your child is not toilet-trained, please bring in extra nappies and wipes. Your child also needs a packed lunch and snacks and a filled water bottle. Please ensure items are named.
ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL FEES? There is a small, voluntary charge of £2 per session (£4 per day) for consumables, consisting of £1 for food items and £1 for non-food items. There are no additional charges for parents with a child who has SEN. Some ad hoc activities such as trips and end of term parties may involve extra costs. Please speak to the manager for further information.
WHAT HAPPENS IF MY CHILD HAS AN ACCIDENT? Although we teach children to manage risk, accidents are an inevitable part of childhood. All permanent members of staff are trained in paediatric first aid and all accidents are recorded. Parents will be informed of any incidents and asked to sign an accident form at the end of the session. If any injury is of a more serious nature parents will be contacted, and emergency medical attention sought as soon as possible. Please inform staff if your child has had an accident/injury out of session times so that we are aware and can monitor them. You will be asked to record details of the incident and sign and date it.
HOW CAN I SEE YOUR POLICIES? All policies are available to view on request. Policies are regularly revised by staff and committee to maintain optimum safety and good practice procedures.
DO YOU ACCEPT CHILDCARE VOUCHERS? Preschool is registered for the government run scheme whereby working parents can pay into an account specifically for childcare fees and the government tops up the tax element, similar to the Gift Aid system.
HOW IS SEPARATION ANXIETY HANDLED? Separation anxiety is a normal developmental stage where children experience anxiety when they are separated from their parent or carer. Some children display no separation anxiety and some children experience anxiety for several weeks. It is important to comfort the child and let them know it is alright to cry or feel upset. Never try to sneak out while your child is engaged in an activity. Always give a kiss or hug, say goodbye and most importantly, say that you’re coming back. We have a lot of experience in helping children deal with separation anxiety and will provide feedback to parents during the process. We will contact you if your child is distressed and unable to be comforted.
CAN MY CHILD HAVE THEIR FAVOURITE TEDDY/COMFORTER AT PRESCHOOL? Special teddies or comforters can be brought in to help children through difficult transitions or to help them settle in. Although we try hard to keep special toys safe, things can go missing in a busy childcare setting so items of high sentimental or monetary value should be kept at home.
CAN MY CHILD HAVE A NAP AT PRESCHOOL? We do not have a designated sleeping area and do not cater for regular naps. A child needing regular daytime naps would need to attend for the morning or afternoon only.
DOES MY CHILD NEED TO BE TOILET TRAINED TO BE ABLE TO START? No, children are welcome to attend in nappies. We can assist with toilet training when your child is ready. Children should only wear pull up nappies to preschool when they are actively toilet training and should wear side fastening nappies at other times.
HOW MANY SESSIONS SHOULD MY CHILD ATTEND EACH WEEK? To assist with settling in, we suggest that two year olds attend a minimum of two sessions a week and three/four year olds attend a minimum of three sessions a week.