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OUR SETTING
We are based in the All Cannings village hall within walking distance to the shop, park, local primary school, church, stream, local farm and rural paths.
How We Learn
“The highly dedicated manager and her passionate team carefully plan and implement a broad and ambitious curriculum.” Ofsted 2024
At All Cannings Preschool, we believe children learn best when they are happy, interested and enjoying what they are doing. We provide a wide range of activities and experiences, combining plenty of child-led play and choice with carefully planned adult-led activities.
We follow the children’s interests and build on what they already know and can do. Our experienced staff are always nearby to encourage, support and extend their learning, while making sure there is plenty of time for fun, exploration and simply enjoying being a child.
Through play and everyday experiences, children develop confidence, independence, curiosity and the skills they need for the next stage of their learning and beyond.
The seven areas of learning and development within the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) are:
Communication and language
Physical development
Personal, social and emotional development
Literacy
Mathematics
Understanding the world
Expressive arts and design
We have a large outside play area, on both hard-standing and grass, with a digging pit and mud kitchen.
What our parents say
"You are so fantastically good at what you do, any child is lucky to be in your hands."
"I love that it is a small village preschool. Numbers of children are not huge & it is very personal between children and staff!"
There is a cosy summerhouse which serves as a home role play area with a kitchen and babies.
Community links
We are very lucky to be part of such a friendly village community and love making the most of our beautiful rural surroundings.
The mobile library visits preschool each month, giving the children the chance to choose books to borrow using our preschool library card. We also enjoy regular walks around the village, with visits to the park, canal paths, allotments and local farms.
We have children who move on to a variety of schools but due to our proximity, we have close links with All Cannings Primary School and visit for activities and events such as Sports Day and the Nativity — or sometimes simply to enjoy a play session. These visits are a lovely opportunity for the children to become familiar with a school environment, spend time with older children and perhaps even spot a brother or sister!
We also enjoy being involved with other parts of village life. We visit the church and attend coffee mornings, and often visit the village shop.
These links help the children feel part of the wider community and give them lots of varied experiences beyond preschool.
Staff
“Parents state staff are extremely caring and nurturing, which enables their children to flourish at pre-school.” Ofsted 2024
Nicky Cowdry BEd(Hons)
Manager (since 2018)
12 years Early Years experience
Qualified Primary School teacher with 10 years experience
Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead
Behaviour Management
SENCo
Paediatric First Aid
Safeguarding Foundation Plus Level
Food hygiene
DBS Checked
Lucy Jenkins
Deputy Manager
8 years Early Years experience at All Cannings
Early Years Advanced Practitioner Level 4
Designated Safeguarding Lead
Paediatric First Aid
Foundation Plus in Safeguarding
Food hygiene
DBS Checked
Peach Shakesby
Early Years Educator
Early Learning and Childcare Diploma Level 3
16 years Early Years experience
Worked at All Cannings for 6 years
Paediatric First Aid
Food hygiene
DBS Checked
Leah Chandler
Early Years Educator
Level 3 Diploma for the Early Years Practitioner
13 years Early Years experience
Started at All Cannings in 2026
Level 3 Award for SEN Coordinators in EY
Paediatric First Aid
DBS Checked
Effie Oram
Bank Staff
3 years Early Years experience
Outdoor learning lead
Food hygiene
DBS Checked
Committee
All Cannings Preschool is a registered charity (No. 1022946) and is supported by a voluntary committee made up largely of parents and members of our local community.
Parents are warmly encouraged to get involved, whether by joining the committee or helping at events. It is a great way to support the preschool, meet other families and play a part in preschool life.
The committee organises fundraising events throughout the year to help provide additional resources and opportunities for the children. Popular events include our Bonfire and Fireworks Night and Easter Egg Hunt.
Please speak to us if you would like to find out more about joining the committee or helping with an event.
Parent Partnership
Working in partnership with parents is really important to us. We use the secure Tapestry system to share observations, progress and next steps, and we love parents to add photos, adventures and achievements from home too so that we can celebrate these together at preschool.
Parents are invited to join us for special events such as Sports Day and our Nativity, and we always welcome volunteers to help in the setting or on trips. You will also have opportunities to meet with your child’s key person, and staff are available before and after sessions for a quick chat.
Your child’s happiness and wellbeing are at the heart of everything we do, so please always feel able to speak to us about any questions or concerns, however small they may seem.
We also have a closed Facebook group for parents and committee members, where we share a weekly update with photos and highlights from the children’s activities.
Our public Facebook page is used for general preschool news and information.
Safeguarding
Safeguarding is at the forefront of all we do and we promote an "It Could Happen Here" attitude. All members of staff and regular volunteers undertake regular safeguarding training.
We are part of Operation Encompass, a police and education early information safeguarding partnership enabling settings to offer immediate support to children experiencing domestic abuse. Information is shared with a setting’s Key Adult (Designated Safeguarding Lead or Officer) prior to the start of the next school day after officers have attended a domestic abuse incident. This sharing of information enables appropriate support to be given, dependent upon the needs and wishes of the child.
Please be aware that when a child comes into preschool with a pre-existing injury, we are obliged to complete a form detailing the circumstance of the injury, which you will be asked to sign. These forms are kept securely in preschool for safeguarding purposes and for the protection of staff. We regularly share safeguarding information with parents, including topics such as online safety and domestic abuse.
British Values
Early Years settings have a requirement to promote British values. At All Cannings Preschool we promote mutual respect and are an inclusive setting. We want children to be independent learners so that they can make their own choices and build and develop strong relationships and friendships with lots of people. We encourage children to join in and try their best and to follow our simple rules. All of these things are the foundations for growing into good citizens and promote the ‘British Values’ of democracy, the rule of the law, individual liberty, mutual respect and tolerance.
