Pre-School 
Mornings
Monday - Friday
9:15am - 12:15pm
Afternoons
Monday's, Tuesday's and Thursday's
1.15pm - 4.00pm
Full Day
Monday, Tuesday and Thursday's
9.15am - 4.00pm
£10.65 per morning session (3 hours)
or
£8.88 per morning session (2.5 hours)
£8.88 per afternoon session (2.5 hours)
Lunch club
£3.55
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday
12.15pm - 1.15pm
Our hugely popular Pre-school is accessible to all children in the community. Children are able to join the setting from the age of 2 up to 4 years of age.
We provide a well presented environment, with attractive activities appropriate to the developmental needs of this age group.
We aim to support and extend children's knowledge, skills, understanding and confidence by providing well planned and purposeful activities for the children to enjoy.
We regularly take children on local outings to extend their learning experience and we often have visitors who come into our group to give demonstrations to enrich our topics.
The quality of our setting is regularly inspected by Ofsted. We have received a 'Good' grade in all of our inspections, the latest being May 2009. This time we received Good with Outstanding qualities.
A high adult/child ratio is essential in proving good quality Pre-school care. We are proud of the high ratio of adults in our group which ensures that staff can provide the best individual care and attention to each child. Our key person system enables each child to have one special adult to relate to and is a very successful way of building strong relationship between home and the Pre-school.
June Goddard is our Supervisor. June has been with Puddleducks since 2002. She is qualified to NVQ4. June is also our SENCO specialist (Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator) and liaises with many outside agencies to improve the learning environment. June has decided to improve her qualifications and will commence her Foundation Degree at Winchester University in September 2009.
We have three Early Years Practioners, Paula Fry, Melanie Turner and Sharon Gray.
Melanie joined our team in September 2008 and is our Acting Deputy Supervisor. She previously worked in a full daycare setting in Devizes and is qualified to NVQ3. Melanie has recently participated in Child Protection (level 2) training and has become our Child Protection officer. She also commences her NVQ4 in September 2009.
Paula started working for Puddleducks in 2007 as a temporary Pre-school Assistant. She recently passed her NVQ2 in February 2009. From September 2009 Paula will undertake her NVQ3 and becomes our Health & Safety specialist.
Sharon Gray joins our team in September 2009. She has been a parent volunteer for two years and completed her NVQ2 in 2009. Sharon will commence her NVQ3 in September 2009.
We also have four volunteer helpers who are studying for their NVQ3 & NVQ4.
We recognise parents as the first and most important educators of their young children. We work hard to develop our partnership with parents and keep them informed through newsletters, the notice board and with regular discussions about children's activities, progress etc.
Parents are welcome to join in with children's activities, assist with fund raising and take an active part in the settings decision making by joining the committee.
The group is open to every family in the community. A fair waiting system is operated and admissions are arranged in order of date of birth rather than date of enrolement. There are exceptions to this rule, cases referred by Social Services or by the local Health Authority may be given priority.
A child who is anxious or unhappy will not be able to play or learn properly, so it is important for parents and staff to work together to help the child feel confident and secure in the setting. We encourage parents to visit the group with their child before an admission is planned. Parents are welcome to stay untill the child feels relaxed and familiar with the new surroundings. A child who is distressed will not be able to benefit from what the group has to offer. We believe that children should be gradually 'weaned' from their main carer. The way the 'settling in process' is handled will affect not only the child's reaction to seperation at this stage but can have an impact on any future experiences and separation.
In order to feel free to explore and experiment with all kinds of materials, including messy ones, it is best to send children dressed in clothes that are eaisly washable or not too new. Simple clothing, which is easy for children to manage themselves, will encourage children to become more independent with going to the toilet etc.
Children will be involved in games, outdoors activities and active play so please ensure that footwear is suitable for this.
Sweatshirts and polo shirts with our logo on are available to buy from the Pre-school.
For more information or a chat please contact June Goddard on
07932 628820
or if you prefer, call in and see us