Member No. PLA 29989 Registered Charity No. 1023280

• All About Us PDF down load and print

• Wine & Wisdom 2009

Shepton Beauchamp Pre - School is a popular, well-established village Pre – School which opened its doors as a playgroup over thirty years ago.

It has been under the leadership of Shelley Bacon for over twenty years. The group is placed at the heart of the local community with close links to Shepton Beauchamp First School, whilst also filtering to other schools in the area.

We are a registered charity managed by a voluntary and elected committee made up of parents. We welcome new members at any time and constantly need the support of new parents to keep the Pre - School running. We are also a member of the Pre - School Learning Alliance (PLA), an organisation that promotes good practice.

OFSTED 2007

• “The children receive praise and encouragement from the staff for efforts and achievement which helps build their self-esteem.”

• “Children enjoy a good balance of self-chosen and adult led activities, linked by topics and themes to provide meaningful activities which encourage children’s knowledge and understanding of the world.”

Our friendly, experienced and motivated staff implement the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum and we are also proud to have an average ratio of 1 adult to 6 children (the registered ratio being 1 – 8). The Pre - School is registered to take up to 24 children per session and we welcome all children whatever their individual needs may be.

• “The Staff are skilled at recognising the children’s achievements and note them to record their progress using systems that relate closely to the stepping stones towards the Early Learning Goals.”

• “The leadership and management of the setting is good. The manager and deputy support the staff well, enabling each member of the team to contribute fully to the running of the group. The staff team work well together, providing a highly stimulating environment for the children.”

• “The Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator is experienced and attends ongoing training, she liaises with staff, parents and any connected professionals to ensure that all children are fully included.”

• All the staff regularly attend training courses and are all First Aid trained.

Parents comments:

‘‘Both my children have been very happy at the Pre-School. The staff get the balance just right - the children learn through fun experiences whilst feeling part of an extended family’’

‘‘My daughter took to Pre-3’s and Pre – School like a duck to water, she would go everyday given half a chance! The staff are wonderful, I’m happy and confident in the knowledge that she is being cared for in such a fun and loving environment’’

“I have always felt very confident and happy leaving my child in their care. A well structured and very well run Pre-School with excellent links to Shepton Beauchamp First School”

“When I moved to this area, not knowing anyone, I really appreciated that the Pre-School staff were very friendly and approachable and keen to welcome both myself and my daughter into well-run childcare.”

Our term time is similar to Somerset County Council term time, please see the full calendar on the notice board. Copies are available upon request.

Our current fees are ………………. per hour for non granted children. Granted children are charged at the current grant rate.

The fees are payable termly and afees envelope will be issued during the first half of the term for that current term.

Grant assistance is available to all children, the term after their third birthday. Early Years will fund a set amount of hours per term depending on the length of the term. Top-up envelopes will be issued by Playgroup if your child’s hours exceed the termly amount set down by County.

To claim for these grants you will need to provide the playgroup with a copy of your child’s birth certificate and you will need to complete a grant declaration form each term, which the playgroup will provide.

We also accept Busy Bee Childcare vouchers.

Starting Pre - School …..….. ……and the Early Years Foundation Stage

We recognise that starting Pre – School is a big step, both for you and your child. As an early introduction we recommend that you come along to our Baby and Toddler Group on a Monday afternoon which is run by our Supervisor. This will help you become familiar with the staff and the surroundings.

We aim to offer a positive learning partnership between the parents and staff and we fully encourage you to be involved in all we do.

If your child is not accustomed to being away from you, you can expect him/her to need a little time to settle. Children react differently to being left in a new environment and therefore we will work together to settle your child depending on their needs. If your child has a comforter or a favourite toy please bring it with you as a link from home often helps. During your child’s time at Pre - School please give the staff as much information as you can (however trivial it may seem), this will help us to understand your child’s emotions. All information will remain confidential.

We are OFSTED registered and work within the Governments National Daycare Standards following the Early Years Foundation Stage set down by the DfES.

The E.Y.F.S sets the Standards for Learning, Development and Care for children from birth to five. It creates the framework for partnership work between parents and professionals, laying a secure foundation for learning.

Effective practice in the E.Y.F.S. is built on four guiding themes. These are: A Unique Child; recognises that every child is a competent learner from birth who can be resilient, capable, confident and self-assured. The commitments are focused around development; inclusion; safety; and health and well-being. Positive Relationships; describes how children learn to be strong and independent from a base of loving and secure relationships with parents and important people in their lives. The commitments are focused around respect; partnership with parents; supporting learning; and the roles of people close to them.

Enabling Environments; explains that the environment plays a key role in supporting and extending children’s development and learning. The commitments are focused around observation, assessment, planning and support for every child. Learning and Development; recognises that children develop and learn in different ways and at different rates and that all areas of learning and development are equally important and inter-connected. The Early Learning Goals for each of the six areas of learning and development are:

Personal, Social and Emotional Development Communication, Language and Literacy Problem Solving, Reasoning and Numeracy Knowledge and Understanding of the World Physical Development Creative Development

The above areas of learning will be covered within the experiences and activities that will be on offer to your child through play and FUN…