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Shepherdswell Preschool


Shepherdswell Preschool is a committee run preschool that first opened in 1972 and occupies premises adjacent to the village hall.  There are 2 airy rooms filled with stimulating resources and a large safe garden.  

The preschool, is run by a management committee of parents and operates as a non-profit making charity.  This means that all funds are invested back into the pre-school for the benefit of the children.    Shepherdswell preschool offers day care to children from 2 years to 5 years for approximately 38 weeks of the year.  It operates from 8.30am to 3pm during the term times. The qualified and experienced staff, most of whom have worked at the preschool for many years,  work with the children in small groups or on a one to one basis.  They provide a variety of well-prepared activities each day to help the children gain knowledge and experience as they play.    The preschool aims to cater for all individual needs and any reasonable steps would be taken as required by the Disability Discrimination Act to allow access to the preschool for all children, parents/carers and staff.   At the start of each term, the preschool publishes a newsletter for parents.  This is full of information about what is happening at the preschool and acts as an important line of communication between the staff, committee and the parents.   

The pre-school is OFSTED inspected and approved  (GOOD) and is also a member of the Pre-School Learning Alliance.

Who to contact

Contact Name
Linda McLester andJulie Heslop
Contact Position
Manager
Telephone
01304 830045
E-mail
shepherdswellpreschoolcommittee@hotmail.com
Website
https://shepherdswellpreschool.btck.co.uk

Where to go

Name
Shepherdswell Preschool
Address
Shepherdswell Village Hall
Coxhill
Shepherdswell
Dover
Kent
Postcode
CT15 7NN

When is it on?

When is childcare available
Term Time Only
Carescheme Age Range:
2 year(s), 0 month(s) to 5 year(s), 0 month(s)
Opening Times
Opening Times
DayOpening TimeClosing Time
Monday 08:30 15:00
Tuesday 08:30 15:00
Wednesday 08:30 15:00
Thursday 08:30 15:00
Friday 08:30 15:00

Other Details

Table of costs
Table of costs
AmountCost Type
£5.00 Per hour
ECD Type
Preschool
Offers pickups
No
Cost(s)
Cost details
Costs are per hour in sessions 9am-12pm
9am-1pm
12pm-3pm or 1pm-3pm
3-4 Year Old Funding?
Yes
2 Year Old Funding?
Yes
Total vacancies
15
Vacancies Details
Please call shepherdswell Preschool on 01304 830045 to discuss any openings and times which may suit you
Immediate vacancies?
Yes
Contact Provider for Vacancy Details?
Yes
Vacancy range
Vacancy Range
Start AgeEnd AgePlaces
2 2 6
3 5 9
Vacancy Information Last updated Date
03/09/2018
Facilities
Car Parking, Climbing Frame, Garden
Other facilities information
Cloakroom, 2 playrooms, children's bathroom, utility room
Notes

We are able to cater for children with many special needs and are happy to talk through any concerns or worries you have about having your child attend preschool. Please phone 01304 830045 to discuss your child's needs and we will happily answer any questions and give you lots of help. We believe that children benefit most when parents/carers and settings work together in partnership. The health and wellbeing of children in our setting is of paramount importance, and this can only be achieved if parents/carers help us to understand their needs.

Languages Spoken:
English, Russian
Wheelchair Access
No

Ofsted Information

Ofsted URN
127535
Link to latest ofsted inspection report 

30 Hours Extended Entitlement

Registered to provide up to 30 hours entitlement
Yes

Service status

Status
Open

Local Offer

Special Needs Support

The setting monitors childrens progress and this allows them to identify any children that are not progressing as expected. Parents have a good relationship with staff and key persons to enable concerns to be raised. All children in the setting are observed and assessed by their key person in accordance with the EYFS. Once parents are informed of any significant delays, the settings SENCO, will work with the key person, family and other outside agencies to support the childs needs.

The child's keyperson will liaise with the parents regarding targeted plans and work with the parents to set targets. This will be overseen by the setting SENCO who is overseen by the Manager. Regular reviews of targeted and personalised plans are conducted to monitor how effective they are and what progress is being made. We conduct parent evenings/coffee afternoons, where parents have the opportunity to liaise with the key person regarding the childs learning journey, observations, assessments and progress trackers. the settings SENCO is also there to support staff.

The setting is able to adjust activities and resources to be age and developmentally appropriate, therefore enabling all children to access them at their level. Referring to The Equality Act (2010), the setting makes reasonable adjustments to ensure that children with disabilities are not put at a substantial disadvantage. These adjustments include; a ramp installed to enable access to the garden area, resources at lower levels or on the floor for easy accessibility.

The setting uses Makaton, Now and next boards and visual timelines. The childs key person remains responsible for working with a child with additional needs or SEND on a daily basis. The settings SENCO is also there to advise and support them. The setting can offer Early Talk boost activities for children who need extra support with speech and language. Some staff have had training with the ASD spectrum and Sensory Processing Disorders. We have worked closely with specialist teachers, outreach, portage and occupational therapists and attend most local Inclusion Forum Team meetings.  

The setting will endeavour to provide additional support any child requires. This could be by helping with an Education and Healthcare plan, for a child with complex needs, or SENIF funding which would enable the setting to deliver extra support and resources. Medication can be administered by staff at the setting, with prior consent, and relevant paperwork completed by parent/carer.

The setting monitors childrens progress through observations and the Kent progress tracker. These are shared with parents at informal and formal events such as coffee afternoons and parents evenings. Parents are able to access their own childs learning journey at any time.

Children with additional needs and SEND are included in all activities within the setting, if and extra information is required we discuss this with the parents as how best to include them. A risk assessment is always undertaken when children are taken off-site, and extra adult support is put in place.

There is separate access to up and down stairs rooms and into the garden through ramps from the outside doors of the building but currently the internal stairs that link the 2 rooms inside are not able to have wheelchair access

We have strong links, and liaise with Head and Reception class teachers in surrounding Primary Schools. Our local Primary School invite children that will be attending there to a sports morning, teddy bears picnic and transition session, before the start of the academic year. Setting staff support children with these. Other Primary School reception teachers are invited to the setting to meet with children that will be transitioning to their school. We provide a detailed progress/ transition grid for the parents/school. These are discussed with the settings manager and new Head Teachers.

The setting requires that all children undertake a 'stay and play' session along with their parent/carer before starting at the setting. The designated keyperson is then introduced to them, this is to promote secure attachments. An 'All About Me' style questionnaire is completed by the parent/carer about the child. We assess our overall effectiveness, by adopting the graduated approach: assess-plan-do-review.

Linda Mclester / Paula Reid

We actively encourage feedback from parents/carers in order that we can continue to improve and meet the needs of all families. All policies and procedures are accessible to parent/carers in our foyer, including our complaints procedure. We encourage and support parents/carers to play an active role in the management of the setting, through our management committee.

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