Allsorts Pre-School

Introducing Allsorts Pre-School

Allsorts pre-school is long established in the village of Brightwell-cum-Sotwell and prides itself in providing a fun and safe environment, in which children can learn and thrive through a diverse range of play activities.

We have our own brand new, purpose-built building and garden that are located within the grounds of Brightwell Primary School. This offers the children an extremely secure environment, choice of indoor and outdoor play, use of the Primary School building and a seamless link into the Primary School. Through the garden, Allsorts is able to offer outside learning experiences and is currently in the process of providing a sensory garden, which we hope will be completed towards the end of 2007.

The pre-school is open on Monday, Thursday and Friday from 9am to 11.45am, and Tuesday and Wednesday from 9am to 3.15pm. Lunch clubs run on Mondays to Thursdays 12 noon to 12.55pm (or from 11.45am for those attending the morning session).

We are a village pre-school, (although our catchment area extends outside the village), and this has great benefits for the children as the atmosphere is very sociable and the staff know each child individually and can respond to every child’s different needs.

The pre-school is managed by a committee that is made up of parents of children attending Allsorts as well the staff. This is a great opportunity for parents to be involved in the running of the pre-school – from curriculum decisions to fundraising activities. It’s also a chance for the parents to get to know staff in an informal atmosphere. All parents are automatically entitled to be committee members and are always welcome at our termly meetings.

Allsorts uses carefully planned sessions following a curriculum defined by the QCA (the Government’s Qualifications and Curriculum Agency) throughout each term and the themed activities incorporate the six areas of learning defined by the Pre-school Learning Alliance (PLA). We also encourage free play so that children can develop at their own pace.

The six areas of learning are:

• Personal and social skills
• Creativity
• Knowledge and understanding of the world
• Physical development
• Mathematics
• Language and literacy

Allsorts Lunch Club

Once children have settled, Allsorts offers a lunch club. The club runs for four mornings, Monday to Thursday, until 12.55pm. This is a very sociable time for the children, with the chance for free play, or a short rest on the big cushions provided.

Allsorts pre-school is a registered charity and a member of the Pre-school Learning Alliance (PLA). We have recently gained Stage 2 Accreditation (a “kite mark” for pre-schools) and are working towards achieving the final, stage 3 level.

This is an extract from our recent Ofsted Inspection report:

“High praise for the work of staff at Allsorts pre-school. The overall provision was good and the work done to help children make a positive contribution was outstanding. The inspector stated the partnership with parents is outstanding and children benefit from staff and parents communicating openly and effectively. The pre-school is very much a part of the community and there are strong links with local organisations. She also said that the children’s behaviour was excellent and praised the work done with the children in healthy eating, personal hygiene, working outside in the fresh air, teaching and learning.”

To find out more about Allsorts, please contact the Chairman, Tania Bevis (01491 832 489) or the Supervisor, Karen Newsome (01491 826 387).