We believe play is a child’s superpower!
About Broadshires Pre-School
Welcome to Broadshires Pre-School, we are so glad that you have come to have a look at our wonderful setting. A part of Broadshires charm is its rich history where we have welcomed children and their families from small beginnings as a parent led toddler group, to now a much-loved Charity run Pre-School.
As a parent or carer, you need to feel that your child will be safe and have the knowledge that they are going to have fun, will be nurtured as a unique and valued individual and will be equipped with the practical skills they will need as they grow up.
With this ethos in mind, we create a culture that offers high quality care and early years education in a safe, loving and happy environment. Our garden is one of our best assets, we believe that children should be able to explore and be outside whatever the weather! At Broadshires we pride ourselves on providing high quality outdoor learning for all. By having a stimulating outdoor environment we aim to create a sense of awe and wonder in all children and instil a passion for adventure that will stay with them throughout their lives.
Our History...
Broadshires Pre-School opened its doors in 1992 taking it from a small mum-led toddler group, to forming a parent committee of trustees and establishing a setting that could serve the community as a childcare setting. Initially it opened 2 mornings, then 3, then 4 and finally as our reputation grew and we became increasingly popular we opened afternoon sessions for younger children. We are now open for 5 mornings and 4 afternoons and offer flexible childcare for children aged from 2 to 4 years old.
We have always been very well supported by our parents and local community. We continue to enjoy links with our local community and have had trips to nearby farms, participated in tailored church services for the children and their families as well as Storytime visits from our local librarian. Due to the support from our parent trustees and local community, over the years we have raised a lot of money to replace the original tables, chairs and cupboards. We now have a wide variety of good quality toys and equipment. Fundraising is ongoing, so we can continue to refresh and improve our resources, equipment and play experiences.
A typical day at Broadshires
The children are welcomed in with smiles and are encouraged to put their belongings on their pegs and self-register. The children then have free choice of carefully planned activities both inside and out. A rolling snack is prepared, and children can choose from a selection of food including fresh fruit, milk and water. We then enjoy a whole group activity before lunch. Lunch is seen as a social occasion and staff and children sit together to share a meal. After lunch the children continue to access resources both inside and out and we organise small group or one to one activities throughout the afternoon. Children are then encouraged to help tidy up and we end the day with our goodbye song all together.
Curriculum
We adhere to the Early Years Foundation stage Statutory framework which sets out the standards we have to meet. This includes our curriculum which is a plan of everything we want our children to learn and experience. It has unique elements that are specific to our setting, our children and their circumstances and needs. We have a clear, set out plan of what we want our children to learn and how to get them there. Our curriculum covers all seven areas of learning as well as the characteristics of effective learning. We plan a range of activities and experiences to help support this for all our children whatever their age and stage of development.
Safeguarding
Here at Broadshires safeguarding is paramount. Everyone has the right to be protected from abuse and all suspicions and or allegations will be taken seriously and dealt with in the appropriate manner. All staff are trained appropriately and we have two designated safeguarding leads in place as well as a strong key worker and ‘buddy’ system in place. All safeguarding policies and procedures are embedded into our daily practice and safeguarding scenarios are discussed at staff supervisions and staff meetings regularly. Our supervisor also has appropriate safer recruitment training to ensure all staff are suitable to work with children.
Our approach to SEND
All our children at Broadshires are seen as unique individuals and we aim to ensure all needs are met to support them in the best possible way. Identifying any additional needs early results in the best outcome for the children. With this in mind we aim to have open and honest conversations with our families. We form strong links with other professional agencies when this is needed. Our SEND approach is led by our SENCO who has the appropriate training and up to date knowledge and we follow our SEND policy.
Meet the Staff
We value our team as our greatest and most valuable resource! We believe: Happy Staff, Happy Children! We support our staff with regular training, helping them to stay current with best practice and fuel their passion for their work, which in turn is channeled back into the children. Effective, strong teamwork is created by utilising the individual strengths of our staff, which creates a fun, stimulating and caring environment for the children to thrive.
Our staff have many years of experience, creating a knowledgeable and professional workforce who welcome all children and parents. They have been instrumental in supporting children’s journey with a thorough understanding of the needs children have in their Pre-School years. All our team members are mothers themselves, this creates understanding of family life and the challenges that can come with it in a warm and nurturing environment.
All members of our team have been through safeguarding training,
hold Paediatric First Aid Certificates and have current Enhanced DBS certificates.
Our staff have great relationships with parents where thorough feedback is given at the end of each session and are always available to discuss any issues should they arise. We also welcome feedback from parents and use this to look into any changes or improvements for the benefit of the children and their families.
Donna
Pre-School Superviser
Donna Bayliss
Foundation Degree
Early Years (Level 5)
I have 18years experience working in childcare and I'm a Mum to two young children. I have a Foundation Degree in Early Years and have always loved working/studying in Childcare. I love the rural setting of Broadshires and consider myself lucky to be the Supervisor of such a lovely setting.
Donna
Pre-school Assistant
Abigail Wadley
BTEC National Diploma in Nursery Nursing
I have 30 years experience of working with children of all ages. I have a son, so can relate to other parents on both personal and professional level. I love working with children and Broadshires is a beautiful setting with a great team of staff.
Abi
Deputy Supervisor
Michelle Scott
B.A. Early Childhood Studies
I have three children and I enjoy spending as much time with them as I can. My Early Years journey began when my oldest two children started pre-school, and I became a parent helper.
I then enrolled on the NVQ 2 Children’s Care, Learning and Development course, and achieved the NVQ 3 in the same course. I went on to gain my Bachelor of Arts degree in Early Childhood Studies in the summer of 2015.
I love working with children, seeing their enthusiasm in everything new! I am passionate in providing them the highest standard of care and strive towards seeing them settled, happy and stimulated.
Michelle
Pre-school Assistant
Clare Godwin
NNEB Diploma in Nursery Nursing (Level 3)
I am a mum of three, and first became familiar with Broadshires when my eldest attended in 2006. Broadshires had been recommended to me by many people and I certainly wasn't disappointed.
I have achieved an NNEB Diploma in Nursery Nursing, and have many years experience working with children in a variety of settings.
Broadshires is a fantastic place to learn and thrive, and I am happy to have joined the team.
Clare