Ilsington Preschool Spring News

We have had a wonderful start to the New Year and Spring term. Our topic of learning has been Extreme Environments and this has provided staff and children great scope to explore the outdoor classroom.

The children have week long projects to really get immersed in the learning experience -  Knowledge and Understanding of the World covered transporting food and water in different countries and we all had a brilliant week problem solving how to get water from one side of our outdoor area to the other using gutters, hose pipes, buckets and wheelbarrows. We even froze big blocks of ice and used sledges to cross the arctic!

Ilsington Preschool gives you a warm and welcoming environment for parents, toddlers and preschool children with lots of outdoor play space for running and biking and a real focus on the importance of the outdoor learning environment.

Preschool from 2 to 5 years
5 days a week 9.30am – 1pm
Non funded children £3/hr Additional hours for EYEF funded children £3.50/hr

Mondays and Thursdays: Fully inclusive Parent and Toddler group run with our Preschool sessions. Fee’s for Toddlers are per session until midday and include healthy snacks but not lunch club.

0-6mths FREE
6mths – 12mths £1.75
1 – 2 yrs £2.75
2-3 yrs £3.75

Tuesdays: Cooking Club with Rose! Lovely yummy things made each week. So far this term we have made smoothies, pancakes, vegetable tarts and Rocky Roads. We have even had 'High Tea' with cups and saucers, pots of tea, cucumber sandwiches and slices of cake to practice for our Street Party when we celebrate the Royal Wedding!

Wednesdays and Fridays: Wildschool Outdoor Classroom Days – A focused outdoor session studying nature plus natural crafts and activities using the onsite Millennium Gardens (when not too cold!) and visits to the local Allotment. Welly Boots and Waterproofs can be provided by us for this. We provide free flow Indoor and Outdoor play everyday with fully child led learning in a big outdoor space for whooshing around in but these two days are more focussed on nature. We grow vegetables and flowers in our own vegetable gardens plus lots of digging and messy play.

Healthy café time included and early morning coffee for parents, child minders or grandparents if arriving before 9.30am. We also have breakfast cereals and toast for those who don’t want to get up early! Bring a packed lunch for your child if they want to do lunch club.

We recently scored the highest of all Preschool Learning Alliance settings in Devon with our ECERS audit. The Early Childhood Environment Rating Scheme is used throughout the world as a measurement of the facilities in place for children in Early Years settings and has now been piloted by Devon County Council.
We scored 5.8/7 and the UK National average is 4.3.

Ilsington Preschool is just 2 miles from the A38 and Drumbridges Roundabout. The village hall is light and airy with fully fitted modern kitchen space, disabled access and good parking.

We can offer experienced support on issues such as Behavior Management
and Special Educational Needs. The hall has an induction loop system fitted for those with hearing impairments.

Please contact the setting manager Niki Portus to arrange a visit
and a free induction session: 07779 691992 (am) 01364 661185 (pm)
ILSINGTON PRESCHOOL – THE VILLAGE HALL – ILSINGTON – TQ13 9RG
Ilsington@pre-school.org.uk