Digby Village Pre-School
Digby Village Preschool is a not-for-profit organisation and a registered charity that has been providing quality early childhood education for many years.
Digby Village Preschool re-registered in 2006 when it moved to its current location. Operating from Digby Church of England Primary School premises, it uses a classroom within the school whilst also having access to the various school facilities including the hall and outside play areas, to help us provide a well-rounded education for our students.
The location of the preschool within the primary school is an ideal stepping stone in preparing children for starting full time education. As to be expected, our relationship with Digby C of E Primary School is very close. The preschool is managed by a volunteer committee, but employs experienced childcare professionals to undertake the daily running of the facility.
As a not-for-profit organisation, all fees and funding received, goes directly to pay all the regular business outgoings. Any ‘profit’ thereafter is channelled straight back into the preschool to pay for replacing equipment, toys etc. The preschool is run in accordance with Ofsted regulations and conforms to the Early Years Foundation practices.
Staff
Our manager, Donna Cottrell, is a highly qualified child care practitioner with a Level 3 National Nursery Examination Board (NNEB) and Level 5 in Leadership & Management plus many more qualifications including SEN.
Donna has been working in the Early Years sector for many years, starting her career as a private nanny moving onto working in nurseries then going to work for Sure Start children centres.
Donna is a married mummy to two fabulous girls and two playful Frenchies who love walks. In her free time she loves spending time with her family, family walks with the dogs Dave and Dottie, socialising and of course shopping.
Donna likes to keep fit and has completed two marathons. She has lots of exciting ideas for activities in preschool for the children to learn through play.
Our deputy manager, Mollie, graduated her level 6 early years degree in 2019 and has lots of experience working with children.
Additionally, Mollie has completed her level 3 forest leader course at preschool, which she's now incorporating into our curriculum.
Outside of work, Mollie loves to spend time with her boyfriend and family, going on days out and eating ice cream!
Mollie has a very chatty personality and enjoys getting messy with the children, creating and exploring! A skilled storyteller, Mollie delights in captivating the children's imaginations through books.
Our Early Years Practitioner, Mandi, attained her Level 3 in Childcare in 2018 and has had the opportunity to work within nurseries, preschools and primary schools. Mandi has a considerable amount experience in special educational needs and attained her Down's Syndrome diploma in 2019 and her Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) diploma in 2020.
She loves adding some creative flair to childcare with expressive art and design. Helping children dive into both their own creative ideas and some grown-up-led art and crafts is something Mandi is passionate about.
In her spare time, she loves spending time with her family, walking her dog - Tia (named after Tia Maria!) and paddle boarding.
Fees and funded hours
We offer half and full day sessions.
Morning - 8.50am to 11.50am
Afternoon - 11.50am to 2.50pm
A full day session is 8.50am to 2.50pm
Our half day sessions are priced at £21.50
Our full day sessions are priced at £32.25
All eligible children can benefit from up to 30 government funded hours a week. To find out what you are eligible for, head to: https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/
Wraparound Care
We are able to offer Breakfast club and After Preschool club to help accommodate working families.
Breakfast club starts at 7.45am and will include a piece of fruit and either a bowl of cereal or a piece of toast.
After Preschool club finishes at 4pm and will include a fun activity and a snack.
Please get in touch to find out more.
Dinky DigBees Playgroup
We hold a parent and toddler group every Friday morning from 9.30am -11am, suitable for ages 0-4.
It is £2 per child and this includes refreshments.
For a lot of the new generation, lockdown has been a big part of their lives meaning they have been unable to socialise as they normally would have. This is a great way to bring the community back together after a difficult couple of years.
Dinky Digbees creates a secure and fun setting where children can engage in learning, playing, and fostering their language, communication and various other skills. It offers an excellent chance for both parents and children to make lasting and meaningful friendships.
"Digby Village Pre School is an absolute hidden gem! Be aware though- you will fall in love with the setting the minute you enter through the doors!! The teachers provide a warm and nurturing environment and cater to every child’s needs. It has a wonderful ‘home from home’ feel. They create a love for learning through play and there’s plenty of time spent outdoors. I could not recommend this setting enough and have seen my son flourish here. My only regret is not sending my son sooner!"
Follow the link below to find out more: