OUR
CHARITY
We are a charity pre-school, so help is essential to keep us going
THE GARDEN PROJECT
Pre-School Garden Improvement Project
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Over the last few years Preschool raised funds to make improvements to our large garden area. The project involved the following:
1) Our treasurer built a large covered area to use as a story telling area or stage.
2) We built an allotment where the children have been planting, tending and
harvesting salad and vegetables.
3) We had a mural of the Gruffalo story painted on a garden wall.
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4) An open fronted playhouse became a ‘Gruffalo beach hut’ and our treasurer built a wooden trough at child height for the sand and further sand and tools were purchased. We were lucky to be part of the Tesco blue coin programme to raise money towards this and were delighted to be awarded first place of £1500
5) Wendy and Lyn attended ‘Forest school training’ so we incorporate some of those ideas into our preschool (those which don’t need an actual forest!)
6) New gates and a wheelchair access ramp were installed in the garden.
7) New turf was laid and a wooden climbing apparatus with slide was erected, which is surrounded by a soft surface which the grass can grow up through and be mown over. We were fortunate to be included in the Tesco blue coin scheme again, in a different Tesco branch and this raised £1000 towards the cost.
8)The fences have been painted in bright colours and carved wooden letters have been attached to them in alphabetical order.
9) A wooden ‘buddy bench’ has been built around the apple tree.
We are grateful for the support of parents and our ‘Friends of Ditton Church Preschool’ for their support with fundraising for projects such as this, along with the generous donations from the Tesco grants.
Moving forward, we are continually looking at further ways to develop and maintain our outdoor area and welcome parents ideas, skills and input!
FUNDRAISING
We have a Friends of Ditton Church Pre School group which is similar to a PTA at school. We are currently raising funds for our garden improvement project. Do you work for a company whose resources would be of use to Pre-school?
For example, do you benefit from a discount scheme? Or do you have access to art and craft materials, garden equipment, plants and flowers, printing supplies etc.?
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We also support other charity events such as Sport Relief, Children in Need and Shoebox Appeal at Christmas.
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WAYS TO HELP
We actively encourage you to be involved in the life of our Pre-School. There are a number of ways in which you may be able to help.
Ditton Church Pre-School is run by a Management Committee, who hold meetings once a term and are actively involved in the day to day running of our Pre-School. We also have a small group of parents who work together to organise events such as coffee mornings, social evenings and fairs.
You may feel that you would like to join the Management Committee or parent team to help to organise events.
We do have a parent’s rota for helping during Pre-School sessions, but appreciate some parents are not able to do this. There may be other ways that you feel able to help. These include washing of toys, cooking, cutting out, dressmaking or helping to maintain the Pre-School garden.
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We would love you to be as involved as you are able to. Please ask a member of staff if you would like more information or complete the slip below and return to Pre-School.
CHARITABLE STATUS
The Pre-School has charitable status (charity registration no: 1139117) and our charitable objectives are:
To enhance the development and education of children primarily under statutory school age by encouraging parents to understand and provide for the needs of their children through community groups and by:
Click here to see our Constitution
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Offering appropriate play facilities and training courses, together with the right of parents to take responsibility for and to become involved in the activities of such groups, ensuring that such groups offer opportunities for all children whatever their race, culture, religion, means
or ability;
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Encouraging the study of the needs of such children and their families and promoting public interest in and recognition of such needs in the local areas;
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Instigating and adhering to and furthering the aims of the Pre-School.
COMMITTEE
The Committee is made up of parent and church representatives and is chaired by the Rector of St Peter’s Ditton. The Committee are responsible for the overall management and smooth running of the setting. Each member of the Committee has a role;
Garden Maintenance
Curriculum
Inclusion
Health and Safety
Safeguarding
PCC member
Chairperson
Vice Chairperson
Treasurer
Secretary
Social Secretary
Fundraising Secretary
If you are interested in joining our Committee please
VICE CHAIR
Caroline Gibbons
During the early part of the year 2000 when my youngest daughter was nearly 2 years old myself and some friends discussed the Pre School options in the local area for our children. Several of us were members of the church and discussed the possibility of a church community Pre school. Ross was totally in favour of the idea and as I had worked in childcare all my life I had the relevant qualifications to lead the Pre School. After an intensive 9 months of preparation and funding Ditton Church Pre School opened on 9 January 2001 with about 12 children on our register. By the time I left 6 years later we had established ourselves as a popular Pre school. 20 years on the Pre School has gone from strength to strength and I have always kept in touch with staff and committee. I still work in the Early Years sector and it has been a privilege to sit on the committee for the last 8 years or more. I am Vice Chair and meet with Wendy for her appraisal. I am also the Committee rep for Curriculum.
TREASURER
Mike Stevens
I am a retired lecturer in Bookkeeping and Accounting and I believe passionately in the need to educate young children. Although I don't get too involved in the actual mentoring of our young guests at preschool I can sometimes be seen fixing things around the grounds. I also spend quite a lot of time moving numbers around, trying to make ends meet and keeping the books in order.
SECRETARY
Jane
HEALTH & SAFETY
Mike
SAFEGUARDING
Tom
INCLUSION
Sean
