Welcome to Little Otters Pre-School Website

Little Otters is a Community Pre School and a registered Charity. It is also part of the Pre School Learning Alliance, which is a national charity with almost 20,000 groups in its membership.

On joining Little Otters your family becomes a member of the charity and has a vote at general meetings under the terms of its constitution. A copy is available to read at each session , please ask a member of staff or a copy can be requested from the Committee.

Who runs it?

Little Otters is managed by a Committee of members elected annually at its A.G.M. Committee meetings are held regularly to discuss the running of the charity and all members are encouraged stand for election and/or to let committee members know if there are any issues they would like raised. If it is not possible to speak to a Committee member for any reason then messages can be left in the office within the Pre-school building. Little Otters currently employs four staff, all have the relevent qualifications. We also have well qualified staff who we can call upon on an occasional basis to cover for sickness and training absence. Julie Salter is the Pre School Leader, she is a new face at Little Otters starting April 2010. Prior to joining us she worked with the school at Spaxton. She is ably assisted be Karen Vearncombe who has been with Little Otters since June 2000. We have recently taken on a third member of staff, Sammi Touchin and even more recently Norah Darch. One of the members of staff will be allocated as your child’s key worker. This means that she is responsible for your child whilst at Pre School. We believe that this helps support the emotional need of each child. If you have any questions about this any of the staff will be happy to help.

Where does it happen?

In September 2001 the Pre School moved from Otterhampton Village Hall to Otterhampton County Primary School, within the village of Combwich www.thisiscombwich.co.uk/, and then moved to the School Hall. The provision of a SureStart grant has now enabled Little Otters to have a purpose built building for use of the Pre school and School Wrap around care (Otters Den). This has opened for use at the beginning of January 2010.

When does it happen?

The provision of a SureStart enabling grant has allowed us to have a new building, this in turn has meant that the Preschool can run 5 days a week and can also extend the length of its sessions. At the moment we are open Monday to Friday 8.45am to 3.15pm. Another new and exciting step forward is the opportunity for Little Otters aged 3 and over to utilise the Schools Breakfast club (a charge of £3 per session to include breakfast) and afterschool club (charges of £3.50 till 4.15, £6.00 till 5.15 and £10.50 till 6pm). These currently run 7.45am to 8.45am and 3.15 to 6pm respectivly.

We follow the EYFS framework with most of the pre-school session being devoted to free play where the children are offered a range of activities including drawing, painting, craftwork, cooking, sand and water play, play dough, energetic play, simple computing, construction toys, games and puzzles, imaginative play and books. They are also encouraged to participate in group activities such as stories, music, games and discussions. Alongside these there are also some adult led activities. With our new building and outdoor area outdoor play is encouraged every day.

During the session the children are provided with a drink (milk or water is offered) and light snack (such as a savoury biscuit and fruit). If your child suffers any allergy please make sure full details are included on the Registration Form.

The Pre School children also enjoy activities planned in conjunction with the Reception Year of Otterhampton Primary School.

For more information about Otterhampton Primary School see their web page, www.otterhamptonprimary.co.uk/, which links to a copy of their recent (Sept 2007) OFSTED inspection report.

Other information.

Little Otters is registered with OFSTED (and that registration requires us to meet a set of National Standards. The detail of those Standards and how we meet them is in our Operational File. A summary of that file is kept in a file on the table as you enter the school hall at each session for every member to read.

Little Otters is regularly inspected by OFSTED (www.ofsted.gov.uk/), its' most recent inspection Sept 2007. If you would like to see a copy of the last inspection report it can be found on the table as you enter the school hall at each session. Should advance notice of the next inspection be received a notice will be placed on the door to the school hall. After any such inspection a copy of the report will be displayed. We operate to at least OFSTED requirements of one adult to every 4 children under 3 and one adult to every 8 children over 3.

Little Otters is OFSTED registered to take children from 2 years 6 months to 5 years old. At present our policy is to take children from age 2 years 9 months provided there is a place available, children may start aged 2yrs 6mths at the discression of the committee and preschool leader. The Pre School Learning Alliance is committed to helping Pre Schools provide equality of opportunity to all children and families. As a member of the Alliance, Little Otters works in accordance with all relevant legislation including: the Disabled Persons Acts 1958 and 1986; the Race Relations Act 1976; the Sex Discrimination Act 1986 and the Children Act 1989.

We believe that Little Otters activities should be open to all children and families and to all adults committed to their welfare. We aim to ensure that all who wish to work in or volunteer to help with our Pre School have an equal chance to do so. Little Otters is open to every family in the community.

Fees.

Little Otters is able to accept payment by government nursery grant (commonly called vouchers). Children are eligible for these from the term after their third birthday. Vouchers can be used to pay for up to a set number of hours fixed by Somerset County Council from one or more child care provider per funding period (i.e. termly for Little Otters). Little Otters will provide you with the necessary forms to complete.

Before your child is eligible for a nursery grant or if you are using all your grant elsewhere the current charge is £3.57 per hour. This is paid monthly within two weeks of receipt of an invoice. Invoices are generally raised shortly after a half term break. Fees can be paid weekly by prior arrangement.

Fees cover the basic expenses of running the Pre School but we do still rely on fund raising events to buy and replace equipment and toys and to subsidise activities such as outings and outside learning opportunities.

We now have the facility of using Parentpay for the preschool, this allows parents to pay their fees and other monies (eg trips, photo money etc) online. For further information about this facility see their website. www.parentpay.co.uk/, or to use the button on the menu to pay your monies.