TYPICAL DAY & OUR ETHOS

We keep the day flexible to allow ‘in the moment planning’ and to be led by the childrens needs and interests.

If the weather is good we have the doors open to allow free flow to our outside areas.  No matter what the weather we spend time outside learning and playing everyday so we request children bring appropriate clothing to the time of year.

We are very lucky to have a large enclosed garden, with play equipment, bikes, wooded areas for bug hunts and our own veggie patch and mud kitchen.
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At the start of each session activities are set up to help your child settle into playschool as quickly as possible.  Most are engrossed before the parents even leave!

OUR 'ETHOS'
At Chalke Valley Playschool we take our inspiration from Forest School, Reggio Emilia and Montessori pedagogies. 
We believe that routine is key to making children feel safe, secure and nurtured, we have a visual timetable that provides a structure for our day including time for us to follow the children’s own interests.  We carefully select our resources to allow children the freedom to make their own choices to direct their learning.  We encourage children to explore their own limits to develop their independence skills.  We embrace our rural location and the opportunities for outside learning this provides.  Our highly skilled early years educators follow the children’s interests to make learning fun and relevant.
We love active learning, we believe children learn most effectively when given the freedom to move.

08.30-9.00 - Early birds club
09:00-09:10 – Meet and Greet / Self Registration. Welcome Activity.
09:20 – Circle Time – Register, Letters and Sounds, News, Calendar, Weather, Topical  (In small groups age dependent)
10:15 – Rolling Snack Café – The children are free to pick their own healthy snack and pour drinks. Snacks consist of healthy fruit & vegetables
11:00 – Topic Activity / Free Play – Each term there is a different topic, which follows the childrens’ interests
11:40 – Story time and Songs
12:00 – Lunch / Home time / Meet and Greet
12:20-12:45 – Quiet Time – The children enjoy a selection of books in the story corner
12:45 – Circle Time
13:00 – Topic Activity / Free Play
14:00 – Snack
14:20 – Outdoor Play
14:45 – Story time and Songs
15:00 – After School Club begins
17:15 - Home time

ENRICHMENT

Chalke Valley Playschool have a full range of enrichment activities each term, from visits from Wiltshire Wildlife trust to a Christmas Theatre trip you can be assured that playschool is never boring and always stimulating for your child.

Wiltshire Wildlife Trust

Wiltshire Wildlife trust visit in the summer term to run outdoor activities such as bug hunts and clay crafts.

Ballet Classes

Starting Jan 2020.  Pre-school Ballet Classes with Emma from Catch Creative.  Open to all the community.  Please contact playschool for further details.

Playschool Trips

Once a term we aim to take the children on a trip or outing.  We have been to Wilton Fire Station to learn about fire safety as well as to see 'The Night Before Christmas' at Salisbury Playhouse.

Forest School Inspired Activities
​ & Veg Patch

Forest School inspired activities use child-led learning in an outdoor environment to build independence, resilience, self-confidence and communication.  The children all participate in growing food to eat in the veg patch.
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TEAM

We have the best team around and they have a wealth of childcare knowledge and experience.  

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Katie Crouter - Collier
Educational Lead

NVQ Level 3

Starting her career in childcare at 17 Katie joined us in 2017 after taking a break to stay at home with her x2 sons.  

She has recently taken up the Educational Lead role and we are delighted to have Katie on the management team.

​Katie loves spending time with her family and is aways out exploring on a dog walk.
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Juliet Pearce
Manager

BA (Hons) Post Grad Cert.
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Juliet has worked with children and young people for the last 18 years in various roles, most recently working as a children and families social worker. She also holds banking and financial qualifications. In 2017 Juliet joined the committee as Treasurer when her young children joined the playschool, following the restructure in 2018 Juliet joined the team as Manager taking day to day responsibility for the running of Chalkies.   Juliet says 'I am passionate about improving life chances for children and young people and ensuring they receive the very best early years education is a fantastic way of supporting our local community to achieve this.'

Hannah Down
Deputy Manager

NVQ Level 3
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Hannah studied childcare at college before working at different nurseries in the area.  Hannah joined Chalkies from Farley where she was the under two's supervisor.  Hannah has 2 children and has just returned to Chalkies after maternity leave but joined the team back in 2016.

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Gemma Littleford
​Practitioner

NVQ Level 3
+ SENCO (Special Educational Needs)

Gemma only joined Chalkies in 2018 and made a huge impression already. 

​Since joining Chalkies Gemma has taken on the SENCO role and helps any children with special educational needs.

As a self confessed animal lover Gemma has had horses and dogs her whole life but has recently changed her career from equestrian to childcare.  Having gained valuable experience at other nurseries Gemma is now studying for her level 3 whilst working with us.  Gemma has a little boy Reuben and daughter Olivia.  Gemma has recently taken on the SENCO role.

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Leanne Willshire
Committee

Leanne is a qualified Veterinary Nurse and Animal Behaviourist but she is currently taking a break from her career to raise her two young daughters, Anabelle and Emily. 
Anabelle attended Chalkies for her final pre-school year before heading up to school, and Emily has just joined us here at Chalkies.

Leanne and her family moved to Broad Chalke in early 2018 where they are all very much enjoying being a part of the village community.

In her spare time Leanne enjoys health and fitness including running, gymnastics and CrossFit. 

Gail Allcorn
Treasurer

Gail is a retired management accountant who worked in finance for the MOD for many years.  After taking early retirement from the MOD she worked as the school business manager for a primary school in Salisbury.  Gail is now fully retired which allows her to spend quality time with her four grandchildren.

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Laura Hobson
Committee; Secretary

As Secretary on the committee Laura heads up the fundraising team for larger events such as the duck race as well as helping out with Marketing and the website.  Laura's has two children; Archie who is at school and Isobel in her last year at playschool.

Laura works freelance in marketing & PR as well as enjoying gardening, cooking and walking.
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Committee Run Playschool

Chalke Valley Playschool is Committee Run and all parents and the local community are invited to attend our AGM as well as either join the committee or assisting with the fundraising such as the Chalke Valley Duckrace.

​As the playschool is not run for profit it helps to keep our fees affordable and our aim focused on providing a quality nursery education for the children of the local area.  All on site Staff are paid as in a normal 'for profit' business.
Contact the Committee or Juliet to find out more.

TAPESTRY - ONLINE LEARNING JOURNAL

 We are very pleased to offer the latest electronic online learning journals.  
Track your childs progress through regular email updates from your key-worker.  See photos and videos of their activities and achievements at playschool.  Log-in easily through the app or online and share with your own family.

Then download the whole record at the end of their time at nursery to keep.

LOG IN TO TAPESTRY HERE

LINKS TO BROAD CHALKE SCHOOL

Chalke Valley Playschool is next to the Ofsted rated Outstanding Broad Chalke Primary School.  We visit the fantastic Library and hall for P.E once a week as well as joining them in big celebrations such as Harvest Festival.

Our unique position next to Broad Chalke Primary school makes for an easier transition from a pre-school environment to school.  Once children are in their final year of playschool we start to work on phonics and numbers to help them on their way when they join Reception.  We can also help with the the settling in days at Broad Chalke - dropping and collecting them from school.

Reception class has its play ground immediately next to playschools which means we can still say hello to the children even when they go to big school.  

If your child is going to a different school we have links with all local primary schools to ease their transition.  Whatever your plans our links to the school next door help your child to become familiar with a larger school environment and become school ready.

PE at Broad Chalke

Our weekly fun PE sessions work on gross motor skills, balance and coordination.

Library Visits

A weekly story in the atrium library at Broad Chalke is great for familiarising the children with a Primary school setting.

Events at Broad Chalke

Playschool join School for Celebration Assemblies and key events such as Harvest Festival and Sports Day

BOOK A VISIT TODAY

CONTACT US

chalKE VALLEY PLAYSCHOOL
newTOWN
BROAD CHALKE
SP5 5ds
we are located in the schools grounds - parking & how to find us

EMAIL: manager@chalkevalleyplayschool.co.uk
PHONE: 01722 781072