Bramfield Pre-School
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Bramfield Pre-School
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Telephone : 01986 784586 |
Where learning is part of the fun! Stepping Stones is a pre-school playgroup enrolling children from 2 years up to school age.
Telephone : 01986 784586
Fundraiser, project manager and former pre-school parent Tom Langton, is coordinating builders Cooper and Denny of Southwold. Work is on schedule for ‘Bramfield Stepping Stones’ to open it’s doors this September. Conveniently placed at the centre of the village, the preschool is adjacent to Bramfield Primary School, which has itself been awarded ‘Outstanding’ status by Ofsted. The Bramfield school governing body has given the pre-school their full support including provision of hot meals for the pre-schools ‘lunch club’, supervised use of grounds e.g. vegetable garden, and use of office facilities. Stepping Stones Supervisor Anna Frost says “the level of support and encouragement we have received from the school, the hall trustees and the people of Bramfield has been fantastic. We’re really looking forward to being part of the community”. Having qualified with the National Nursery Examination Board, Anna spent the next fifteen years gaining valuable experience with children whilst working in London, where she met her partner and now Pre-school Deputy, Craig Warwick. Their considerable experience with a variety of early year’s settings has given them a good insight into all levels of practice. This has helped them develop very defined ideas on how best to help children enjoy, achieve and gain the most from their time at preschool.
When it comes to early education, the Ofsted inspection report concludes “The quality of teaching and learning is outstanding. Staff provide many opportunities for interesting well planned activities derived from extremely well thought out plans using their excellent knowledge of the early years foundation stage.” Ofsted also remarked “Children’s behaviour is exemplary and of a consistently high standard.”
Telephone : 01986 784586 |
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When Cookley and Walpole Stepping Stones Pre-school achieved ‘outstanding in education’ in their Ofsted inspection last summer, supervisor Anna Frost was on top of the world. Soon after however, the school from which the group rents space faced closure, resulting in the prospect of the independent pre-school also losing its home. “It was imperative to find new premises as soon as possible”, explains Anna “As many of our children live in Bramfield, relocation to the village seemed the natural choice”. After a review of several options, use of part of Bramfield village hall seemed to meet the requirements of the preschool. “To our delight and gratitude the village hall committee backed the proposal and the project to transform the east wing of the hall was set in motion”. 
Funds for the initial key building work project came from grant aid by Suffolk County Council Early Years. Fund raising is still continuing and councillor Rae Leightons Locality Fund and Bramfield parish council have made contributions. Stepping Stones treasurer Cecilia Metherell explains “We are extremely grateful for support as without it the pre-school would not have survived. We hope that our fundraising efforts will reach their target to enable us to complete other smaller projects in addition to the building work, including improvements to the car park and grounds”.
The Ofsted inspection report of last summer certainly reinforces these views. Under the heading ‘Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do’ the inspector concluded “The provision is Outstanding. Children form extremely good relationships with Staff who are warm and tactile and consequently they are secure and settled.”
Anna and Craig believe that a sense of security is paramount in order for children to take their next progressive steps, which is why they have designed the new pre-school setting to reflect a very warm, comfortable and homely environment.