Our Approach

Although we have supported thousands of Sleaford families over the past 40+ years we are traditional but not old in our approach or our dreams to create a centre of excellence where children thrive and step into their full potential.

This year will see some big changes to our preschool, moving our teaching ethos towards a new vision, one where children are allowed to be true explorers of the world around them.

Being closer to natural resources and focusing on child-led play we will begin to forge a more curious approach to learning that enhances confidence and promotes individual learning.

Why is this important?

Well, curiosity fires brain development, builds self confidence and self-awareness and best supports a children's natural learning journey.

As adults we tend to believe that we need to impart knowledge and answers to our children in a structured way, expecting children to absorb it passively. But children are naturally curious so by giving them answers and leading their play we reduce their natural ability for critical thinking, being scientific, seeing "what happens if..."

With the 'Curiosity Approach' we tend to take a step back and let children take charge of their own learning. They're naturally curious, self-motivated, and eager to explore and discover on their own. It's our job to guide and encourage their passions and help them develop their unique talents.

Come with us on a journey of curiosity... The Curiosity Approach.

And if you're curious, why not call for a tour or a chat to get your answers by seeing what we do and meeting the team?

three green, yellow, and red leaves on person's hand

a little girl in a yellow dress standing in the woods

Meet the Team

Meet our dedicated team of professionals who love and care for your children, helping them feel safe and secure. Let's find out a little more about what they love about their work...

What kind of environment are you building?

"We want every child that comes through our doors to feel safe, wanted appreciated and loved. Our preschool is judgement free, inclusive and open allowing parents to feel able to approach us at any time. No question is a silly question. We strive to create the best for every child that comes to preschool. Helping them to learn and grow within a loving, home-from-home environment"

Emma March - Deputy Manager

Sharon Allen - Key Person

Mia Beaton - Key Person

Why did you choose to work in Early Years?

"Hi I'm Mia and the thing I enjoy most about working in Early Years is watching each individual child grow and develop and meet their own milestones.

I love seeing their faces each day as they are always so happy and I enjoy watching them have a great time in pre-school. Hearing them laugh together makes every day feel happy."

What do you love about your role?

"I'm Sharon and believe it or not, both my own children came through Sleaford Methodist Pre-School.

I love my job as I enjoy watching the children learn, develop and grow. Particularly the delight on their faces when they achieve something themselves or seeing the transformation from arriving to getting ready for big school!"

Building strong family bonds together.

Each child has a keyworker but our small team works closely together to ensure all children are seen and heard and they feel listened to. This close, connected unit feels more like a family and we try to replicate this in our play sessions to provide much needed continuity for each child.

Positive and Inclusive Environment

It's a team effort between preschool and home

Working in partnership with families, we go beyond education to ensure the whole family unit feels supported. We have just been approved by Ofsted as 'good' and all staff are Paediatric first aid qualified. We are embarking on a comprehensive Professional development plan for our staff this year which will offer the potential to involve our families more in preschool activities. We have BIG plans!

What we can do for you're family

To get a better understanding and a feel for any Early Years setting we always advise that you:

Go in and meet the staff, talk to them all ask them why they work in childcare (these are the people who will help your child to learn about the world each day)
Book a visit and go when your child is usually awake and active not at their nap time (visits are so much harder to gauge if your child is overtired)
Ask those questions that really matter to your family dynamic (all families are different with different needs, ask if and how yours can be met)
Watch how your child interacts with the other children and staff (body language will show you if your child feels relaxed or anxious, but remember to relax yourself! this isn't a test, just a visit to see if you fit together, FAMILY + SETTING working in harmony = HAPPY CHILD
Talk to parents and find out what they think, they are usually the most reliable source but ask more than one family or friend and if they didn't opt for a particular setting ask why, it may be that their reasons were practical, not emotional.

It's no different to your first day in a new job, it will feel a little strange to begin with but if you get a warm friendly welcome, some honest answers to what we can and can't offer as well as a chance to ask about the sorts of things your child will be doing each day then that would be a great place to start.

"I like that the progress my child made at Preschool set him up brilliantly ready for school."

Parent response to questionnaire.