Boogie the Night Away for a Good Cause

This Saturday (11thFebruary), Tarvin Pre – School and Day Nursery are holding a Charity Valentine's/60's Dinner Dance at the Community Centre and on Friday 31st March a Bingo Evening. Both events are part of the Pre – School's continuing fundraising efforts, raising money to improve and enrich the experience they offer their young pupils.

Money raised has been earmarked for new interactive technology equipment as Manager, Lyn Jackson explained, "Our youngsters live in a digital and computerised age and we intend to make sure that they feel comfortable and confident with things like computers and iPads. We will also be able to access many excellent and innovative teaching apps available on line".

Given the geographical proximity of the Pre-School to the Primary School, many people may think that there are connected. However, the Pre – School is a separate entity, being a not- for -profit Limited Company, a Community Nursery and a Registered Charity. Nursery income comes from fees and from the government grant for 3 and 4 year olds and some 2 year olds (subject to eligibility) and it is managed by a Committee of Staff and parents. The new building housing the Nursery was opened in September 2015, and whilst this is a fabulous environment for the children, it will be costing much more to run which will need to come from their limited income. Therefore fund raising is crucial to purchase and replace resources, subsidise outings and extracurricular activities and to continually improve facilities and widen learning experiences.

The Pre-school was set up over 35 years ago, and originally met in the old Parish Rooms on the High Street. It then moved to a classroom in the newly built Infant School where the Community Centre/Professional Centre now stand. When the Infants joined the Juniors on the Heath Drive site, they acquired a mobile classroom behind the classroom block. Now they are physically linked with their larger neighbour.

Lyn says "Relationships have always been very good between the Nursery and the school but now the flow of children from one to the other is seamless, making transition very easy for little ones. We have access to the School Hall on occasions, the school kitchen provides our hot dinners and our children have access to the extensive school grounds."

Tarvin Pre – School is open 5 days a week from 7.30 am to 6.00pm, though not all children are full time. They have a capacity for 45, but only take from 2 years old having no provision for babies. They are open all year except for the Christmas break and offer a range of Half Term activities to the wider community in their Holiday Club. At their last two OFSTED inspections, they were rated "outstanding".

For more details of the Pre-School and their activities go to www.tarvinpreschoolnursery.com , their Facebook page or email at tarvin.preschool@btconnect.com for further details. Call them on 01829 741011 as there are still a few tickets for the dance available and bookings for the Holiday Club, Feb 20th to 24th are still being taken.