Contact: Vanessa Ayres 07974 835978
 | Early Birds operates from Seaford Baptist Church where it benefits from the use of a large hall, a smaller hall and two other rooms in addition to the kitchen and toilet facilities. The pre-school opens five days a week, during school term times. Sessions are from 9.00am to 12.00pm and a maximum of 36 children may attend at any one time. Children are welcome at Early Birds from the term in which they are 2½ until they start school. The expectation is that children starting at |
| Vanessa Ayres is the Supervisor of the pre-school and can be contacted to arrange a visit or, alternatively, drop in during the morning for an informal taster. We would be happy to see you and to answer any questions that you may have. For those children starting in September, a settling-in time will be arranged, usually for an hour one afternoon in July, although you are more than welcome to arrange additional settling-in visits during the morning sessions if you feel your child would benefit. |  |
Because Early Birds is so popular, a waiting list operates for children who want to come. When a place becomes available, parents will be sent a Registration Form. This should be completed and returned to the Supervisor, together with a registration fee of £25.00. (No child is registered until the form and fee have been received.)
About Us and Our Philosophy
In June 2007, Early Birds was inspected by Ofsted whose report was very positive. A
brief excerpt reads as follows:
"All the children enjoy their time in the setting and achieve well because staff are very caring and supportive. Staff talk to the children about what they are doing and respond to their interests. They encourage and promote children’s development as they play. The children thrive due to the stimulating learning environment and excellent interaction by the staff."
At Early Birds, each child is known, valued, nurtured and encouraged to develop their own unique character so that they can appreciate how special they are and become confident and happy individuals.
We recognise the importance of our partnership with parents and know that where parents and early learning settings work closely together, children do better. Parents are their child’s first and enduring educators and they understand their child better than anyone else. We want to share that knowledge, to ensure that their child has the best possible pre-school experience.
As a group, we pride ourselves on creating a safe, warm, friendly, happy, stimulating, bright, exciting environment where children are eager to become involved in learning and are enabled to develop their own ideas and interests, having their imaginations fed and fired! Every day at Early Birds there are opportunities for staff and children to inspire each other and learn together.
We recognise the importance of our partnership with parents and know that where parents and early learning settings work closely together, children do better. Parents are their child’s first and enduring educators and they understand their child better than anyone else. We want to share that knowledge, to ensure that their child has the best possible pre-school experience.
 | The staff are dedicated to helping each child to achieve and thrive during their time in the setting. The staff are mature and experienced and recognize that we are all lifelong learners, consequently they continue to seek training to develop their own skills and knowledge to benefit the children. |
The Staff
Early Birds Pre-school is fortunate to have a dedicated and conscientious team of staff with a wealth of experience and enthusiasm. There are currently ten members of staff, whose combined years of work at Early Birds (or Seaford Baptist Playschool, as it was formerly known) is over 60 years!
Early Birds Pre-school is fortunate to have a dedicated and conscientious team of staff with a wealth of experience and enthusiasm. There are currently ten members of staff, whose combined years of work at Early Birds (or Seaford Baptist Playschool, as it was formerly known) is over 60 years!
 | It is obvious that this shared experience enables the team to work together very well, and with an excellent knowledge base. The fact that all staff have significant experience of working with pre-school children at the setting shows that they also really enjoy their work and the adventure of learning alongside children. All bar one of the staff are also mums, with a total of 22 children between them – but as yet no grandchildren! |
The supervisor is Mrs Vanessa Ayres and the deputies are Mrs Wendy Lindfield and Mrs Mara Lawton. Mrs Lindfield is also the setting’s Special Educational Needs Coordinator.
Early Bird's Pre-School has a higher ratio of adults to children in the setting than is recommended by the Department for Education and Skills.
This enables us to: Early Bird's Pre-School has a higher ratio of adults to children in the setting than is recommended by the Department for Education and Skills.
• give time and attention to each child
• talk with the children about their interests and activities
• help children to experience and benefit from the activities we provide
• support spontaneous unplanned activities
• allow the children to explore and be adventurous in safety.
| Our membership of the Pre-School Learning Alliance (PLA) and close contact with Ofsted's Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership ensures that we are kept constantly in touch with new thinking and best practice in the field of early years care and education. We have a strong commitment to the continual improvement of Early Birds through staff development, training and self-evaluation. As well as gaining |  |
