About us.
We are a registered Early Years provision and rated OUTSTANDING with Ofsted.
Ladybirds Pre-School is a privately owned rural term time provision, catering for all children from 2 to 5 years.
We are based in Thorrington Village Hall and offer a stimulating and nurturing environment both indoors and outside in our purpose-built play space.
We are registered with Ofsted and are members of the Early Years Alliance.
Ladybirds has strong links with numerous local Primary schools, and we offer a robust Transition programme when children prepare to leave us to move onto ‘big school.’
Opening times.
We are open during term time for 38 weeks a year.
We operate on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. (We are closed on Wednesdays but do hold our own Caterpillars Baby & Toddler Group in the hall, again during term time only.)
Our session times are:
Breakfast club. 08:30am – 09:30am.
Morning session: 09:30am – 12:30pm.
Afternoon session: 12:30pm – 3:30pm.
Lunchtime options are available for those attending for shorter days and run each day from 12:30 – 1pm. (Children bring their own healthy packed lunch and drink each day.)
Although there is not a minimum number of sessions for a child to attend, we do highly recommend that children initially attend for a minimum of two morning sessions per week. (This is based on how children settle and begin to form relationships with key people, not from a monetary perspective. Sometimes the gap between a single session once a week seems just too big, and progress can be much slower than hoped.)
We do try where possible to accommodate parents with requests for occasional ‘Ad hoc’ sessions. If ratios and staffing allow, we will always try to help if you need extra childcare. This may be to cover appointments and emergencies, lunch dates or even a Christmas shopping spree! (As much notice as possible is required and we cannot always guarantee a place.)
Outdoor learning.
Our developing outdoor play space and garden is accessible all year round, offering many learning opportunities in a variety of different weather conditions. Waterproof clothing and footwear are provided during winter to help keep children dry and warm during the colder months. Ladybirds encourages outside play and promotes free flow access.
We have many different planting and growing projects, have recently harvested, cooked and eaten our own potatoes and are busy building an Eco-brick wall!
Bespoke role play equipment and a wide variety of physical resources provide huge opportunities for exploration and learning in the great outdoors. We have outside snack time, share stories and enjoy music sessions. (Please look at our gallery for many more examples.)
Wider community links.
Ladybirds has strong links with the wider community and we are always ready to show support and participate in activities where we can.
Over numerous years, we have participated in many local events and celebrations. Some examples are Thorrington Village Day, Great Bentley Carnival, Brightlingsea and Great Bentley Christmas Tree festivals, Tendring Hundred Farmers Club Show, Great Bentley and Thorrington Flower festivals, Brightlingsea Scarecrow Festival and Father Christmas Rotary Club visit to Thorrington!
We regularly support and fundraise for a selection of charities, including Children in Need, Silly Socks for Autism Anglia, cakes for Macmillan Coffee morning and Save the Children Christmas Jumper Day. We are always extremely grateful to all parents, carers, families and friends for their ongoing support.
We welcome visitors from the local community into ladybirds to share experiences and explore their roles, often linked to our chosen themes, such as ‘People who help us.’ For example, we have welcomed local fire fighters, nurses, Guide Dogs, vets, bakers and teachers.
Please scroll down to view our gallery of ‘Community links’ photographs.
Our display stand in the Education tent at the Tendring Hundred Farmers Club Show.
Santa's visit to the village of Thorrington, supported by Ladybirds Pre-School.
Our first ever entry in Gt. Bentley Carnival. 2018. We all joined the procession on foot to follow our decorated float.
We have enjoyed entering Christmas trees in both Brightlingsea and Gt. Bentley Christmas Tree Festivals for many years.
Winners 2018. Best visiting float.
Raising funds for Children in Need and celebrating Pudsey Bear day!
St. Mary's Church Thorrington. Our Flower Festival festival entry depicting Gladys Aylward and the 100 orphans she rescued.
Thorrington Village day publicity stand, with activities for the children to enjoy in the shade.
Ladybirds staff collecting for Brightlingsea and District Rotary Club during another of Santa's ever popular visits to Thorrington.
Tendring Hundred Farmers Club Show competition. 1st prize in the recycled model competition. Our amazing 'Daisy' the cow!
Gt. Bentley Carnival 2019. Winners of visiting float for the second year running.
Supporting Autism Anglia by participating in Silly Sock day to help raise funds for this worthy charity.
Recycled 'Daisy'.
