Our Setting
Esklets occupies a quiet site tucked away in the village of Danby, in the heart of the North York Moors National Park. We have a classroom which is warm and inviting, offering all the resources needed to provide a safe, stimulating environment for children, including a book corner, roleplay area, construction and small world play, mark-making area, arts and crafts, maths resources, water and malleable play. We have facilities to prepare snacks and to bake with the children.
We also provide a wonderful outside area comprising an all weather playground and a large garden. We can offer all the Early Years curriculum outside as well as inside. We have a huge walk in sand pit, playhouses for role play, sensory area, water resources, large construction area, woodwork and creative crafts areas, and space to run, climb, ride bikes and develop control of our bodies.
An added bonus that makes our outdoor area so special is the proximity of the trainline...it is so exciting for the children when a train goes past!
Aims & Ethos
Play. Learn. Grow.
All children attending our setting have the right to learn and develop to their full potential, in an environment in which they feel happy, safe, secure and able to fully engage in their learning. To do this they need access to a stimulating environment both inside and outside where they can learn through play and real experiences supported by caring adults who are knowledgeable and enthusiastic. We aim to be a setting in which each child's individual learning and development needs are met. This is done by careful observations of the children to enable us to create a learning environment in which children are engaged and motivated to learn, in which they become confident, independent, curious and resilient learners who engage fully in their own learning journey. We want them to become confident communicators who are creative, willing to learn by taking risks and able to develop the characteristics of effective learning. We want all the children to be valued for who they are and for what they can achieve in their own unique way.
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Our staff place the greatest emphasis on supporting children’s emotional development. In a small setting such as ours, all our staff really get to know each child and their family. We work hard to form close, loving and trusting relationships with the children to enable them to feel secure, allowing them to develop confidence, self-esteem and a positive sense of well-being. We work in partnership with parents, as they are the most important people in their child’s life, engaging them in their children’s learning and development. Key workers help parents share what they know about their children and keep them informed about their child’s progress.
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Play is the most important activity for our young children. Play is how children grow and develop by building upon their first-hand experiences. Our children can play freely both outside and inside in spaces which support and stimulate their learning. They are supported by experienced staff who have a sound understanding of how children learn and develop.
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Our staff demonstrate high expectations of children and have a positive and enthusiastic attitude helping to enthuse, engage and motivate the children.
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Esklets actively promotes the fundamental values of democracy, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths or beliefs. We interpret this with regard to the age of our very young children as meaning that the children learn right from wrong, learn to take turns and share, to accept difference, to respect others, and value the thoughts and opinions of others.
Our Staff Team
Vicky Howe
Preschool Manager
Vicky is a fully qualified Teacher of children aged 3-7, and a level 3 qualified Early Years Educator. She has previously worked for many years in private and school nurseries, before working as an EYFS Preschool and Reception Teacher. As well as being the settings manager, Vicky is also the SENCO. She holds a Level 3 EY SENCO qualification and has completed a wide range of training around Autism and ASD, Speech & Language development and Physical Development. She holds a current Paediatric First Aid qualification.
Rachel Todd
Deputy Manager
Qualified at NVQ level 3 in Childcare and Education, Rachel is the Lead Practitioner in Safeguarding as well as being responsible for Health and Safety. She has a level 2 qualification in Understanding Autism as well as training in Sensory processing and deaf awareness. Rachel has many years experience working in Early Years, and has up-to-date Paediatric First Aid training.
Becka Gallacher
Preschool Assistant
Becka is a level 3 qualified Early Years Educator, with experience of working in both day nurseries and as a childminder.
Becka has up-to-date Paediatric First Aid training, as well as having attended a range of courses such as Safeguarding and Allergy Awareness.
Becka is our SENCO and has done the training required for this role.
Katy Moore
Preschool Assistant
Katy is studying for her Level 2 Early Years Workforce qualification.
Katy is an experienced member of our staff team, with a wide range of training and experience.
Amelia Kime
Preschool Assistant
Amelia has lots of experience working both as a nursery practitioner and as a one-to-one support for children with additional needs.
Amelia has also spent time as an au pair in Australia!
Funding & Fees
All three and four-year-olds in England are entitled to 15 hours of funded early education and childcare each week for 38 weeks of the year, from the term after their third birthday. Some two-year olds are also eligible for funding if parents are in receipt of certain benefits.
Some working parents of three-and-four-year-olds are entitled to 30 hours of funded childcare - this is being extended to children over the age of nine months from September 2025, with an initial phase of 15 hours for children over two years from April 2024 and for children over nine months from September 2024. Esklets offers funded places. We ask that parents or carers of funded children pay a consumables fee of 50p / half day session.
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We also offer fee paying places for children who don't receive funding, or for hours required beyond funded entitlement. Our current fee rate is £6.50 / hour. You may be able to use Tax Free Childcare to pay for this.
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Please see our Fees Policy.
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Further information on a range of government childcare offers can be found at: http://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk
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Further information about North Yorkshire County Council Early Years Funding can be found at: http://www.northyorks.gov.uk/article/24354/Early-education-places-and-funding
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For information on North Yorkshire childcare services please contact: Families Information Service: 01609 533483, Email: fis.information@northyorks.gov.uk
Committee
Esklets Preschool is a registered charity and as such is governed by a committee of trustees.
All parents of children attending the group are eligible to be members of the committee. As the group is a charity it is required to be run in accordance with a charitable constitution which requires the formation of a parent committee who are, in effect, the trustees of the group. Regular committee meetings are held to which all parents are welcome.
The committee is responsible for the following;
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Providing accommodation
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Providing equipment
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Employment and appraisal of staff
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Reviewing policy and practice​
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Finance management
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Health and safety​
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Fundraising
Your support is both welcome and valued. It must be stressed that without parents attending committee meetings the group would not exist. We depend upon ALL parents to attend committee meetings wherever possible. Although we receive some funding from the government we are not a school nursery - we are a voluntary organisation which is dependent upon the support of parents and carers, so please try to become involved.
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A list of committee members is available at Esklets. The Chair is Katie Thompson who is also the committee member responsible for safeguarding.