About Us

Our Preschool


Welcome to Watery Lane Preschool. We operate as a Independent Registered Charity and are run by a voluntary committee in premises next to the grounds of St Michael’s Church of England First School in Minehead. We take children from the term/half-term after their second birthday until they are ready to move into the Reception Class of their preferred school. We are registered with the Early Years Alliance and have adopted their constitution.

Watery Lane Preschool aims to:

  • Provide high quality care and education for children below statutory school age;
  • Work in partnership with parents to help children to learn and develop;
  • Add to the life and well-being of the local community; and
  • Offer children and their parents a service that promotes equality and values diversity.


Our current OUTSTANDING Ofsted report is available www.reports.ofsted.gov.uk


Within the setting we have a highly qualified staff team including a manager, a deputy, room supervisors and a number of preschool assistants who care for the children. Safeguarding is embedded within the high quality childcare we provide. All of the Watery Lane team are DBS checked on a yearly basis within the update service and are approved to work with children, leaving you with the knowledge that your children will be cared for during their early years. 


OUR PHILOSOPHY

Inspiring curiosity, independance and life long love of learning

Learning through play

Play helps young children to learn and develop through doing and talking, which research has shown to be the means by which young children learn to think. Watery Lane Preschool uses the Development Matters in the Early Years Foundation Stage guidance to plan and provide a range of play activities, which help children to make progress in each of the areas of learning and development. In some of these activities, children decide how they will use the activity and, in others, an adult takes the lead in helping the children to take part in the activity. In all activities, information from 'Development Matters' the Early Years Foundation Stage has been used to decide what equipment to provide and how to provide it.

Children's development and learning We aim to ensure that each child:

  • Is in a safe and stimulating environment;
  • Is given generous care and attention, because of our ratio of qualified staff to children, as well as volunteer parent helpers;
  • has the chance to join in with other children and adults to live, play, work and learn together;
  • Is helped to take forward her/his learning and development by being supported to build on what she/he already knows and can do;
  • Has a personal key person who makes sure each child makes satisfying progress;
  • Is in a setting that sees parents as partners in helping each child to learn and develop; and
  • Is in a setting in which parents can help to shape the service it offers.


You and your child are our priority. We believe in providing a safe and welcoming environment that acts as an extension to each child’s home and we know that working with integrity and openness is key to this. We ensure that all staff at Watery Lane provide consistent high levels of care and keep our ambitions and values at the forefront of our minds in all aspects of our work. In choosing Watery Lane, we ensure you and your child will receive the highest quality of care and education from our outstanding team!

Share by: