Rotherfield Village Pre-School
Making it good, for every child, every day
Registered Charity Number 1028021
BACK
NEW BUILD
UPDATE
Rotherfield Village Pre-school has just had some new premises built, down the road at the Recreation ground. We are putting our own finishing touches to the building before making the move ready for opening in January.
Follow the progress from start to finish
For more information and photos of work done, click on the buttons below.
Thank you!
Now our amazing new build project is drawing to an end we are able to reflect and look back at what has been achieved. We have had amazing support from our parents and local community who have supported our fundraising events and worked with us all the way. Special thanks to the Parish Council who found us a plot to build on and donated £7,000 which included the £1,000 prize money from "Village of the Year". We have also been lucky to receive donations from other local charities - The Bonfire Society, The Rotherfield Players, Cuckoo Line Stores and St Denys’ Church PCC.
However the biggest thanks must go to East Sussex County Council who have provided the main funding for this project has come in the form of a Capital Grant. They have also provided us with practical and business support and have guided us through the whole process. We have also received guidance from other sources such as Steven George, our Architect, and his team at Mackellar Schwerdt, the Project Managers from Gleeds, Bob from PJR Design Services and not forgetting Cheesmur the builders - Norman the Site Manager has been a Saint. So thank you everyone we really can’t believe how lucky we have been.
Together as a community and with the financial backing of East Sussex County Council, we have provided a legacy for the children of our community for many years to come.
Vicky
POST-BUILD PROGRESS
Tuesday 16th November 2010
SME Solutions came to install some new equipment.
Monday 22nd November 2010
The office furniture has arrived.
Tuesday 23rd November 2010
The staff had their first staff meeting in the new premises. For some it was the first time seeing their new place of work.
Wednesday 24th November 2010
Deborah started to put up the pottery tree.
WEEK
5 - 8
WEEK
9 - 12
WEEK
13 - 16
WEEK
17 - 20
WEEK
21 - 24
PRE
BUILD
POST
BUILD
Thursday 25th November 2010
Some of our parents had the chance to see the new premises when they came to help make a large felt rug (representing the roots of the pottery tree) for the children to sit on at story time and a mosaic notice board to put in the lobby area.
Some of the children and staff made some felt pieces to be incorporated into the rug. Then the parents began the process of making the rug.
Thursday 2nd December 2010
Unfortunately the snow has stopped our evenings finishing off the rug making. However, Jim Taylor has fitted the hand crafted wooden trunk to our pottery tree and Deborah has been in today to continue. Vicky has also been to the new Pre-School . . . to play in the snow!
Saturday 4th December 2010
Deborah has been working very hard on these last few ‘snow days’ helping to make our tree grow!
Wednesday 15th December 2010
It is the last day of Pre-School in the Memorial Institute! The children helped to pack their toys into boxes. We hope that being involved in this way, particularly the younger children, will help them understand what is happening. We showed them pictures of the inside of our new building which is empty and asked what was missing. “Toys, children and teachers!” replied one child. So the packing of toys started! A team of parents and staff are helping to move the toys and furniture tomorrow and Friday.
Thursday 16th December 2010
Moving day has arrived at last! An early morning power cut to the whole of Rotherfield did make us think whether we would achieve all we wanted today, but all was well when it came on again just after 9am. It was all steam ahead to move everything from the Institute to our new Pre-School. We made incredible progress with everything arriving by midday , thanks to a few Mums, Dads, Grandparents and their cars, vans and trailers! Wiz did a fantastic job doing a final clean of the Institute and to check that we hadn’t left anything behind whilst the rest of the staff and parent helpers started to clean the furniture and start arranging it to where we want it. Our task now is to put everything away and remember where we put it!
The first lot of furniture arrives.
Toys have already started to arrive
We start moving in.
The Memorial Institute at lunchtime.
We have a lot of sorting to do! But it’s fun!
Friday 17th December 2010
Today the real hard work began, with unpacking, sorting, cleaning, decluttering etc.... Unfortunately with the arrival of more snow in the morning, some of us had to go home early while we could. Those who could stay continued working with some staff staying late to get as much done as possible.
Saturday 18th December 2010
Vicky, Fiona and Wiz spent all of today at Pre-School, and are planning to be there on Monday too. They are amazing! More help would have been in but for the further blizzard conditions this morning. The snow is now making things more difficult but we still plan to go ahead with the Community Open Day on Wednesday if we can.
Monday 20th December 2010
. . . and the sorting out carries on but we are nearly there. Many of the staff continues to work very hard to complete the ‘new look’ Pre-School ready for the open day and of course, our first day with the children. Frank put up some shelving in the big store cupboard so we can now have easy access to toys. The office has been reported to be looking ‘very organised’. Well done everyone (particularly when the snow and ice have made the last few days very difficult!)
Wednesday 22nd December 2010
Today was our open day to show the community our new facilities. It was a fantastic occasion with craft activities, seasonal music by Sue Evans and team, Father Christmas, Mary the Fairy, a Wooden toy stall, Name the teddy and Guess the weight of the cake competitions and toys for the children to play with. Thank you to the two Tesco staff who came to help serve mince pies, mulled wine, cakes, tea and coffee and of course the Pre-School Committee for organising the day. Many people attended despite the weather conditions and our new Pre-School was buzzing with activity, chat and laughter for the full 4 hours we were open. A very memorable occasion.
Wednesday 5th January 2011
Today is our first day! We were all excited, with an edge of apprehension, not knowing how the children would react to the new premises and settling in to new rules and routines. We had a very relaxed approach to the day to see how the children would cope and give the staff the opportunity to see what works and doesn’t work! We also welcomed 5 new children (with 4 more later in the week). Many of the children were fascinated by the ‘magic’ taps, explored the outside area and enjoyed using our new ICT equipment. Whereas the staff were getting used to new sounds such as the doorbell and telephone, trying to remember the code to get into the main playroom and where we had put things away after the move!
The glorious view from our outside decked area.
The kitchen starting to look like home!
The office starting to look organised!
An extract from Rotherfield School’s weekly newsletter
Miss Bishop and I accompanied two children from each class to witness the balloon launch at Rotherfield Pre-School today to commemorate their official opening at their new site on the recreation ground. They were very excited to see the new premises and enjoyed the occasion despite the weather! Here are some comments from them about the launch:
“I think people will say, ‘hey, what’s going on over my house.” By Daniel, Milne
“All the balloons went up into the air and I thought they were going behind the trees but they went a lot further than that.” By Hannah, Milne
“The new pre-school building is great; it is very different from the old building. They let off lots of balloons, it was fantastic.” By Jacob, Kipling
“Our visit to the pre-school was very exciting because we got to see the new building and were able to see the balloons being released. It was a wonderful privilege for all of us.” By Owen and Megan,Tolkien
Congratulations to Laurie,
as his balloon ticket has been the one and only returned (as of Wed 16th Feb).
His balloon was found in Frant!
(4 miles away)
OFFICIAL OPENING OF
NEW PRE-SCHOOL PREMISES
FRIDAY 14th JANUARY 2011
Friends of Rotherfield Village Pre-School, children, parents, staff, representatives of local Community Organisations, Rotherfield School, Rotherfield Parish Council, East Sussex County Council and key members of the team that got our Pre-School built including Cheesmurs, Mackellar Schwerdt Architects and Gleeds, joined together for a buffet lunch and the releasing of balloons to officially open our new Pre-School premises.