Our Committee
Stokenham Pre-School is a registered charity and managed by a Committee of parents.
A requirement of being a charitable status, is that Pre-school must be managed by a volunteer committee. So we really appreciate the time and effort our committee members give as the Pre-School relies on their commitment to maintain it’s charitable status, and of course to keep up to date with all the requirements to enable the running of a successful Pre-School.
The committee meet regularly to discuss Pre-School matters including fundraising events, resources, finances and achievements, to name a few. All parents and staff are welcome to attend the meetings.
All our committee members are volunteers, and all have a DBS check in accordance with Ofsted requirements.
At the beginning of the new school year in September, we hold our Annual General Meeting where a new Committee is elected to take on the various roles and responsibilities required to support and run the Pre-School.
Please speak to any current committee member, or a member of staff to find out more detailed information. To the right is a brief outline of what becoming a committee member involves.
Committee Roles and Duties
Chairperson: Andrew Gilbert
- Arrange and chair Committee meetings (6 per year – 1 each half term)
- Appoint new staff as necessary and ensure relevant checks are made
- Liaise between staff, Committee and the Devon Early years team
- Update policies with Manager
Secretary: Melanie Shilston
- Set meeting agenda
- Attend meetings to record and distribute minutes
Treasurer: Scott Doswell
- Manage staff wages, Oversee accounts
- Manage and send out half termly bills to parents
- Annual submission of accounts to Charities Commission
All committee members:
Committee members are all required to have a DBS,sign up to the DBS update service which is free and complete an EY2 form. Committee roles include attending meetings held every half term and to help support fundraising events as much as their time permits.
Apply for DBS online at; http://ofsteddbsapplication.co.uk/step-one
Our Staff
Day to day management of the setting is delegated to the Manager, Julie Dixon and Deputy, Tracy Oreilly, are responsible for curriculum planning (whole team), administration and finance, staff management and supervision, and all childcare and education matters. Julie is managed by the officers of the Committee, of Stokenham Pre-School.
All members of staff have job descriptions and contracts, referring to our grievance and disciplinary procedures, benefits and allowances. Childcare staff meet weekly to discuss the children in their care, sharing learning and advising each other of developments. Staff have annual appraisals with the Manager, and the Manager has an annual appraisal with the officers of the Committee. The Manager of the pre-school and the Deputy Manager are the staff management team, the officers of the Committee are the committee management team. Management meetings involving both teams are held every six weeks to review and discuss day-to-day management issues and any other pressing concerns.
Our staff are appropriately qualified and we carry out checks for criminal and other records through the Disclosure and Barring services in accordance with statutory requirements. We are all also first aid trained, and attend regular training courses to keep us up to date in our own learning and development, which in turn enhances the learning we provide, for children in our Pre-school
Julie Dixon
Pre-School Manager; Safeguarding Lead
Hi, I’m Julie Dixon.
I am married with 2 daughters aged 20 and 18, both of whom attended Stokenham pre-school. I started working at the pre-school when my youngest daughter was here, as a parent helper. I went on to train for my NVQ 3 on the job, so have been lucky enough to see the classroom from both sides of the classroom door. As a parent, I always found the school to be welcoming, and was proud to see my daughters thrive in their environment. When I became employed in the pre-school, I took on the role with enthusiasm and commitment, as I believe that by providing a friendly, welcoming atmosphere, where each child is free to express their personalities and interests, and that through careful planning, to provide activities that will enhance children’s learning, and curiosity through play, they will flourish, in their own unique way. Alongside my NVQ 3, I am also qualified in paediatric first aid, have had Safeguarding training, as well as undertaking training to help keep me up to date with Early years legislation and to enhance my
Tracy O’Reilly
Deputy Manager – Health and Safety co-ordinator, Deputy DSL
Hi I’m Tracy.
I have lived in Devon since 1986 and joined the preschool as a mother of 2 girls from 2007. I completed my training in childcare in 2009 and since then have volunteered as a treasurer for 2 years, and remain as a committee member still to this day. I continue to attend courses to improve my early years practice and keep in touch with the latest legislation and protocol with regard to the provision. NVQ 3 Children’s care, learning & development.First Aid, Mini bus driver, Safeguarding children. Communication & language. Outdoor learning.
Joanne Luscombe Jones
Pre-school practitioner
Susan Kovacic
Pre-school practitioner
Volunteers, students and parent helpers
We use Ofsted guidance on obtaining references and DBS checks through the Criminal Records Bureau for staff and volunteers who will have substantial access to children. All volunteers, students and parent helpers are supervised at all times. Where appropriate and in accordance with Ofsted guidance all volunteers, students and parent helpers complete a DBS check and are vetted by Ofsted using an EY2 form.
All visitors to the Pre-school must show valid identification and sign in and out of our visitors’ book. All staff, volunteers and students are reminded of our visitors’ policy to ask for independent verification of a visitors identify, and that it is better to be safe and sure, than to be at risk
