Stokenham Preschool Centre

About this early years setting

Stokenham Pre-School, established in 1972, offers a stimulating and nurturing environment for children aged 2-5 years old in Kingsbridge. Proudly situated within the grounds of Stokenham Area Primary School, the pre-school provides a welcoming and safe space that fosters learning, play, and development.

The experienced staff focus on balancing engaging play, essential social skill development, and the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework to create a positive and inclusive experience for every child. The pre-school boasts a spacious building with two rooms for various activities and a large outdoor area with a green oak canopy, allowing for outdoor play in all weather conditions.

Beyond the immediate facilities, Stokenham Pre-School also offers community trips to local libraries and beaches, promoting exploration and engagement with the wider world. Additionally, they host "Happy Feet Mother and Toddler" sessions for children aged 0-2 years, providing a supportive space for parents and carers to connect while their little ones enjoy crafts, music, sensory play, and story time.

The pre-school emphasises a child-led approach, celebrating individuality and utilising play-based learning as a core method for children to understand and interact with their surroundings. They also prioritise building strong relationships with families, aiming to create a supportive community where everyone feels valued.

Our ethos

At Stokenham preschool we provide a nurturing, safe and stimulating, child-led, supportive environment – focussing on the emotional wellbeing of the children to maximise their development, helping children to build and develop on what they already know and can do. Celebrate individuality – No two children are the same – and that’s what we love the most! We create spaces for every child to shine, explore and feel proud of who they are. Play based learning – we embrace play based learning, because it’s how children make sense of the world around them. Through play, they explore ideas, build relationships and develop essential life skills, enabling them to learn, grow and thrive We strive to create a warm and welcoming environment that feels like a second home. We build strong connections with children and their families, creating a supportive space for everyone to feel seen, heard and valued. Provide regular opportunities for learning outdoors – We believe that nature is one of the best classrooms, that’s why we offer regular outdoor learning experiences, where children can explore, play and discover the world around them. We also offer trips out in the wider community, such as trips on the bus to the local library and beaches, exploring the nearby woods becoming woodland explorers and detectives, engaging with other groups in our community and regular fundraisers.

What it's like

Children show they feel safe and secure, settling in quickly and engaging with toys provided based on their interests. There is a well-designed curriculum that builds on children's knowledge, using their interests to motivate learning. For example, staff expand on children's fascination with water and fish by taking them on a bus to a local beach and then providing shells for detailed examination.