​About Us - How the Hyde Heath Pre-school began

​The PreSchool started as a play group prior to 1978 and was located in the Village Hall.  It opened 3 mornings a week and was started by a group of mothers in the village who began a committee to raise funds and look after the welfare of the group.

Back when it began, the supervisor was the leader of the group who had a years training on day release to achieve a Foundation Certificate and all members of staff were first aid trained.  The committee planned a curriculum which was based on the theory of learning through play.  Social services carried out annual inspections and there were also periodic inspections from the Playgroup Advisors.  The playgroup was a member of the Pre School Learning Alliance.

​As numbers grew the playgroup began operating 4 mornings a week and it changed its name to Hyde Heath Community Pre School.

The Success of Moving to the Hyde Heath Infant School

In September 1992 the pre school moved to a classroom in the village school at the invitation of the Head Teacher of the time and the Governing body.  It was felt that if the children were educated in the same place it would make the transition to "big school" easier. This move allowed the pre school to have a static place rather than having to pack away, which allowed display boards to be decorated and was an advantage to the children as they had child size toilets and sinks.

Such was the success of the pre school it graduated to opening 5 mornings a week.  When the funding system was introduced, Tuesday mornings became exclusively for the older children so they had extra specialised attention to prepare them for starting school.

​Much as has happened today, the people involved in the pre school started a   Toddler Group  which was popular, and helped a smooth transition into pre school.

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