Alford Preschool

Apologies* due to a printing issue it will now be running from Tuesday 31st March!

Preschool scavenger hunt! Keep a look out in the village for clues and grab your entry forms from Young Smile Dental Care from Saturday 28th March. The Easter hunt will run for two weeks so plenty of chances to join the fun and support our local preschool in fundraising efforts. £2 per entry. Winner will receive a chocolate Easter egg! (If dairy free or allergies then alternative options can be offered).

Alford Pre-school provides a creative and nurturing environment for children aged 2 and a half to 5 years old.

Both funded and self-funded places are available including unfunded options for 2 and a half year olds.

‼️ Funding applications close tomorrow on the 19th December! ‼️

At Alford Pre-school you will see;

✅ Child-led Learning - based on children’s interests and following up on conversations, the learning is adapted based on this. 🗣️

✅Play-based Learning which significantly boosts a child’s cognitive and academic skills by trusting their natural curiosity. 🧠

✅ Outdoor Play - we love getting outdoors daily and enjoy watching the children thrive in our well resourced, structure-free outdoors. 🍃

✅ Nurturing Environment - with over 27 years of combined experience, we are very lucky to have such a caring and nurturing team who have created the most supportive and trusting relationships and environment for the children in our care. 💖

✅ Celebrate Success- it is fantastic to see the children accomplish and achieve so much whilst at Alford Pre-school! Every small win, deserves big celebrations! 🏆

Get in touch if you have any queries or would like to bring your family to view our setting!

Please also take a look on our page for the wonderful testimonials that previous families have shared 🌟

📢 EARLY LEARNING & CHILDCARE FUNDED PLACES 2026/2027

Applications for funded Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) places for the 2026/27 school year are coming up next week.

👶 Who is eligible?
Children born between August 19, 2021 and February 29, 2024 are entitled to free ELC in 2026/27.

If your child turns 3:
• By August 31, 2026 → Eligible from Aug 2026*
• By December 31, 2026 → Eligible from January 5 2027
• By February 28, 2027 → Eligible from April 12, 2027

*Children must have turned 3 the day before term starts.

Term dates vary each year and you can check here:

📅 Term dates:https://abshirepublications.blob.core.windows.net/acblobstorage/1f6d4157-412e-42c6-bf6e-90d099064c90/school-holiday-planner-25-30.pdf

🏫 Where can my child get a funded place?
Funded places are available in:
• Local authority nurseries
• Commissioned playgroups
• Private day nurseries
• Commissioned childminders

All funded ELC settings are regulated by Education Scotland and the Care Inspectorate, and quality assured by Aberdeenshire Council.

📝 When and how to apply

Local Authority Nurseries:

Apply online between December 8–19, 2025.

ℹ️ Info and forms will be available here:
https://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/schools/childcare-and-early-learning/3-and-4-year-olds/

You will later need to provide:
• Your child’s birth certificate
• Proof of address (e.g. recent utility bill or bank statement)

Commissioned playgroups, private nurseries and childminders:

1️⃣ Apply directly to your chosen provider from December 8, 2025.
2️⃣ Once a place is secured, your provider will ask you to complete the online funded hours application. This funding will be paid direct to your chosen funded provider by Aberdeenshire Council.
(If you don’t complete this step, the provider may charge you full fees.)

📘 Full details and a list of providers can be found in the “Applying Early Learning and Childcare for Your Child” booklet here https://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/schools/childcare-and-early-learning/3-and-4-year-olds/.

Thank you so much to everyone who took part in the beauty advent calendar and kindle fundraiser! The winner of the beauty advent is number 90! Lauren McDonald! Congratulations!

The winner of the kindle fire tablet is number 109! Alison Geldart! Congratulations!

I will get these to you both tomorrow if you send a pm!

For our lucky squares we have:

Hamper 1: David and Jane Oliver (94)
Hamper 2: Nicole Cameron (6)
Butcher’s voucher for turkey and the trimmings: Averil Mooney (to be contacted tomorrow) (150)
Daisy tree voucher: Ali Gordon (103)
Everlong Art and gift voucher: Elie (145) to be contacted tomorrow
The Yard voucher: Sharon (34) c/o Lauren McDonald

Thank you to everyone who took part! It means so much to preschool. A massive thank you to the businesses who supported us, you are all amazing! Wishing you all a very merry Christmas! 🎅🏼🎄☃️❄️

❄️🐻‍❄️ A Polar Bear Kind of Day!

We love hearing what parents have to say about our setting.

👉 Tap to read their wonderful testimonials!

With the wintry weather last week, we’re embracing all things snow-themed, from sensory play to imaginative polar-bear adventures.

Turning frosty forecasts into fantastic play! 🌨️✨

Pop down to COOP to grab a lucky square for our Christmas hampers! We have other fabulous prizes from Graeme Barber Butcher, Everlong Art and Gift Shop, Daisy Tree Boutique and The Yard! £5 per square. Here 9.30- 12pm!

📝 Admissions are open earlier this year! 📝

Applications open in two weeks, where you will be asked to choose your top 3 funded early learning and childcare settings.

Please get in touch with Alford Preschool if you have any questions or queries. Emails can be sent to [email protected]

🌈 Numbers get drawn this Saturday! 🌈
There are still numbers available- please share with friends and family!
Good Luck 🍀

Alford Preschool Children in Need fundraiser.

This week our children have been thinking about challenges other children may face and how we can support them to make life a little easier and happier.
🧸Our children decided to host a Cuppa and Cake for parents and grandparents to come along to. Our children were involved in deciding what they would like to bake with “chocolate cupcakes and a big cake with lots of sprinkles on it!” proving popular. The the children were involved in baking for the event as well as selling wristbands and raffle for a Pudsey Bear. 🧸

Thanks to our parents and grandparents we managed to raise an amazing £88.80 🎉 for an amazing cause - all whilst fostering children’s awareness of other children’s challenges.

Alford Preschool Christmas Fundraiser 2025

Beauty Calendar is now sold out!!!!!! Thank you all so much!!!

33 numbers left for the fire tablet! Get yours before they are gone!

Thank you for all of your support!


We have two fantastic raffle prizes which could be yours for £3 each!

We have an ASOS advent beauty calendar worth over £400 and a kids ‘Amazon Fire 7 tablet’ worth £129.99!

Our beauty calendar has some fantastic brands including: Charlotte Tilbury, Biodance, Sol de Janeiro, Mac, Beauty Works, Elemis, Caudalie, Nuxe and more

Contains 26 products. A mixture of travel and full-sized. 15 full-size products

Includes skincare, makeup, body care and hair care and is presented in a branded box

The Amazon Fire 8” screen tablet is perfect for children age 3-7, with a ‘kid-proof’ grape coloured case & 13-hour battery life! Perfect as a bonus Christmas gift

Pick your raffle numbers 1-100 for the & Beauty Advent Calendar and 101-200 for the Kids Tablet by commenting on our original post.

Please transfer your funds to the linked PayPal fundraiser account under the “donate” button:

Entries are only confirmed when payment has been received! £3 per number per item. If your chosen number has already been paid for by another person you will be offered an alternative number that is available.

These will both be drawn on November 29th, for collection on the 30th November from Alford.

Payment details below:

https://www.paypal.com/pools/c/9jI5HwtLQz

Thank you for your support.



Beauty Advent Calendar Lucky number £3

1 Linda Crawford

2 Linda Crawford

3 Katie Cobban

4 Lynne Slater

5 Faye Johnston

6 Angie Hulme

7 Nicola Eddie

8 Joe Geldart (Clair Glennie)

9 Alison Geldart

10 Angie Hulme

11 Sheena Cobban

12 Vicki Smith

13 Katie Milne

14 Gillian Bowie

15 Alby Spence

16 Lynne Slater

17 Karen Gibson

18 Dominika Nawrocka

19 Rosie Bruce

20 Alby Spence

21 Linda Crawford

22 Lauren McDonald

23 Laura Muirden

24 Katie Cobban

25 Jillian Cockburn

26 Lucie Walton

27 Sheena Cobban

28 Klare Allan

29 Linda Crawford

30 Jillian Cockburn

31 Linda Crawford

32 Vicki Smith

33 Rowan Garrett

34 Gillian Bowie

35 Lynne Slater

36 Katie Milne

37 Vanda Rosie

38 Sophie Buckley

39 Sarah Hamilton

40 Alice Wilson

41 Colleen Crawford

42 Klare Allan

43 Gillian Bowie

44 Angie Hulme

45 Terri Farr

46 Lauren McDonald

47 Jackie Rae

48 Laura Brown

49 Lauren/Freya McSeveney

50 Lynne Slater

51 Sarah Hamilton

52 Claire Naylor

53 Lauren McDonald

54 Diane Murray

55 Amy Inglis

56 Gillian Bowie

57 Alice Wilson

58 Jennifer Mortimer

59 Bridget MacAlister

60 Klare Allan

61 Lucie Walton

62 Lauren McDonald

63 Linda Murray

64 Jillian Cockburn

65 Jackie Rae

66 Bridget MacAlister

67 Garry Douglas (Nic)

68 Aileen Hamilton

69 Angie Minto

70 Alice Wilson

71 Faye Smith (COOP sheet)

72 Angie Hulme

73 Klare Allan

74 Angie Hulme

75 Sophie Buckley

76 Faye Johnston

77 Colleen Crawford

78 Vanda Rosie

79 Lauren/Freya McSeveney

80 Laura Brown

81 Jennifer Mortimer

82 Diane Murray

83 Gillian Bowie

84 Lauren McDonald

85 Jenn Buckley

86 Katie Cobban

87 Klare Allan

88 Terri Farr

89 Joe Geldart (Clair Glennie)

90 Lauren McDonald

91 Angie Minto

92 Lauren McDonald

93 Norma Mitchell (COOP sheet)

94 Sarah Russell (COOP sheet)

95 Pam Rennie (COOP sheet)

96 Angie minto

97 Jenn Buckley

98 Aileen Hamilton

99 Alison Geldart

100 Alby Spence

Amazon Kindle Fire Tablet Lucky Squares £3

101 Gillian Bowie

102 David Oliver

103

104 George (COOP sheet)

105 Joe Geldart (Clair Glennie)

106 Jackie Rae

107 Karen Gibson

108 Kerri Thomson

109 Alison Geldart

110 Laura Brown

111 Nicola Eddie

112 Dominica Nawrocka

113 Claire Naylor

114 Lauren/Freya McSeveney

115 Gillian Bowie

116 Lauren McDonald

117 Joe Geldart (Clair Glennie)

118 Oliver Clay

119 Karin (COOP sheet)

120 Anne (COOP sheet)

121 Jackie Rae

122 Arran Eddie

123 David Oliver

124 Rosie Bruce

125 Laura Muirden

126 Lauren/Freya McSeveney

127 Gillian Bowie

128 Jennifer Mortimer

129 Colleen Crawford

130 Vicki Smith

131 Mary Crawford

132 A. Watson (COOP sheet)

133 M Mitchell (COOP sheet)

134 Terri Farr

135 Hannie Westerop (COOP sheet)

136 Gillian Bowie

137 Colleen Crawford

138

139 Sharon McInnes

140 Arran Eddie

141 Alison Geldart

142 Kimberly Mackie

143

144

145

146

147 David Oliver

148

149 Lauren/Freya McSeveney

150 Mary Crawford

151

152

153

154

155 Amy Inglis

156 Kimberly Mackie

157 Oliver Clay

158 Sheila Tough (COOP sheet)

159 Bridget MacAlister

160 Sarah Hamilton

161

162

163

164

165

166 Bridget MacAlister

167 Garry Douglas (Nic)

168

169 Mary Crawford

170 Terri Farr

171

172 David Oliver

173 Aileen Hamilton

174

175 Sharon McInnes

176 Jennifer Mortimer

177

178 Vicki Smith

179

180 Kimberly Mackie

181

182 Arran Eddie

183 Mary Crawford

184 Laura Brown

185

186 Kerri Thomson

187

188 Laura Muirden

189 Aileen Hamilton

190

191 Sarah Hamilton

192

193

194

195

196

197

198 Gillian Bowie

199 Alison Geldart

200 Mary Crawford

Thank you to everyone who took part in the Halloween Trail for Alford Preschool over the last few weeks. The winners were chosen using a random number generator. Each participant for each category was given a number, the results are listed below!

🧙 🧟‍♀️ This is the last weekend to take part in Alford Pre-schools Halloween Hunt! 🧟‍♀️ 🧙

👻 Last entries accepted on Friday 31st October .

Collect and return your forms and maps at Young Smile Dental Care Ltd Monday to Friday 8:30-6.00pm.
Entry Forms are £2 and cash only.

We have now generously been donated some fantastic prizes for each category.

There are 3 suggested categories and 12 clues for each category. All completed entries will be entered into the prize draw and there will be a winner for each category.

PRIZES:

🕷️ Pre-school - Grampian Transport Museum Family of 4 Day Pass
👻 P1-4 - Chloe’s Kitchen Creations Kids Hot chocolate and Traybake
🎃 P5-7 - TR Home and Garden Ice cream for the winner & a friend

All winners will also receive some Halloween Sweeties donated by Alford Co-op.

You’ve got to be in it, to win it.

Good Luck 🍀 🏆