Little Achievers Montessori Pre-School LAMPS

07/09/2017

Sadly, we have been forced to close our pre-school.

The government insist that we call their early entitlement 15 hours 'free hours' leading parents to believe that they don't have to pay. However it is impossible to run a quality setting on the funding the government provide to us. Funding doesn't meet costs. So we were caught between a rock and hard place. Reduce our quality, pay peanuts to young inexperienced staff or continue our quality provision and ask parents to pay extra for a slightly longer session to make up the shortfall.

For 15 years we had been able to explain this difficulty to our parents and they were accepting, - always willing to pay extra for a slightly longer session for quality provision. This kept us going and we were able to provide an outstanding service on a very tight budget with individual attention for our little ones provided by an excellent staff in a lovely setting. We all loved our work.
At the same time, the pre-school directors campaigned for the government to stop making us lie to parents by advertising 'free' hours. Those 15 hours aren't free. The truth is that they are subsidised.

We were never going to be prepared to reduce our quality and couldn't cut costs any further.

Closing an excellent pre-school was devastating for us all. It's not what we wanted to do. But our hand was already forced by the 15 hour funding difficulty and by the looming 30 hours crisis which was impossible for us to compete against in our premises.

Our team of excellent staff and our resources have moved to a new setting, Little Legs in Billericay, under new direction. We wish them the best of luck. xx

03/04/2017

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-39481336

Poll of childcare providers suggests many fear free hours funding will not cover costs.

30/03/2017

Thanks to all who made LAMPS wonderful.
It's been a privilege and a joy for 14 years.
Good luck to our staff in their new venture.
And warmest wishes to all of our LAMPS families.

14/02/2017

http://www.nurseryworld.co.uk/nursery-world/opinion/1160306/its-not-free-its-funded

Read It's not 'free', it's funded! childcare and the latest childcare & early years news & best practice on Nursery World

22/01/2017

The LAMPS children enjoyed ice experiments, making food for the birds, hibernation, learning about how their bodies work in the cold and exploring Winter colours.

04/01/2017

I have today, received this reminder for parents from Essex County Council

Primary School Admissions for Reception Admission in the 2017-18 academic year
The closing date for applications for a primary (Reception) school place for children born during the period 1 September 2012 and 31 August 2013 is 15th January 2017. This is for children due to start school in the academic year that begins in September 2017.

Although most parents have already applied, I would be very grateful if you could remind parents of children in this age group that if they have yet to apply, they must do so by the statutory national closing date of 15th January 2017.

Applications can be made online via the website www.essex.gov.uk/admissions and the vast majority of parents make their applications in this way.

Late applications made after the closing date are dealt with after those made on time. It is therefore important that parents apply on time to give themselves maximum opportunity of securing a place at a school they prefer.

Thank you in anticipation for your assistance.

Yours faithfully

Shamsun Noor
Head of School Admissions and Transport
Essex County Council
Tel: 033301 32246 | Ext: 32246
Email: [email protected]

Information on applying for admission to Essex schools including looking for my priority admission areas (formerly 'catchment area') and finding out more about determined admission arrangements.

29/11/2016

'Tis the season to be jolly......

14/11/2016

Don't forget to look out for the super moon tonight with your children.

04/11/2016

Enjoy bonfire night and help keep our little children safe by following the firework safety code.

Only buy fireworks marked BS 7114.
Don’t drink alcohol if setting off fireworks.
Keep fireworks in a closed non-flammable box.
Follow the instructions on each firework.
Light them at arm’s length, using a taper.
Stand well back.
Never go near a firework that has been lit. Even if it hasn’t gone off, it could still explode.
Never put fireworks in your pocket or throw them.
Always supervise children around fireworks.
Light sparklers one at a time and wear gloves.
Never give sparklers to a child under five.
Keep pets indoors.

04/11/2016

It's been a very very orange week at LAMPS.
Next week, the LAMPS staff are planning some weird and wonderful patterns in art for the children. Spirals, polka dots, swirls and zig zags. Let's help the children find these patterns anywhere they exist.