Monday 19 November 2018

Pine Pixies Pre-School history




















When I took over Elbow Lane Pre-School in 2001 it was a well established facility that had been running for approx 30 years and was well known throughout the village. 

I was running the creche at Tone Zone gym at the time and the parents whose children attended Elbow Lane were desperate to save their pre-school, which was in danger of closing.  My second daughter was born basically as I took over, so it was a pretty hectic April that year! 

Clipping below for the pre-school's first anniversary and my daughter's first birthday.



St Luke’s playgroup owner approached me a year later to buy her playgroup at Kirklake Road. I registered it with OFSTED and put in place the free funding and so another pre-school was initiated. 

We needed a name for both combined facilities so ‘Pine Pixies Pre-Schools’ was born. Our logo came from a staff member and friend who attended a creative course for our setting, we loved it so much, it was kept as the logo.  




















We have built up an exceptional reputation for the name of Pine Pixies Pre-School over the seventeen years we were open. We used to annually run the pre-school area in the ‘All Churches Together’ fun day at Duke St Park every August. We also had fun attending the Victorian Day in Formby.





Our OFSTED reports always showed a positive, happy and safe environment for the children who attended and we had good ratings from them.  Feedback from parents has always been positive and parents have returned time again with other siblings.  

























We filled an essential gap within the local community, as we found we were needed not just for the children but for the parents too. Pre-school has always been looked on as a different ethos to a full day nursery or a parent/toddler playgroup. It is a gentle stepping stone to either full time school nursery or reception not just for the children but parents too, as they begin to ‘let go’ of their toddler for perhaps the first time. 

























On February 10th 2012 I closed the Elbow Lane Pre-School, due to ongoing garden space problems whereby the children were eventually fenced off by the church committee from using the grassy area, and the need to open more hours. 

One person I must thank is Santa, who has always visited our setting to give joy to all the children at Yuletide. I will miss Santa! 
































I have loved ‘every single minute’ of setting up and running this successful pre-school business for the last seventeen years and will miss the staff and setting dreadfully. Due to ongoing health problems since April I had to bow out, but  I believe it will continue to grow from strength to strength as Footprints@Pinetots with  the new owners First Steps Enterprises

My family have been a very large part of the enthusiasm, hard work, ups and downs over the years. My husband Pat has been the co-owner, gardener, dogsbody, DIY chap and just about everything required behind the scenes. 








Our four children, Fiona, Kyle, Jasmine and Jason have all been a part of the business helping along the way. 





Many staff have come and gone, but two have been with us for fifteen years, Lynda and Kay. Sue nine years and Martine for eight and a half years. Lynda and Martine (below) joint managers of Pine Pixies are two of the best people I have had the pleasure of working with. Their professionalism is second to none and the working relationship the three of us had was fantastic.







































They are continuing at the nursery and I must also congratulate Alesha in her new role as Deputy.

The staff members have always been very committed to the facilities and have been a pleasure to work with. They brought in many unique qualities, expertise, ideas and personal materials/equipment to enhance the quality of children’s learning.

The years of SENCO expertise we collated, made our nursery a constant choice for children with additional needs. The hard background work towards getting many children ready for school, alongside speech therapists,Sefton professionals in special needs and gaining extra funding to support the children along the way, has been an inspiration I have felt very proud of. 

I can still recall many of the children over the years as 3-4 years old, yet they are now attending as high school students on work placement! I have a lot of memories to look back on. 

I would like to thank all the staff, the numerous parents and children who have been a part of Pine Pixies Pre-School, Sefton people from Early Years, Finance and other areas, Ian from Macpac, Zoe and Dobbies Garden Centre, Formby library, Darren who carried out our end of term discos, Freshfield Children's Centre, OTSNews, Formby Times, Formby Bubble, to mention just a few. Many of the community have helped along the way including below;


Catherine with Zoe at Dobbies Garden Centre


Pictured Salwa Moustafa, Centre Manager of Brookdale Day Centre, Dementia specialist care centre in Ainsdale  (left) with Catherine Owner Pine Pixies Pre-School, accepting the donation of £40 alongside some donated plants after a raffle to raise funds for the centre. 































Lots of cable reels donated from Harbord Electrical.











A big thank you goes out for the lovely leaving gifts from colleagues and friends, also to the lovely card from the children. Our family will miss you all. x

Below last staff photograph of Pine Pixies Pre-School.






















Left to right; Lynda, Joanne, Sue, Kay, Zoe, Martine, myself and Alesha. Great colleagues to finish my seventeen years with.

https://www.facebook.com/PinePixiesPreSchool/

https://www.facebook.com/footprintspinetots/

https://www.otsnews.co.uk/new-chapter-unfolds-formby-pre-school/?fbclid=IwAR1MMpmpTNvcncXANJ9XbDLtEyWzJiGA-pvZVEyiWuYUhGa9oVP3YeJmERA





















Sunday 26 August 2018

Pine Pixies Pre-School vacancies for September


Pine Pixies Pre-School in Formby has been providing excellent childcare for over seventeen years. We have vacancies for the September intake for children from one year old. We also take children throughout the term, whenever you are ready to start them with us.

We have a baby area for children aged one to two years and a large hall for over two to school age.

The large garden and hall offers building, craft activities, small world, dressing up, room to run and play, practise balancing skills, grow plants, herbs and vegetables and cook them in the mud kitchen, it is an excellent choice for your child.


Messy play with numbers



Practise fine motor skills






























Lots of activities to choose from.





























Learn about nature





























































World Book Day, making book marks 

























Visual story telling
                               

   







































Sessions are Monday to Friday 9-3pm, various sessions available or full day. 

Email  pinepixiespreschool@aol.co.uk

or phone 01704 571920 to book your place.

https://pinepixies.webnode.com//

https://www.facebook.com/PinePixiesPreSchool/




Pine Pixies Pre-School has become a popular part of the local community during the last seventeen years, it continues to go from strength to strength, with the excellent staff team and reputation.

Due to increasing medical reasons the current owner is seeking to sell the business, however our service to families will not be affected. All enquiries please contact us on the above number or email.





Saturday 30 June 2018

Pine Pixies Pre-School working with the local community






























Pictured Salwa Moustafa, Centre Manager (left) with Catherine Regan Owner Pine Pixies Pre-School accepting the donation of 40 alongside some donated plants.











Pine Pixies Pre-School recently held a raffle alongside the children decorating and selling cakes, in order to raise funds for the Brookdale Day Centre in Ainsdale.  Many raffle prizes were offered including two children's bikes we found through the help of Ian at Merseyside Play Action Council, two hampers donated by Pine Pixies and a very kind parent also donated two more hampers alongside donated Vue cinema tickets. 



































The Brookdale is the only Dementia specialist care centre in a catchment area of approximately 150,000 people. This unit with specialist trained staff provides a day care service for older people with Alzheimer's and Dementia and deals with cases from early onset to the later stages of the illness. It provides a vital life-line for carers giving them the required respite whilst being assured of the safety, health and well-being of their loved ones at the centre.



Catherine also recently went to a Formby electrical shop, Harbord Electrical Ltd as they were donating some cable reels to the nursery. The reels are great to paint or add textures to and make into lots of different role play ideas for the children. They also had great fun rolling them all into the garden on arrival. 😊



                                                                                                                                                           





Pictured above Catherine with the Owner of Harbord Electrical, Matthew James who very kindly donated the reels.































Pictured above (left) Martine Platt, Joint Manager Pine Pixies Pre-School alongside Catherine with all the cable reels donated.

To complete our community partnership for the moment Catherine also visited the Community Champion, Zoe Stanmore at Dobbies garden Centre. Zoe kindly donated some lovely plants and large bag of compost for the children to use in their pre-school garden, which is coming along very nicely.






























Pictured left Zoe Stanmore, Community Champion Dobbies Garden Centre.


Whilst there, we were watched very closely by a feathered friend.

































Below are some recent pictures of the garden at Pine Pixies Pre-School, showing some of the children's hard work.






















































Pine Pixies Pre-School is situated at St Luke's parish hall in Kirklake Road, Formby, (pictured below). 

We offer places for children aged one until school age. All our staff are first aid trained and care deeply about the care they offer. 

Pine Pixies has operated in the village of Formby for over seventeen years. 

We offer varied session times 9.00am to 3pm Monday to Friday, term time only.  

We are not just a pre-school, we are an extension of your family and have a wonderful staff team with two outstanding Managers, Martine Platt and Lynda Birtles. 

Over the last seventeen years our reputation speaks for itself and parents come back time after time. 

Children who once attended come back for school work placements and we work constantly alongside the local community. 

The children have a lovely long garden where they can run, interact, learn about nature and grow their own plants and vegetables. 































Places still available for September 2018, book now before we close for the summer holidays in July. 

Telephone 01704 833039 from 9-3pm Monday to Friday. 

Or email  pinepixiespreschool@aol.co.uk


Thanks go to Pat Regan for his lovely photography wherever we go.


https://www.facebook.com/PinePixiesPreSchool/

https://pinepixies.webnode.com/


http://www.merseyplay.com/

http://www.harbordelectrical.co.uk/electrical-formby.html


https://ndirections.co.uk/our-services/dementia-care/

https://www.facebook.com/brookdaledaycentre/


https://www.dobbies.com/ideas-advice/gardening-with-kids/





























Tuesday 5 June 2018

Pine Pixies Pre-School places available


























Above: Our toddler area

Pine Pixies Pre-School in Formby is currently taking bookings for September 2018. We accept children from one year old. We have a large hall area with lots of different activities, a separated toddler area and a secure garden. Car parking readily available.

We have provided excellent childcare for over seventeen years and lots of our parents return with siblings.



The children are very good at growing their seeds/plants. We are working on the RHS (Royal Horticultural Society) school gardening awards and also work closely with Dobbies Garden Centre who have been wonderful supporting the children's love of gardening. Parents too have given their time and equipment to kindly make things for us.






















































Above: Catherine Regan of Pine Pixies (left) with our great friend Zoe Stanmore (right), Dobbies Community Champion.















































Whether your child is interested in gardening, bugs, dinosaurs, knights and dragons, sand/water play, making potions in our mud kitchen, books, role play, dressings up or trains, we have plenty to meet their interests.

Come for a visit and see for yourself. We close for the summer on 12th July, so still plenty of time to contact us for a visit to book a September place.






























How to contact us:

Setting address: St Luke's Parish Hall, Kirklake Road, Formby, L37 2DB

Telephone numbers:
Setting landline: 01704 833039
Setting mobile:07522011524

Kirklake Road facility number:

Tel: 01704 833039 and speak to one of our excellent managers, Lynda or Martine.

We are at St Luke's Parish Hall in Kirklake Road, Formby. As you pass Formby train station going towards the pine woods, it is just after Woodlands Road on the right. It is a church hall on its own with a small car park. Parking also available on the road next to the hall.

Is your nursery closing? Does your local nursery not have spaces? 

We have places available so please do come and see us. 




Or the postal address for the Owner/Ofsted Registered Person is below:
Mrs Catherine  Regan
192 Sandbrook Road, Southport Merseyside, PR8 3RW.
Tel: 01704 571920   


Email: pinepixiespreschool@aol.co.uk



https://www.facebook.com/PinePixiesPreSchool/

https://pinepixies.webnode.com/

https://www.otsnews.co.uk/pine-pixies-pre-school-celebrates-world-book-day/

https://www.formbybubble.com/single-post/2018/02/17/Pine-Pixies-Pre-School-in-Formby-lowers-the-admission-age-to-one-year-old


Sunday 27 May 2018

Pine Pixies Pre-School gardening fun

Now is especially the time that all our children should be deep into their gardening and growing. At Pine Pixies Pre-School our children have been planting all kinds of different seeds and bulbs.

























Even superheroes need to find time to tend to their garden.







































We are involved with the RHS School Gardening Awards as well as working closely with Dobbies Garden Centre who have given us much support, time and equipment to aid the children's' gardening activities.


































We have opened up our intake age to now accept children from one year old. 


We have places available so why not give us a call and come for a visit with your little one.

01704 833039  ( 9am-3pm Mon-Fri term time only) or out of hours 01704 571920

https://www.facebook.com/PinePixiesPreSchool/

https://pinepixies.webnode.com/

email- pinepixiespreschool@aol.co.uk