Ladybirds Preschool: Nurturing Young Minds in a Stimulating Environment
Ladybirds Preschool, established in September 1996, has grown from a small independent playgroup into a highly reputable educational setting within its local community.
February 27, 2026 21:05
Dedicated to providing a stimulating, safe, and secure environment, Ladybirds Preschool fosters an atmosphere where children can explore, play, learn, and develop essential skills .
A Rich History and Dedicated Leadership
The preschool's journey began with a commitment to quality early childhood education. The previous manager, Barbara Defeo, had been an integral part of Ladybirds since its inception, initially as a volunteer in 1985 when her daughter attended, and later taking on the role of manager in 1996, after nearly 30 years, she finally retired in 2024. The new manager Mrs Nicola Mann-Rae, alongside her brilliant team, has continued to ensure that Ladybirds remains an exciting place for children to learn .
Highly Qualified and Passionate Team
Ladybirds Preschool prides itself on its team of highly qualified and passionate staff who provide excellent care and support to children aged 2 years to school age. The team includes:
•Mrs. Nicola Mann-Rae (Manager): Holds a BA Honours Degree in Early Years, is a qualified Early Years Teacher, Designated Safeguarding Lead, S.E.N. Co-ordinator and is a First Aider. She has a background in Early Years Education for over 23 years and has extensive experience working with children from 0-11 years, she has run outstanding settings previously and has a passion for Special Needs.
•Mrs Kylie Brown (Deputy Manager): Deputy Safeguarding Lead, First Aider, Fire Marshall, and holds a Level 3 Diploma in Childcare. She is committed to supporting each child to reach their full potential .
•Miss Sonia Fernandez (Pre-School Practitioner): holds a Spanish Early Years Qualification and is a First Aider. She has experience working with children from 5 months to pre-school age, focusing on creating engaging activities and fostering development .
Mrs. Maria Horsfall (Pre-School Practitioner – Bank Staff): Holds a Level 2 qualification in Early Years, is a First Aider and brings a passion for childcare and for nurturing young minds.
A Home-from-Home Environment and Engaging Daily Routine
As a small setting, Ladybirds offers a home-from-home environment, facilitating frequent trips into the local community. These outings include visits to the local park for art project resources, discussions about the environment, annual trips to the fire station, and bus journeys to the Library and community farm .
The daily routine at Ladybirds is carefully planned and continuously reviewed to ensure children develop confidence, challenge themselves, feel valued, respected, and listened to. It also focuses on developing social skills and providing access to all areas of learning within the EYFS curriculum .
Children are given free choice in activities, are consulted on future activities, and all resources are accessible and clearly labeled to encourage independence .
Excellent Facilities and Flexible Sessions
The preschool boasts excellent facilities with high-quality resources that engage children's interest, encourage independence, and offer a wide range of choices. They provide free-flow play between inside and outside areas, with a variety of equipment in an enclosed and secure outdoor space, as well as access to further grassy areas for exploration .
Ladybirds Preschool welcomes funded 2-year-olds, funded 3+4-year-olds, and extended 30-hour funding. Their opening times are:
•Monday to Thursday: 9:15 am - 3:15 pm
•Friday: 9:15 am - 12:15 pm
Contact Information
Ladybirds Pre-school is located at St Francis Church Hall, Beatrice Road, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP1 3PN. They can be contacted at 01722 502234 or via email at ladybirdssp1@gmail.com. The preschool is a Registered Charity Number 1058636
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