Our Pre-School
Puffin Pre-School is a warm and welcoming setting tucked behind Foakes Hall in the heart of Great Dunmow. We offer a caring, playful environment where children build friendships, grow in confidence and enjoy new discoveries every day.
We welcome children aged 2–5 years, Monday to Friday during term time
Our Ethos
At Puffins, we nurture each child’s potential, helping them grow into confident, independent and resilient individuals who feel ready for their next adventure.
Kindness, belonging and curiosity are at the heart of our pre-school. We create a safe and caring environment where children feel valued, build friendships and develop the confidence to try new things.
Through play, exploration and connections with our community, we inspire a love of learning—making discoveries, having fun and creating happy memories together.
"You cannot make people learn. You can only provide the right conditions for learning to happen.” ~ Vince Gowmon
Let the Fire Burn ~ Nurturing the Creative Spirit of Children – Vince Gowmon
Climbing the ladder to school
Grow
We inspire children to embrace their individuality and grow into well rounded confident individuals
Explore
We explore feelings, thoughts, ideas, imaginations, problem solving and creativity
Discover
We discover friendships, senses, independence, enjoyment and a love for learning
Our Approach
At Puffins, we believe children flourish when they feel safe, valued and understood. Each child has a dedicated key person who builds a warm, trusting relationship with them, helping them feel secure and confident to explore.
Our child-centred approach puts children’s interests, strengths and curiosity at the heart of their learning. Through play, meaningful experiences and positive interactions with adults and friends, children develop new skills, grow in independence and discover the joy of learning.
Drawing inspiration from a range of early years approaches, we create a welcoming, inclusive environment filled with opportunities to investigate, imagine and create. We recognise that every child develops in their own way and work closely with families to help each child participate, belong and thrive.
