Childcare Trull Saplings Preschool
About Us
We know that a warm, welcoming environment makes all the difference. At Trull Saplings Preschool, every child is greeted with kindness, encouragement, and a strong sense of belonging.
OFSTED Regulated Community Preschool
Our Mission
Our mission is simple: to help your child feel safe, valued, and inspired to explore the world around them. By blending play-based learning with daily outdoor adventures, we nurture confidence, independence, and curiosity.
Who we are
At Trull Saplings Preschool, we understand how important it is for your child to feel safe, happy, and confident every day. Choosing the right early years setting can feel overwhelming — but we’re here to make that experience simple, warm, and reassuring.
Located in the heart of Trull, our community‑led preschool offers a nurturing, child‑centred environment where every child is known, valued, and encouraged as an individual. Our approach blends high‑quality early education with daily opportunities to explore nature, develop friendships, and grow at their own pace.
We believe childhood should be filled with discovery, joy, and connection — and we build our setting around those values.
- Funding for 2, 3, and 4‑year‑olds
- No unexpected fees
🌿 Play-Based, Purposeful Learning
Children learn best when they feel free to explore, imagine, and try things for themselves. Our learning environment is designed to spark curiosity and build confidence through meaningful play, hands‑on experiences, and joyful discovery.
🌳 Daily Outdoor Adventures
We are proud to offer daily access to nature through park visits, Forest School sessions, and outdoor exploration around the village. These experiences help children develop resilience, curiosity, physical skills, and a deep connection with the world around them.
❤️ A Warm, Inclusive Community
Families describe our preschool as welcoming, gentle, and nurturing — a place where their children settle quickly and feel at home. We build strong relationships with families so that every child feels understood, supported, and celebrated.
⭐ Growing Confident, Independent Learners
From their first moments with us, children are encouraged to develop social skills, emotional awareness, and independence. Through consistent routines, meaningful interactions, and positive guidance, children grow into confident, capable young learners ready for school and beyond.
Sessions and opening times
Opening Times
| Day | Hours |
|---|---|
| Monday | 9:00 am – 3:00 pm |
| Tuesday | 9:00 am – 3:00 pm |
| Wednesday | 9:00 am – 1:00 pm *** |
| Thursday | 9:00 am – 3:00 pm |
| Friday | 9:00 am – 3:00 pm |
Sessions
Our flexible sessions support the needs of busy families while maintaining the consistency children thrive on.
Our opening hours through the week cover a total 28hours of childcare. To make use of 15-hour government funded hours per week, sessions can be booked as follows: Any 2 (two) All day sessions and one Morning session
Or 1 (one) All day session and one Morning session
Or 5 (five) Morning sessions
You can make a booking for either morning session (AM) or the all-day session (AD). Whereby a session is either morning (AM) with 3/4 hours or all day (AD) with 6 hours. All invoice billing is calculated per session with its allocated hours.
Funding, Fees & Support:
We are pleased to offer government‑funded places for eligible 2‑year‑olds and all 3‑ and 4‑year‑olds.
Our team can guide you through the application process, check eligibility, and help you secure the right funded hours for your child. We believe quality childcare should be accessible, transparent, and stress‑free for families.
However, for non-funded childcare. Our hourly fees are:
- £7.20 for non Funded 2-year-olds and 2yr-old children claiming over and above the Government funded hours.
- £6.10 for 3+ year old children claiming over and above the Government funding entitlement allocated hours.
Our dedicated and certified team
Our team isn’t just qualified — they’re passionate about helping every child feel seen, supported, and celebrated in a safe, consistent, and emotionally supportive environment.
We work closely with families to understand each child’s unique personality, needs, and strengths — ensuring they feel secure, confident, and excited to learn every day.
Meet the individuals who make our preschool such a nurturing, joyful place.
Claire Lawrence
Preschool Supervisor & Designated Safeguarding Lead
Qualified Teacher
Claire leads our preschool with a warm, steady presence and a deep commitment to children’s wellbeing. As a qualified teacher with extensive safeguarding and Paediatric First Aid training, she creates an environment where every child feels safe, understood, and encouraged to grow. Claire believes in nurturing each child’s unique personality and supporting families with openness and care.
Comfort Smithson
Preschool Business Manager
MSc Urban Management
Comfort brings kindness, organisation, and a genuine passion for early years education to her role. She works behind the scenes to keep our preschool running smoothly — supporting staff, families, and the day‑to‑day operations with diligence and heart. Her thoughtful approach helps make Trull Saplings Preschool a calm, welcoming place for children and parents alike.
Laura Haramis
SENCo & Early Years Practitioner
Level 3 Diploma (NNEB)
Laura is known for her gentle, reassuring manner and her ability to connect naturally with children of all needs and personalities. With specialist training in Behavioural Therapy and Autism Awareness, she offers highly sensitive support to children who benefit from extra help. Laura’s caring approach ensures every child feels included, valued, and empowered to learn at their own pace.
Katherine (“Kate”) Walker
Early Years Practitioner & Deputy Safeguarding Lead
Level 3 NVQ in Children’s Care
Kate brings warmth, patience, and a deep understanding of child development to our team. Over the years, she has gained extensive experience supporting children with additional needs and creating calm, inclusive learning environments. Families appreciate her steady presence and her genuine dedication to helping every child feel secure and confident.
Caroline Pearl
Early Years Practitioner & Deputy Safeguarding Lead
Paediatric Trained Nurse, Paediatric First Aid
Caroline draws on her background as a paediatric‑trained nurse to provide exceptional care, safety, and emotional support. Her nurturing personality helps children settle quickly, and her calm, thoughtful nature brings comfort and reassurance to families. Caroline is deeply committed to the wellbeing of every child in our setting.
Samantha (“Sammie”) Moore
Early Years Educator (Level 3)
Sammie is full of enthusiasm and brings a joyful energy to the preschool each day. She is deeply committed to supporting children in a caring, attentive way, helping them feel confident, curious, and ready to explore. Her positive attitude and eagerness to learn make her a valued part of our team.
Laura Chinn
Early Years Practitioner (Level 3)
Laura creates a warm, comforting environment where children feel happy, secure, and excited to join in. With a passion for early learning and child‑led exploration, she supports children through play, conversation, and gentle encouragement — helping them thrive at their own pace.
The preschool committee
Trull Saplings Preschool is proud to be a committee‑run charitable organisation, which means our setting is guided and supported by the families who join us. This keeps our preschool deeply rooted in the local community and ensures that every decision we make puts children and families first.
Our volunteer committee works closely with the staff team to make sure the preschool continues to be a safe, nurturing, and inspiring place for every child.
Being committee‑run is also a requirement of our constitution: we must have a minimum of 5 and up to 12 committee members to operate legally as a preschool.
Committee Members List
- Chair: Rhys Davies
- Treasurer: Jenny Shepherd
- Secretary: David Saunders
- Supervisor/Nominated Ofsted: Claire Lawrence
- Business Manager: Comfort Smithson
Other Members:
- Esther McCann – Member/Trustee
- Mollie Preston _ Member/Trustee
- Rebecca Dianne McAuslan-Crine – Member/Trustee
- Joanne Canniford – Member/Trustee
- Katy Sellick – Member/Trustee
- Deborah Hepple – Member/Trustee
- Lucas Woodward – Member/Trustee
Why We Have a Committee?
As a charity‑led preschool, we are required by our constitution to have an active committee in place each year. This committee provides essential governance, supports with decision‑making, and helps ensure we meet all Ofsted and charity requirements.
Without enough committee members, the preschool simply cannot operate — which is why parent involvement is so important and valued.
Our committee members play a key role in:
- Supporting the leadership and staff team
- Overseeing finances and budgeting
- Supporting fundraising and community events
- Upholding our safeguarding and governance responsibilities
- Helping guide the long‑term direction of the preschool
This teamwork helps ensure that Trull Saplings remains a welcoming, secure, and high‑quality setting for every family.
Their support ensures our preschool remains a safe, nurturing, and inspiring place where children can thrive.
How Can Parents Get Involved?
Any parent or carer is warmly encouraged to join the committee.
You don’t need special experience — just enthusiasm and a desire to support our setting.
Each year at our Annual General Meeting (AGM), new committee members are elected into roles such as: Chair, Treasurer, Secretary and other committee members
Volunteering on the committee is a wonderful way to:
- Get involved in your child’s preschool journey
- Meet other families
- Support a vital community service
- Strengthen the long‑term sustainability of the preschool
Your involvement helps us continue offering the nurturing, child‑centred experience Trull Saplings is known for.
Interested in Joining?
We’d love to hear from you. Whether you’d like to take on a core role or simply support in a general capacity, every contribution counts.
Speak to a member of staff or contact us to find out more.
We're Proud Of
