Kidzone adds new outdoor facilities to welcome more preschoolers at Westbank

The thriving preschool within Westbank Community Health and Care’s centre at Exminster has added new outdoor play facilities with a view to welcoming more 2- to 4-year-olds from the local area. 

The ‘Kidzone’ at Farmhouse Rise in Exminster already offered a large, bright room with an amazing view over the Exminster marshes towards Woodbury, providing high quality, individually tailored education to preschool children. Now the outdoor space has been extended so that children have plenty of room to ride bikes and scooters and run around and will have free-flow play inside and out.

An OFSTED registered preschool, Kidzone encourages children aged from 2 to 4 years to learn through play, develop their interests, be inquisitive and adventurous and have fun! 

Kidzone aims to limit the number of children in its pre-school setting to a maximum of 32 to maintain a family feel, and allow staff to focus on getting to know each child and build on their knowledge, strengths and skills by playing alongside them. 

With five permanent staff members, supported by a further five ‘bank’ staff, the team has a wide range of experience working with children in different settings.  Kidzone uses the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage to ensure that its staff, ratios, and setting are safe for the children and meet the standards for learning, development and care for children from birth to five years, set out by OFSTED.

Alongside this, the team of highly trained staff is able to offer opportunities and activities unique to Westbank. These include linking in with elderly day care at the centre - research has shown that regular interaction with older people through activities like singing or arts and crafts is beneficial to both generations. 

Kidzone accepts Government funding for free childcare for 2-year-olds and 3- to 4-year-olds. Currently 2-year-olds can only attend during term-time but over 3s are welcome to attend Holiday Club which caters for children up to 11 years of age. The Holiday Club is open from 8am – 6pm, Monday to Friday, only shutting for a week between Christmas and New Year and on Bank Holidays. Children can start attending Kidzone at any point in the year.

For further information, kidzone@westbank.org.uk or call 01392 824752 (Option 4)