Candid close-up of a young child smiling while building a tower with colorful wooden blocks on a wooden floor, bright natural daylight, shallow depth of field, child-eye-level perspective.
Candid close-up of a young child smiling while building a tower with colorful wooden blocks on a wooden floor, bright natural daylight, shallow depth of field, child-eye-level perspective.

Our History

Dicker House is believed to be the longest running preschool in Burgess Hill, having been established in 1938. The preschool takes it's name from its founder, Mrs Dicker, who ran the group initially from her home in Junction Road as a Nursery School. From there, the preschool moved to the United Reformed Church - again in Junction Road - where it stayed for several years, until proposed building work at the Church meant that the preschool needed to find alternative accommodation.

This coincided with the closure of a private playgroup - Bright Stars - who had been based at the 1st Burgess Hill Scout Hut in Station Road. It was here that the preschool was based until 2009, when it relocated to its current home at the Community Room of Birchwood Grove CP School.

Candid medium shot of children with muddy knees playing in an outdoor garden, planting seeds in soil under warm natural sunlight, cheerful primary tones, child-eye-level perspective.
Candid medium shot of children with muddy knees playing in an outdoor garden, planting seeds in soil under warm natural sunlight, cheerful primary tones, child-eye-level perspective.

Curriculum

Physical Development (PD) - The aim of the Pre-School is to ensure children move confidently and imaginatively with increasing control and co-ordination with spatial awareness. They will use a range of small and large equipment and balancing and climbing apparatus, with increasing skill. They will handle appropriate tools, objects, construction and malleable materials safely and with increasing control. They will be helped to understand the importance of physical activity and how to make healthy choices in relation to food. They will demonstrate increasing independence when selecting activities and in their personal hygiene and dressing.

Personal, Social and Emotional Development (PSED) - The children will grow in confidence and self-respect and consequently will be able to establish effective relationships with the other children and with adults. In a variety of situations they will work as part of a group or independently and will be encouraged to concentrate and persevere in their learning, seeking help when necessary. They will be encouraged to be sensitive to the needs and feelings of others and show respect for people of other cultures and beliefs. The children will learn to take turns and share fairly.

They will be able to express their feelings and behave in appropriate ways and develop an understanding of what is right and wrong. They will be encouraged to treat living things and their environment with care and concern and express their feelings in response to their experiences of the world.

Communication & Language (C.L) - The children will learn how to listen and respond to their surroundings by talking with their peers and adults alike, They will be encouraged to answer questions about how and why things happen, and will be able to follow simple instructions. They will develop the ability to listen and join in stories, rhymes and songs both in small groups and individually, and have the confidence to repeat familiar refrains and make up their own. We believe Communication and Language is the key to all children's development and will concentrate on this aspect. The adults in the setting will converse continually with the children and demonstrate good vocal communication in order to encourage this in the children.

Between the ages of 24-36 months a progress review will be done of your child by their key person assessing their levels in these prime areas. Developing on from this, another four key areas - called œspecific areas will also be observed. These are Mathematics, Understanding the world, Expressive arts & design, and Literacy.

Mathematics (MD) - The children will develop their mathematical language such as circle, square and concepts (like smaller-than), describing shape, position, size and quantity. They will begin to recognise patterns and become familiar with number rhymes, songs, stories, counting games and activities. They will have the opportunity to compare, sort, match, order, sequence and count using everyday objects. They will be able to develop and improve their skills in counting, understanding & using numbers. They will begin to recognise and use numbers 1 to 10 and become familiar with numbers around them in their everyday lives.

Through practical activities the children will be able to understand and record numbers, begin to show awareness of addition and subtraction, and begin to use the language involved.

Understanding the World (UW) - The children will be encouraged to talk about where they live, their environment, their families and past and present events in their own lives. They will explore and recognise features of living things both natural and man-made and begin to notice similarities and differences. We will guide children to make sense of their physical world and their community through opportunities to explore, observe and find out about people, places, technology and the environment.

They will talk about their observations, sometimes recording them and ask questions to gain information about why things happen and how things work. They will explore and select materials and equipment and use skills such as cutting, joining, folding and building for a variety of purposes. They will use information and technology, where appropriate, to support their learning.

Expressive arts & design (EAD) - Children explore sound, colour, texture and shape through a variety of activities. They will have an opportunity to respond in a variety of ways to what they see, hear, smell, touch and feel. Through art, music, dance, stories and imaginative play, they will show an increasing ability to use their imagination, to listen and to observe. By the use of differing materials, tools, instruments and other resources they will be encouraged to express their ideas and communicate their feelings.

Literacy (LIT) - The children will have the opportunity to experience a variety of books and develop an interest in writing. They will begin to understand that words and pictures convey meaning and associate sounds with words and letters. They will also begin to recognise the letters of the alphabet and familiar words, including their own name and start to write their names using appropriate capitals and small letters and be aware of the uses of writing. Children will be given access to a wide range of reading materials (books poems and other written materials) to ignite their interest. The activities and resources children use from which they learn and develop include painting and creative media, puzzles - both large for the floor and small on the table top, manipulative and building activities, board games, a home corner/shop/puppet theatre, water play, cooking, bikes, rockers and a climbing frame, as well as all sorts of imaginative play opportunities (eg a play farm, a zoo, a doll's house, cars and garages etc). Singing, action/number rhymes, games and stories are an integral part of our daily sessions. Team activities and sports skills are included in the timetable regularly - outside when the weather permits or in the hall.

Throughout the year, we try to arrange enjoyable educational visits, for example, to the library, the fire station, nature walks, and a summer outing. We also teach children about safety, health and hygiene and have other visits to or from members of the community

The Key Person System

Whilst with us at preschool you and your child will be allocated a named member of staff as their key person. She will be your personal contact and will liaise with you in a variety of ways.

These will include parent/key person consultations and completion of an identified focus observation sheet which will be completed by the key person and copied to you for your information. You will also be made familiar with a second member of staff as an extra point of contact. You are welcome to come in and speak to your key person - or indeed any other member of staff at any convenient time. Please be aware however, that staff may need to allocate you special time for this away from very busy periods. Also, if your child's key person is altered for any reason you will be advised about this in writing

Daily Routine

08:55 - Morning Session Arrivals - Children arrive, greeting and settling in

09:10 - Inside and outside free play activities - Once a week we usually have a yoga session at 09:30

09:50 - 10:10 - Carpet Time - Talk about the weather, days of the week and other topics

10:10 - 10:30 - Snack Time after handwashing

10:30 - 11:40 - Inside and outside free play activities - Free in and outside play or specific activity

11:40 - 11:55 - Morning session ending - Morning children who go home have a story - ready to leave at 11:55 after goodbye song

11:55 - Afternoon Session Arrivals - Free play until 12:25

12:25 - Prepare for Lunch - Wash hands, collect lunch boxes and drinks

13:00 - Lunch Ends - Children leaving after lunch go home

13:00 - 14:00 - Free inside and outside play activities

14:00 - Drink Break and Talk

14:05 - Free play or group activities - Like parachute games, circle games or songs

14:35 - Circle Time - Circle time, story, singing

14:50 - Prepare for home time - Put on coats, goodbye song

14:55 - End of Day - Children go home

An example of an average day at Dicker House Preschool. Exact activities and timing are subject to change

Meet the team

We are lucky to have a very pro-active & friendly staff team who are well- versed in the workings of the preschool and our policies and procedures. We are a long standing team and regularly attend updates and trainings to develop our experiences and to benefit those of the children in our care. All the staff have a group of key children for whom they prepare learning journals, through observations, discussions with parents and other appropriate methods. Our children develop into confident, capable learners well prepared for their transitions to main stream school - which is truly down to the dedication of everyone at the preschool.

Hannah
Supervisor

Hannah joined the preschool in September 2019 having previously worked in a local nursery group setting. She came to us already qualified with an QCF LEVEL 3 DIPLOMA in Children & Young People workforce. She has one son - soon to leave primary school. Hannah too has up to date training in Paediatric First Aid and regularly updates Safeguarding and Prevent training.

Laura
Supervisor

Laura came to us from a nursery setting and has been at the preschool since September 2022. She gained her Early Years Care & Education Diploma. This year Laura is taking on a more supervisory role for the preschool. She has had extensive training in speech & language and has up to date training in Paediatric First Aid and regularly updates Safeguarding and Prevent training. Laura has four children of her own - who also attended the preschool.

Jacqui
Manager

Jacqui has been working at the preschool since September 2000- having gained her NVQ LEVEL 3 Early Years Care & Education earlier. She has completed a LEVEL 4 certificate in Management of Quality services for children and has worked her way up from an Assistant Supervisor. Jacqui has two grown up children and two grandchildren all of whom attended Dicker House Preschool in the past. She has up to date training in Paediatric First aid and regularly updates Safeguarding and Prevent training and Child Protection Lead training.

Trina
Supervisor

Trina is our newest Supervisor, having joined us in September 2025 but comes with many years of experience of a preschool setting. She has her NVQ LEVEL 3 in Early years Care and Education and relevant safeguarding training & Prevent. She is fully qualified in Paediatric First Aid and regularly updates Saveguarding and Prevent training.

Claire
Qualified Practitioner

Claire is our newest practitioner having joined us in September 2023 after a year as Bank Staff. However Clare is also fully qualified and came to us from a nursery setting after both her boys who attended the preschool started mainstream school. She has a diploma in NVQ LEVEL 3 in Early Years Childcare. Clare has recently renewed her paediatric first aid course and is fully trained up on Safeguarding and Prevent.

Cathy
Qualified Practitioner

Cathy was a member of our Bank staff for a year before joining the team in September 2022. In January she embarked on a LEVEL 3 Early Years Educator Diploma which she has just completed. She has one son who attends a local school. Cathy has up to date training in Paediatric First aid and regularly updates Safeguarding and Prevent training.

Kadie
Qualified Practitioner

Kadie is one of our newer members of staff joining in the Summer of 2025, and has come to us from another childcare setting so has had lots of experience. She has two young children on of which goes to a local school. She is fully trained in Paediatric First Aid as well as attending regular updates in safeguarding and Prevent training .

Nikki
Unqualified Practitioner

Nikki was a member of our bank staff and joined us as a full practitioner in September 2021. She was new to the job and is enjoying working and playing with the children and taking on key children as part of her role. Nikki has two girls - both of whom attended the preschool before starting a local school. Nikki is currently working on herLEVEL 3 childcare qualification this year and has up to date training in Paediatric First Aid. She regularly updates in Safeguarding & Prevent training.

Steph
Qualified Practictioner

Steph was a member of our committee when her girls attended the preschool and then joined us as a member of staff, when she gained her LEVEL 3 diploma in Early Years and Education whilst with us. She has now returned to us as a full staff member afer a stint as BANK staff. Steph has up to date training in Paediatric First Aid and regularly updates Safeguarding and Prevent training.

Julia
Qualified Practitioner - Bank Staff

Julia re-joined the preschool in February 2019 having left a few years prior to pursue her career in nursing. Not long after coming back she took up a supervisory role. Julia gained her qualification whilst with us previously. .Julia is now one of our bank staff , taking on both regular sessions and ad hoc ones, She has an NVQ LEVEL 3 in Early Years Care & Education. She has up to date training in Paediatric First Aid and regularly updates Safeguarding and Prevent training. She has three grown up children including twin boys.

Jo
Unqualified Practitioner - Bank Staff

Jo was also a member of our committee - as her girls attended the preschool before starting a local school. This was when she decided to join us as a member of staff. Jo attends some regular sessions as well as banking ad hoc on other days. Jo has up to date training in Paediatric First Aid and regularly updates Safeguarding and Prevent training.

Lisa
Unqualified Practitioner - Bank Staff

Lisa was a Chair of our committee a few years ago while her two children attended the preschool. She joined us as Bank staff in 2023 when we put out a request for new members. She also does regular sessions as well as banking ad hoc. Lisa has up to date training in Paediatric First aid and regularly updates for Safeguarding and Prevent training.

Fees

Under 3s - £18.00 / 3 Hours - Lunch Club £6.00

Over 3s - 16.50 / 3 Hours - Lunch Club £5.50

Free Entitlement Funding

We try to ensure that all eligible children can access their 15 hours of Free entitlement and subject to availability we do offer the extended 15 hours of childcare as well.

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