About Us

Welcome to The Jungle Hut Pre-School. We are a childcare setting providing care and education for children aged 2-4 years. We are in the heart of North Dorset, between Sturminster Newton and Shaftesbury, on the premises of St. Gregory’s Primary School, in the village of Marnhull. We open from 8.30am until 3.00pm for 38 weeks per year, on a term time only basis.

We are a community group, a company limited by guarantee and a registered charity.

Our aims are:

To enhance the development and education of children in a parent-involving, community-based group.
To offer good quality, affordable childcare.
To provide a caring, safe, secure and stimulating environment for children from 2-4 years.
To work within a framework that ensures equality of opportunity for all children and families.

"Staff are kind, caring and sensitive. They welcome children warmly and show interest in what they have to say. Children enter the pre-school confidently and happily, and settle quickly"

Ofsted Report 12th October 2022

View our latest current Ofsted report in full HERE

Meet the Team

Claire Chaffey

Claire is the Manager of The Jungle Hut Pre-School.

Qualifications and training:

CACHE level 3 in Childcare

Designated Safeguard Lead

Special Educational Needs (SENCO) training

Paediatric First aid

Behaviour Management

I have been working in childcare for 16 years, working in nurseries around Dorset. I started at The Jungle Hut in 2012 as a play assistant and worked my way up to become the manager in 2017.

In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my husband and three children on our farm.

Hannah Phillips

Hannah is a Childcare Practitioner at The Jungle Hut.

Qualifications and Training:

Cache Level 3 in Childcare

Safeguarding Level 3

Paediatric First Aid

My name is Hannah, I am Level 3 qualified in Childcare. I have a 5 -year-old daughter and live in a lovely part of the village.

We enjoy doing lots of family activities such as picnics at the park and the beach, taking our dog, Archie, on lots of long walks and baking lots of yummy treats at home.

Linda Gould

Linda is a Childcare practitioner at The Jungle Hut.

Qualifications and Training:

NVQ Level’s 2, 3 & 4 in Childcare & Education.

Forest School Stage 1

Safeguarding Level 2

My name is Linda and I have worked in Childcare for 20 years. I have 3 children of my own. Twin boys that are 10 and a 3-year-old girl.

We love spending time doing lots of outdoor things, especially on our farm where we live.

Megan Dennett

Megan is a Childcare practitioner at The Jungle Hut.

Qualifications and Training

Cache Level 2 – Introducing Caring for Children & Young People

Paediatric First Aid

Foundation in Safeguarding

My name is Megan, I have worked in childcare for 16 months. I am the oldest out of my family and I have 4 siblings; 3 sisters and 1 brother.

In my spare time I enjoy spending time with my family and gaming with my friends.

Kelly Strawbridge

Kelly is Deputy Manager at The Jungle Hut .

Qualifications and Training:

NVQ Level 2 in Childcare and working towards Level 3

Safeguarding Level 2

Paediatric First Aid

Hello, my name is Kelly. I am Deputy Manager at The Jungle Hut Preschool. I have two children of my own, aged 5 and 9 years. I am working towards my NVQ Level 3 with the help and support of The Jungle Hut team.

Libby Marsh

Libby is Bank Staff at The Jungle Hut .

Qualifications and Training:

Libby is working towards her NVQ Level 2 in Childcare