The Caterpillar Club (Charity Number: 1064997)

The Caterpillar Club is a UK-based registered charity that operates a pre-school primarily catering to children aged 2 years until they enter a reception class at school. The pre-school is located within the grounds of Ferndown First School in Ferndown, Dorset. As a member of the Pre-school Learning Alliance, the organization is committed to supporting early childhood education and care[1][3][4].

Mission and Activities

The charity aims to provide a happy, secure, and stimulating environment in which young children can learn through play while offering equal opportunities to all attendees. The curriculum follows the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework, designed to ensure a balanced and engaging educational program for pre-school children[1][3].

Operations

The Caterpillar Club runs during term time with sessions available Monday to Friday from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm. The sessions are held in premises purpose-built for under-5s, which include both indoor and outdoor play areas situated on the Ferndown First School site. The organization is managed by an elected committee, primarily composed of parents, responsible for establishing policies and overseeing staff employment and appraisal[1][3].

Governance and Charity Status

The Caterpillar Club is registered with the Charity Commission under charity number 1064997. As a nonprofit organization, all funds received are reinvested to support the operations and development of the pre-school, ensuring ongoing care and educational provision for young children in the community[2][4].

Note: This Caterpillar Club is distinct from the historical international membership club of the same name related to parachute escapes in aviation history. The UK nonprofit Caterpillar Club serves solely as a charitable pre-school provider[5].

[1] https://www.thecaterpillarclub.org.uk/about.php [2] https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/3944502/contact-information [3] https://www.thecaterpillarclub.org.uk [4] https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/3944502 [5] https://www.historic-uk.com/CultureUK/Caterpillar-Club/