Country Play Den

Set in the heart of Chartwell, Country Play Den originated sixteen years ago when founder and principal Bridget Jones, formed a playgroup to provide stimulation and interaction with other young children for her first grandson. The playgroup rapidly expanded to include children from all nursery-school going ages and currently Country Playden educates and nurtures 60 children from the age of 16-months until primary school-going age.

Seven years ago Bridget was joined by daughter Belinda Jones, forming a formidable mother-daughter educating team. Comments Belinda, “My mother’s aim with the school has always been to teach children manners, respect for others, discipline and care for
their environment, all through fun, play and laughter. As a pre-school teacher this was something that I obviously also aspired towards – it just made sense for me to join her and it has been the greatest learning adventure I could ever have wished for.”

Having studied psychology, Bridget - an educator, a counsellor, mother and grandmother - has been lecturing and advising parents and educators on how to raise children for over 20 years. She is very well known and highly respected amongst the Johannesburg
educational and psychological fraternity

Belinda believes the small classes and family-like environment have all contributed to the rapid growth and success of the school, “Children that leave for primary school become great ambassadors, setting an example of what Country Playden is about. The growth of the school can be attributed in a large way to the phenomenal young people that began their school careers at the school. People see their example and want the same for their young children.”

But it’s not just about giving to the children within the school – Country Playden gives to those less fortunate in the community too. Over the years the school has been involved in numerous local community projects and fundraisers with a particular focus
on abandoned and homeless children and children with H.I.V.

Children in the area from disadvantaged backgrounds have also been accommodated at the school throughbursaries and subsidies.

Comments Principal Bridget, “The most difficult part of our job is saying goodbye when our children leave to go on to ‘big school’. Graduation at the end of year is a very tearfulbut joyful occasion. We have lived, loved, laughed, played, learned and enriched our
lives together over four years and at the end of pre-school we always wish it could go on indefinitely. Sadly, we have to pass them on to greater things but we make it a goal to try and remain in contact with our past students and part of their lives and achievements.”

Bridget Jones loves to follow the success of her past-pupils, “It has been amazing to see how the children grow throughout the years of teaching and we regularly invite them back to hear about their achievements and goals and to interact with our pupils as an
example of the ‘big’ children they can all aspire to be one day.”

Ends Belinda, “Looking after children is a passion and a privilege. Some of the families that have been with us have been with the school for over 11 years. We pride ourselves on the relationships we form with the children as well as the parents.”

And the Country Playden parents are effusive in their compliments, “Bridget and Belinda are more than teachers – they become your child’s care-giver, sympathiser, mentor, kisser-of-sores, developer and stimulator, explainer and moral example. That’s more
than any parent could ever wish for.”