Greenacre Preschool

A purpose-built preschool with 27 places in total gives Greenacre a clear identity: care and early learning on a smaller whole-setting scale in Tadley. That capacity is not a room size or a promise about how many children attend a particular session. The strongest detail lies in how children use their surroundings, from outdoor exploration to practical tasks that build independence.

At its September 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated Greenacre Good and judged safeguarding effective; children attending then were aged two to four. That is a dated assessment, rather than a description of every aspect of today's provision. In September 2023, children pursued their interests, learned to take turns and managed everyday tasks themselves.

Attendance runs during term time, with morning, afternoon and whole-day patterns. This makes Greenacre relevant to families seeking shorter preschool sessions as well as a full preschool day.

Learning and Activities

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) provides the statutory learning framework: children develop language, physical skills, relationships and early literacy and mathematics through play and adult-supported experiences. At Greenacre, children's interests help shape what comes next, with both child-led activity and experiences introduced by adults. The practical distinction is between a framework every setting must follow and the particular opportunities used to bring it to life.

In September 2023, digging for worms became the starting point for creating a wormery and exploring mathematical ideas. Paint applied with hands and brushes gave children opportunities to experiment with patterns and movements associated with early writing. The wormery linked digging with mathematics; painting let children experiment with marks and practise early writing skills.

The current enhanced provision includes Forest school, an outdoor-learning activity, alongside cooking, planting and gardening. Zoolab is an example of a paid visiting organisation within that provision. These experiences sit alongside the EYFS; the voluntary contribution towards enhancements does not replace the statutory learning offer.

Outdoor and Community Life

During September 2023, children could choose between inside and outside play within their sessions, and used the outdoors in different weather. Natural materials formed part of the resources. Large tractor tyres gave children climbing challenges, while transferring water with ladles and jugs demanded control of their movements. These are concrete examples of physical development through play.

The mud kitchen also supported conversation: adults joined imaginary cooking and helped children extend the words they used. An enclosed trampoline provided a different kind of learning opportunity, with a sand timer helping children manage turns. The equipment mattered because it gave staff an immediate, understandable context for language and cooperation.

Animal care featured in the September 2023 day too, including helping to bathe guinea pigs under supervision. Current enhanced provision includes animal handling and care. That gives this aspect of the preschool day a practical character, with children taking part in caring tasks rather than encountering animals only through books or pictures.

Relationships and Communication

Each child has a key carer responsible for their development and wellbeing. Learning plans draw on the child's interests, so the relationship has a practical purpose beyond providing a familiar adult. Parents receive access to an online journal containing photographs and memories, and can use these with their child to revisit preschool experiences at home.

Periodic meetings with the key person provide a separate opportunity to discuss progress and agree what to support next. Routine formal written observations have been replaced by an emphasis on interaction, apart from the two-year or entrance check. Families therefore have two complementary forms of communication: a visual account of experiences and conversations about development. When a child leaves, parents can download the journal to keep.

In September 2023, new children received physical comfort and reassurance as they settled. Parent involvement also had tangible forms: a lending book collection, groceries for families to take home and photographs supplied from home to encourage conversation. Those examples belong to that period, but illustrate the ways relationships extended beyond discussions at the end of a session.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

At the September 2023 inspection, Ofsted found that the special educational needs coordinator worked effectively with families, schools and other agencies, including seeking additional help promptly, but required stronger support for children learning English as an additional language, including their friendships and social development. Both findings matter: positive SEND practice did not remove the need for more consistent support in another area.

Current staff roles include a SENCO and a designated safeguarding lead. Staff undertake regular training, including first aid, and enhanced DBS checks form part of recruitment arrangements. These are arrangements for care and safeguarding, rather than a separate judgement about their effectiveness today.

September 2023 examples of independence included children laying out snack equipment, spreading bread with suitable knives and pouring milk. They also found and put on their own coats. Small tasks like these gave children repeated opportunities to manage something themselves, with expectations they understood. Transition support includes working with colleagues in the child's next setting, helping connect preschool learning with the next stage.

Sessions and Attendance

Greenacre Preschool is on Barlows Road, Tadley, RG26 3NA. It operates Monday to Friday during term time, across 38 weeks of the year, and follows Hampshire County Council's term dates. Families should plan around that calendar rather than treating it as year-round childcare.

Morning sessions run from 8.45am to 11.45am; afternoons run from 12.45pm to 3.45pm. Lunch occupies the intervening hour and can be attached to either session. A full day runs from 8.45am to 3.45pm. The choice therefore includes a shorter session, a session with lunch or a whole day, rather than a single attendance pattern.

Breakfast Club runs from 8am to 8.45am and requires advance booking. It is offered on request, with the arrangement to be discussed with management. That condition matters when planning an earlier start: it should not be treated as an automatic extension to every booking. Enquiries can be made by telephone or email.

Funding and Paid Extras

Greenacre accepts 15-hour funding from the term after a child's third birthday, 30-hour funding for eligible three- and four-year-olds, and 15-hour funding for eligible two-year-olds. Attendance is term-time rather than a stretched year-round arrangement. Additional hours beyond funded entitlement are charged privately, so funded hours and paid attendance should be considered separately when choosing a pattern.

The enhanced provision and consumables contribution is entirely voluntary, with no obligation to pay. Its itemisation separates activities, food and non-food consumables, making it easier to distinguish what the contribution supports. Food items charged separately within this voluntary contribution include afternoon snacks, the savoury part of snacks and food used for cooking or festivals.

Non-food consumables charged separately within the same voluntary contribution include wipes, nappy bags and plastic bags. The activities element covers additions such as Forest school, cooking, outings and paid visitors. Families can obtain current prices in a written quotation and use the fees page to understand the structure of the charges.

• English as an additional language. The September 2023 improvement action concerned consistent support across development, including friendships. At a visit, ask how staff now help a child learning English join conversations and build relationships.
• Term-time planning. Greenacre operates for 38 weeks, following Hampshire County Council's term calendar. Its morning, afternoon and whole-day choices suit different routines, but families needing childcare through school holidays must account for the breaks.
• Earlier starts. Breakfast Club requires advance booking and discussion with management. Establish that arrangement before building an 8am start into a regular working pattern.
• Voluntary enhancements. The additional contribution covers specified food, consumables and activities, and carries no obligation to pay. Ask for a written quotation that separates funded attendance, extra hours and the voluntary contribution so the intended booking is clear.

Greenacre suits families seeking term-time preschool with a choice between morning or afternoon sessions and whole days. Its purpose-built accommodation, interest-led learning and practical experiences give parents concrete reasons to consider it, while key-person meetings and online journals provide useful ways to follow a child's development.

The Good judgement from September 2023 provides a positive inspection reference, with a specific improvement priority around children learning English as an additional language. The decision rests on both parts of that picture, alongside whether the term-time calendar and session choices fit family life.