Little Gems Pre-School

A pavilion in Westmorland Park gives Little Gems Pre-School its character: a large hall for indoor play and an enclosed garden surfaced with Astroturf. Imaginative play, stories and outdoor activity shape the offer. This is a setting where the physical space matters to the choice, especially for families weighing the needs of younger children against those of older preschool children.

At its March 2025 inspection, Ofsted judged Little Gems Good overall and found safeguarding effective. The setting has 46 places in total, with a current age range of 9 to 48 months. Morning sessions and full days run during term time.

Learning and Activities

The EYFS provides the framework for children's learning, development and care: communication, physical skills, early number work and emotional development sit alongside creative play. Little Gems uses a play-based approach, with dressing up, arts and crafts and a story corner giving children different ways to explore ideas. These activities give children practical ways to explore the EYFS areas of learning.

In March 2025, younger children practised moving through tunnels and balancing, while older children explored amphibians and their habitats through imaginative play. Water, dough and chalk offered different textures to investigate; pretending to search for dinosaur eggs gave another starting point for make-believe. The examples show a day combining movement, sensory exploration and conversation.

Stories and singing also featured in March 2025, with adults talking about children's play and prompting them to remember experiences. For parents, the useful distinction is that language practice happened within activities as well as during story sessions. Children had opportunities to listen and respond while pursuing their own interests.

Outdoor and Community Life

The enclosed Astroturf garden extends the hall's play space. Outdoor Learning includes nature walks, gardening and outdoor play, giving children experiences beyond indoor toys and craft materials.

In March 2025, older children could move freely into the outdoor area during their day, where climbing equipment, imaginative games and searching for frogspawn featured. Younger children went outside daily. Those were different arrangements for different ages, so families considering a younger child's place should give outdoor access as much attention as the indoor hall.

An allocated key person builds a relationship with each child, offers individual guidance and keeps track of their development. Each key person is responsible for a small group. That gives families an identified adult connected to their child's experiences, rather than treating progress as a whole-setting matter.

Support for special educational needs includes a SENCO role and working with other agencies where extra help is needed. The practical mechanism matters here: individual needs can involve support beyond the setting's own staff. The key-person arrangement also provides a way to follow a child's development over time.

In March 2025, everyday independence included younger children finding their water bottles and older children learning to put on outdoor clothing. Adults helped with handwashing, nappy changes and tasks such as changing wet clothes. These small routines form a substantial part of early-years care, especially for children still learning to manage their own needs.

Meals and snacks are provided, with fresh, locally sourced ingredients used where possible and encouragement to try unfamiliar foods. Eating therefore sits alongside the setting's work on everyday habits.

Sessions and Attendance

Morning sessions run from 9am to noon; full days run from 9am to 3pm. Opening hours are 9am to 3pm, Monday to Friday, during term time. The morning option offers a shorter attendance pattern, while the full day extends through the afternoon.

Applications use an online form that includes the child's date of birth and anticipated start date. Families can also make contact by email or telephone.

Getting There

The address is Westmorland Park Pavilion, Westmorland Drive, Warfield, Bracknell, RG42 3QP. Off-road parking is available, a practical consideration for families bringing children by car.

Funding and Paid Extras

Little Gems offers 15 and 30 funded hours for eligible children aged 2 to 5, with a funding code required for the 30-hour offer. Attendance is term-time only. Funding eligibility and the chosen morning or full-day pattern are separate parts of the decision; neither entitlement should be read as a promise of a particular booking.

• Younger children's space. In March 2025, improvement was requested to make younger children's surroundings more engaging. Coaching and mentoring also needed improvement to ensure staff consistently carried out their responsibilities and followed the setting's policies and procedures. On a visit, ask how the younger children's space now encourages independent choices and exploration, and how staff practice is supported.
• Age fit and settling. The current age range is 9 to 48 months, while the advertised pre-school offer is for children aged 2 to 5. Discuss the intended starting age and how the allocated key person would help your child settle.
• Term-time pattern. Both the morning and full-day options finish within the 9am-to-3pm opening window, and attendance is term-time only. Families needing care through school holidays or later afternoons will need an arrangement that covers those periods.

Little Gems suits families choosing between a morning session and a full day during term time, with play-based learning and outdoor activity important to their decision. The hall, enclosed garden and key-person arrangement give the offer a clear shape. The March 2025 judgement provides a positive starting point, balanced by specific work requested on younger children's surroundings and consistent staff practice. For a younger child, those surroundings deserve close attention.