First Steps Fountain Of Life Pre-School

A Christian identity, a Thursday parent-and-toddler group and learning that reaches into family life give First Steps Fountain Of Life Pre-School its character. Based at The Well Christian Centre in Ashill, it has capacity for 26 children in total. Its values emphasise forgiveness, respect and acceptance of different cultures.

At the 7 May 2025 inspection, Ofsted rated the pre-school Good and judged safeguarding effective, with positive findings on teaching, children's progress and support for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Children attending then were aged two to four. The main improvement concerned extending learning in the garden, especially for children who prefer being outdoors.

Today, opening hours are 9am to 3pm on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday during school terms. This is an offer built around the school calendar, rather than year-round attendance.

Rooms and Ages

The Rainbow Room, Sunflower Room and library provide different indoor spaces alongside the garden. Access is managed around supervision: the Sunflower Room and library can close while children use the Rainbow Room and garden, or while a practitioner is helping with intimate care. For families, that means the spaces in use can change through the day.

Learning and Activities

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) sets the learning and development framework: children build language, physical skills and relationships alongside early literacy, mathematics, creative work and understanding the world. It is the common foundation for early-years provision. Here, Home Learning connects those areas with activities families can continue together, including songs, crafts, treasure hunts and book suggestions linked to the current topic.

In May 2025, books and themes gave shared activities a purpose. Children collaborated on a large blue whale from their story, practising cooperation as well as making something together. Another activity involved watching tadpoles develop legs and learning vocabulary to describe the changes. These examples show how stories and first-hand observation could become starting points for conversation.

Parent Consultations and Curriculum Days help families understand the learning framework. The emphasis is practical: parents can connect what happens at pre-school with play, reading and everyday routines at home.

Outdoor and Community Life

In May 2025, children planted seeds and watched produce grow. A trapeze swing offered a physical challenge, with children checking the surrounding space before using it. The garden supported movement and exploration, but learning outdoors was not evaluated thoroughly enough to extend children's next steps consistently. That is the important qualification to the outdoor offer.

Noah’s Ark is a separate parent-and-toddler group in the pre-school building, running on Thursdays from 10am to noon. Adults stay with their children for activities including craft, music and outdoor play; there is also a baby play area. Attendance is free, with voluntary donations towards costs. It gives families another way to spend time together in the setting, rather than an additional childcare day.

Relationships and Communication

In May 2025, settling arrangements were adapted to individual families, and children could take part in stay-and-play before starting. Everyday independence mattered too: practitioners allowed children time to attempt their painting aprons, offering encouragement and help when needed. Small tasks were opportunities to practise persistence.

The joining process includes a Getting to Know Me form and an induction presentation, with a stay-and-play visit considered where it would benefit the child. The admissions policy allows a settling period to be extended by agreement and charges settling sessions at the usual rate. Families should allow time for that adjustment when planning a return to work.

Home Learning offers activity ideas and topic-related resources to take away. Parents can also request more specific ideas from staff. This makes communication useful beyond updates about the day: it gives families something concrete to try together.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

Support for SEND starts with family knowledge and observations by the child's key person. Agreed support is recorded in a Support Plan through an Assess, Plan, Do, Review cycle: establish the starting point, choose support, put it into practice and review what changed. External agencies can be involved when needed, and the SEND coordinator considers relevant funding applications.

Moving on is part of that support. When a child leaves for school or another setting, First Steps discusses how their needs can be supported with the next practitioner and family. Its School Readiness material also offers a dice game for recognising skills children already have and practising those needing more help.

The allergy policy requires an individual risk assessment and healthcare plan for a child with a known allergy or intolerance. Details are shared with staff, and parents demonstrate how emergency medication should be given. This is a planning process, rather than a blanket claim that the setting is nut-free.

Sessions and Attendance

The address is The Well Christian Centre, Swaffham Road, Ashill, Thetford, Norfolk IP25 7BT. Opening runs from 9am to 3pm on Monday to Wednesday and Friday, during school terms. Thursday's Noah’s Ark group is parent-accompanied provision.

Place requests use a form obtained by emailing rrfirststeps@gmail.com. Admissions are considered each term, taking account of age, the timing of the request and funding status, with other circumstances also considered. Children can join the waiting list in the term before their second birthday or intended start; earlier enquiries enter a future-requirements list. An offer is normally confirmed around half a term before the next term begins, and a request does not guarantee the desired days.

Permanent withdrawal requires at least four weeks' written notice, except when a child leaves to start school in September. Reducing attendance can also attract a four-week notice period.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded childcare is offered during term time. Accepted entitlements include universal funding of 15 hours for three- and four-year-olds, the 15-hour entitlement for eligible two-year-olds receiving additional government support, and working-parent funding for children aged two, three and four. The working-parent entitlement is 30 hours, but First Steps can deliver a maximum of 24 hours each week. A completed, signed funding form is required for each claim period before eligibility checks and a claim can proceed.

Additional hours and wholly private attendance are charged; current prices come in the nursery's written quotation. For a funded-only place, there is no registration charge or snack and meal charge; consumables such as nappies are charged only when parents ask the setting to supply them. For private attendance, parents supply food, drinks and consumables, and a one-off registration charge applies.

Termly invoices show the funding claimed. Extra activities carrying a charge are not routine; if proposed, participation would be voluntary and discussed with families. The fees and funding information explains the charging structure.

• Learning in the garden. The May 2025 improvement point concerned extending outdoor learning. During an appointment, ask how garden activities now build on individual children's next steps.
• The school-term timetable. Opening is limited to Monday to Wednesday and Friday, from 9am to 3pm, and working-parent funding can cover at most 24 hours weekly here. Families needing Thursday or holiday childcare must factor those boundaries into their plans.
• Christian identity and settling. Visits are by appointment. Use one to discuss how the Christian values shape daily activities and how the settling arrangements would fit your child.
• Individual allergy arrangements. The policy uses personal risk assessments and healthcare plans. Allergy-affected families should confirm current food arrangements and medication practice before starting.

First Steps suits families seeking term-time pre-school attendance within a clearly Christian setting, with practical links between learning at home and learning with practitioners. Noah’s Ark adds a parent-accompanied option for younger children and their carers.

The Good judgement from May 2025 provides a positive inspection position, balanced by a specific outdoor-learning improvement point. The strongest decision factors are the school-term calendar, the restricted opening days and the 24-hour weekly limit on working-parent funding. For families whose schedules fit those boundaries, the combination of shared activities, individual support planning and family involvement is worth close consideration.