Catshill Rising Stars Preschool

A church hall, a substantial outdoor play area and weekly sport from AJB Sports give Catshill Rising Stars Preschool a recognisable character. Based at Catshill Methodist Church in Bromsgrove, it takes children from age two until they start Reception and has 36 places in total. Its emphasis is on learning through practical activity, developing independence and building relationships with a key person.

At its February 2024 inspection, Ofsted rated the preschool Good and judged its safeguarding arrangements effective. There were also two clear priorities: keeping every child involved in learning and giving children more opportunities to understand differences between people. Those points deserve attention alongside the positive judgement.

Attendance is term-time only, with morning, afternoon and whole-day options, plus extensions at either end of the day. A Mike Foster Fitness connection also offers free early drop-offs on production of an MFF community card.

Rooms and Ages

The physical setting combines a large hall with a smaller reception space and an outdoor area developed for the preschool's use. That gives children indoor space for exploration alongside outdoor play, rather than making the hall the whole experience.

Stars Room emphasises independence and children's learning and development, while Twinkles Room supports the youngest children through play, familiar routines and relationships. Both have room-lead roles within the staff structure. For families starting at age two, the younger room's emphasis on relationships is a useful complement to the setting's broader encouragement of independence.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage is the framework for children's learning, development and care: here, practical play, conversation and growing self-care skills give those aims everyday expression. Activities combine adult direction with opportunities for children to lead their own exploration, and are shaped around individual interests and needs.

In February 2024, children practised cutting with scissors and shaping dough with tools, giving small hand movements a practical purpose. Story sessions included discussing illustrations and answering questions, while children also selected books independently. Language work involved careful pronunciation and clapping syllables. These are concrete ways to connect listening, speaking and physical coordination with play.

AJB Sports provides weekly multi-skills sessions covering balance, coordination, confidence and teamwork. This adds a regular, structured physical activity to the preschool day. It also gives families a clearer picture of the sporting provision than a general promise of active play.

Outdoor and Community Life

In February 2024, outdoor activity included puddle play and opportunities to experiment with different movements. Everyday independence was equally tangible: children poured drinks using jugs and water butts, spread crackers themselves and helped clear their snack things. Small tasks gave them reasons to practise managing for themselves.

Community connections extend beyond the preschool. The fruit shack in Catshill supplies fresh fruit weekly for snacks, and Catshill Methodist hosts a Friday coffee-and-toast morning for parents during term time, from 9am to 10am. Children's Christmas productions and events take place in the church. These links bring food, parent contact and shared occasions into the setting's life.

Relationships and Communication

Each child has a designated key person who supports the child and their parents or carers. Learning is personalised, with outside agencies involved where needed. The practical value is continuity: families have an identified relationship through which to discuss development or concerns.

Children's achievements and development are shared with parents continuously, and feedback from families helps shape provision. In February 2024, an online communication system had been introduced in response to parents wanting fuller updates. That example matters because communication was being adjusted around what families needed, rather than treated simply as a routine announcement.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

The current staff structure includes a SENCo, tailored support plans and a dedicated one-to-one SEND support role, with links between staff, families and other professionals. At its February 2024 inspection, Ofsted found that the coordinator worked with professionals to obtain support for children with SEND. The current mechanisms give parents specific arrangements to discuss rather than a broad assurance that every need will be met.

Behaviour work in February 2024 included reminders to put resources away and a shared reward system in which children added stars to a tree. However, some children needed encouragement to participate, and staff did not consistently recognise this. A busy programme only helps if the child is supported to join it.

A kitchen manager prepares home-style meals; hot lunch is an optional, separately charged choice booked monthly for selected days, and children can bring a packed lunch instead. Parents also contribute towards morning snacks, while the weekly fruit supply comes through the local fruit shack.

Sessions and Attendance

The address is Catshill Methodist Church, Golden Cross Lane, Catshill, Bromsgrove B61 0LG. Term-time attendance runs Monday to Friday. The session structure offers mornings from 9am to noon, afternoons from noon to 3pm and a whole day from 9am to 3pm.

Additional attendance from 8.30am to 9am and from 3pm to 3.30pm carries separate charges. Alongside these terms, the Mike Foster Fitness connection offers free early drop-offs on production of an MFF community card. These extensions can be booked regularly with monthly invoicing, or used ad hoc with payment on the day; the preschool requires a call by 8am for the morning extension or 2pm for the afternoon extension. That distinction matters when planning an occasional change to the usual routine.

Enquiries can be made by telephone, email or the contact form. The combination of shorter sessions and a whole preschool day gives families several ways to arrange term-time attendance.

Funding and Paid Extras

In February 2024, the preschool received early education funding for children aged two, three and four. Private sessions and charged extensions also form part of its attendance arrangements, alongside the MFF community-card offer for free early drop-offs. Families receive current prices through the preschool's written quotation.

The lunch choice is separate from session charges: families can book the optional hot meal or supply a packed lunch. Morning snacks receive contributions from parents. These arrangements should be considered alongside the chosen attendance pattern when budgeting.

Moving on to School

The preschool describes working with Catshill First School and its Reception team to support children's transition. That relationship concerns preparation for school: attending the preschool does not guarantee a school place, and families still apply through the local authority admissions process. Parent partnership and self-care activities also form part of preparation for the next stage.

• Participation and understanding difference. In February 2024, some children needed more help to stay involved, and opportunities to understand equality and diversity needed extending. On a visit, ask how staff draw quieter or hesitant children into activities and explore differences between people.
• Term-time timetable. Morning, afternoon and whole-day sessions offer different attendance patterns, but this is term-time provision. Families needing care through school holidays should weigh that calendar against their working arrangements.
• Funding and the complete quotation. The February 2024 funding position covered two-, three- and four-year-olds. Ask how a proposed funded booking is delivered and how meals, snack contributions and non-food consumables fit into its quotation.
• Community-card early drop-offs. The extension terms charge all children, while the Mike Foster Fitness connection offers free early drop-offs on production of an MFF community card. Ask how the card offer fits with the paid morning extension.

Catshill Rising Stars Preschool suits families seeking term-time morning or afternoon sessions, as well as those wanting a whole preschool day with short extensions. The church-hall setting, weekly AJB Sports sessions, fruit-shack connection and parent coffee mornings give its offer concrete character.

The February 2024 Good judgement sits alongside useful detail about independence, language and practical play. Its improvement priorities are equally relevant: the strongest fit will be for families who value these experiences and want to understand how their own child will be helped to participate.