Caddington Pre-School

A bungalow in the grounds of Caddington Village School gives this pre-school a recognisable setting, while its two rooms divide the day between play, language activities, movement and everyday routines. Parent participation is part of its character: stay and play sessions, sports days and chefs week bring families into their children's learning.

At its May 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated Caddington Pre-School Good and found safeguarding effective. That is a dated judgement, rather than an assurance about today's practice. The setting has capacity for 24 children; its current age range is 59 to 60 months, distinct from the two-to-four-year-old children attending in May 2023.

Term-time attendance includes a shorter session ending at lunchtime and a longer day ending in the afternoon. Both start at the same time, making the choice primarily about how much of the day a child attends.

Rooms and Ages

Room 1 combines sensory play with phonics and activities that develop speaking and listening. Room 2 brings stories, music and movement together with snack and lunch routines and the Lets Brush Programme, alongside the pre-school's tooth-brushing activities. These are different emphases within the setting, rather than evidence of separate age bands.

The bungalow sits within school grounds, and garden walks feature among the activities. That gives the account of the nursery day a concrete outdoor element alongside its indoor rooms, rather than making learning solely a table-based activity.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children's learning, development and care. In everyday terms, that means play and interaction support children's developing communication, understanding and practical skills; it is the baseline for provision rather than an extra programme unique to this pre-school.

In May 2023, vegetable preparation became an opportunity to explore language. Children cut vegetables for pretend cooking, discussed their smells and tried out words introduced by staff. A role-play garden centre offered a different route into learning: children took shop roles and matched numbers on pretend banknotes. Both examples connected conversation and early mathematical ideas with something children were actively doing.

Younger children also spent time in smaller groups in May 2023, practising familiar activities and having opportunities to talk and listen. A beanbag-launching game involved waiting for turns and allowing another child to try again. These examples help parents picture the interaction behind the activity names, while remaining snapshots of that period.

Relationships and Communication

Settling is planned with parents, who help decide the approach after agreeing a start date. Families can remain with their child for a longer or shorter period as confidence develops. This gives parents a role in shaping the transition rather than imposing one fixed separation routine.

In May 2023, staff gathered information about new children and used familiar stories and favourite toys to help them settle. Communication involved each child's key person. Today, stay and play sessions and family events provide further ways for parents to take part in learning, beyond receiving updates about it.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

Tooth-brushing activities put an everyday health habit into the nursery day. The Lets Brush Programme belongs to Room 2's activities, alongside meals, stories and movement; its practical emphasis is on a routine children can recognise outside the setting too.

Getting Ready to Start School directs families to CBeebies Parenting resources, including songs, stories and activities about separation, emotions, sharing and independence. This offers parents concrete material for conversations and practice at home. It is preparation for change, rather than an admissions advantage.

Sessions and Attendance

The address is The Bungalow, Five Oaks, Caddington, Luton, Bedfordshire LU1 4JD, within the grounds of Caddington Village School. Opening hours run from 8.45am until 3.30pm, Monday to Friday.

There are two term-time booking patterns: a morning session from 8.45am to 1pm and a full day from 8.45am to 3.30pm. School holidays are closure periods. The shared start time makes this a choice between a shorter and a longer nursery day, rather than between early and late starts.

Enquiries and tour bookings can be made through the contact form or by telephone. The setting's bungalow and school-site relationship are useful points to explore during a tour, alongside how the two rooms organise the day.

Funding and Paid Extras

Eligible children can use 15 or 30 hours of Government-funded childcare per week during term time. Privately paid attendance is also accepted, including additional hours beyond a child's funded entitlement, and Tax-Free Childcare payments are accepted.

A separate termly consumables contribution helps pay for daily snacks, craft materials, sensory resources and other items children use. Snacks and these non-food materials therefore carry a separate contribution, rather than being described as included in the hourly fee. Families should obtain a current written quotation for their chosen attendance pattern; the fees and funding page explains the charging structure.

The pre-school describes a close relationship with Caddington Village School intended to support the move into full-time education. Attendance does not guarantee a Reception place, and families still apply through the local authority admissions process.

• Age fit and room organisation. The current age range is 59 to 60 months, while children attending in May 2023 were aged two to four. Before joining, ask how the current intake and room arrangements fit your child's age.
• Time to think. In May 2023, adults sometimes supplied answers too quickly, reducing children's opportunities to work through problems; committee members also needed stronger induction and training for their oversight responsibilities. Ask how children now get time to experiment and how trustees scrutinise provision.
• Term-time routine. Both sessions begin at 8.45am, and the setting closes for school holidays. The lunchtime finish and longer afternoon pattern offer different lengths of attendance, but families need a separate holiday plan.
• School transition. Sharing grounds with Caddington Village School supports a relationship between the settings, but does not secure admission. Treat the nursery choice and the Reception application as separate decisions.

Caddington Pre-School suits families seeking either a morning session or a full day during term time, with parent involvement and a school-site setting. The bungalow, two-room organisation and practical health and language activities give the offer substance.

The May 2023 observations provide useful detail about play and interaction, alongside specific questions about independent problem-solving and governance. A visit should establish how that work looks now and whether the current age intake fits the child. The strongest reasons to consider it are the attendance choice, collaborative settling and opportunities for families to participate.