Courtyard Preschool

Guttering, tyres and a shared challenge to make water flow capture Courtyard Preschool's practical, playful character. In May 2022, children worked together on a water run, exchanging ideas and testing whether their construction worked. It is a useful picture of learning through doing: a task that brings conversation, concentration and cooperation together.

Courtyard Preschool has capacity for 22 children, accepts children from two until they start school at five, and operates at Courtyard Youth Centre on Launton Road in Bicester. At its 18 May 2022 inspection, Ofsted rated it Good overall and judged safeguarding effective. The practical offer includes morning, afternoon and all-day sessions during school terms.

The combination merits attention from families seeking preschool care with hands-on learning and a way to follow their child's development. Its Personal Profile brings observations and examples of children's work into an individual account that parents can see and that can be shared when a child changes provision.

Learning and Activities

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) sets expectations for children's learning, development and care, covering experiences such as conversation, physical play, stories and early mathematics. Here, planning draws on staff observations of each child's interests and needs. That gives the framework a practical purpose: activities can respond to the child rather than simply follow a fixed sequence.

Books, mark-making and imaginative play sit alongside counting, recognising numbers and investigating shapes. Creative work includes music, dance and using materials to express ideas. Understanding the world develops observation and investigation skills, helping children explore and make sense of their environment. These are connected experiences: a child can talk through an imagined situation, make marks to represent it and explore the materials needed to develop it.

In May 2022, everyday mathematics included counting carefully and recognising numerals, with attention to numbers one to five. Children also made models from discarded materials and used wet brushes and sponges to create marks on outdoor walls. Pretend cooking, shopping lists and a car wash gave imaginative play concrete situations to work with.

Ofsted's May 2022 inspection identified two teaching priorities: extending children's ideas more effectively in conversation and helping every practitioner identify the intended learning behind an activity. These matter together. An engaging task needs both a clear purpose and an adult who extends the child's thinking.

Outdoor and Community Life

Outdoor play was a substantial part of children's experience in May 2022. What's the time Mr Wolf combined movement with counting steps, taking turns and discussing feelings. The water run made from guttering and tyres offered a different challenge, requiring children to listen to one another and adjust their construction towards a shared result.

The lending library also connected preschool experiences with home in May 2022, allowing children to borrow books to enjoy with their families. It gave parents a concrete way to continue an interest in stories beyond the preschool day.

Relationships and Communication

A key person contributes observations to each child's Personal Profile. The profile is updated regularly and accessible to parents, while samples of artwork, writing and photographs help illustrate development. This gives families something specific to discuss, rather than relying only on a general account of how the day went.

Sharing that profile with another provider, including one attended alongside Courtyard, supports continuity. The account follows the child through the Foundation Stage to the end of Reception, providing a way to carry information about learning between settings.

In May 2022, staff gave children time to answer questions and express their ideas. Everyday independence also had a practical place: children identified their lunch placemats and attempted to open their own lunch boxes, receiving help when needed. Such small tasks offer opportunities to practise managing belongings and persisting with something difficult.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

The staff structure includes a special educational needs coordinator, designated safeguarding lead roles and staff with first-aid training. These are concrete responsibilities within the team, giving families identifiable roles through which to discuss support and concerns.

In May 2022, additional funding was used to support extra attendance for children who would benefit from more time with others. Physical activities included throwing and catching differently sized balls, handling small objects with pincers and cutting paper with scissors. The examples span larger movements and the finer control used in everyday tasks.

Sun safety was also part of children's learning in May 2022. Staff discussed drinking water, wearing hats and sun cream, and using shade to stay cool. Children made fans as part of that discussion, linking a practical activity with looking after themselves.

Sessions and Attendance

Morning sessions run from 9.10am to 12.10pm, afternoon sessions from 12.20pm to 2.50pm, and all-day sessions from 9.10am to 2.50pm, Monday to Friday. The preschool operates during school terms and closes for school holidays. The choice of sessions allows families to distinguish a shorter preschool day from attendance spanning both parts of the day.

The 30-hour funded arrangement for three- and four-year-olds has a separately stated window of 9am to 3pm. Families considering that arrangement should distinguish it from the standard all-day session when planning their routine.

Getting There

The address is Courtyard Youth Centre, Launton Road, Bicester, OX26 6DJ. Enquiries can be made by telephone, email or the contact form.

Funding and Paid Extras

Courtyard accepts the government's two-year-old funding scheme and offers the 15-hour entitlement from the term after a child's third birthday, alongside the 30-hour scheme for three- and four-year-olds. Attendance is term-time. Private sessions are also offered, and extra hours beyond the 15-hour entitlement are charged separately.

• Teaching beyond the activity. The May 2022 priorities concerned deeper conversations and clearer learning intentions. On a visit, ask how practitioners now extend a child's ideas during play and decide what an activity should help them learn.
• The term-time calendar. School holidays are closures, while morning, afternoon and all-day sessions have different finishing times. Families should weigh those patterns against their regular childcare commitments.
• Funded attendance and extras. The 30-hour arrangement uses a different stated time window from standard all-day sessions. What meal and consumables arrangements apply to the attendance pattern you are considering?

Courtyard Preschool suits families looking for term-time preschool attendance, whether through morning or afternoon sessions or an all-day pattern. Individual profiles provide a practical connection between children's experiences and parental understanding, while the May 2022 examples show how ordinary materials supported shared problem-solving and imaginative play.

The Good judgement sits alongside clear teaching priorities. For parents, the useful next step is to explore how those priorities translate into today's interactions, while deciding which session pattern fits family life.