Haylands

Children help shape rules, take on small responsibilities and share treasured objects from home. Having a voice matters at Haylands. Its Rights Respecting Pre-School approach connects children's rights with everyday choices; purpose-built premises within St. George's Primary School grounds and a parent committee give it a school-site identity and family involvement.

At its May 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated Haylands Good and found safeguarding effective. That is a dated judgement, rather than a description of today's staffing or daily practice. The current setting has capacity for 40 children, with preschool provision for ages two years and six months to five; Breakfast and After-School Clubs extend the age range to 11.

Morning, afternoon and all-day preschool attendance sit alongside term-time wraparound care. The strongest reasons to consider Haylands are its practical language-support arrangements, two-way learning journals and opportunities for children to develop independence through ordinary daily tasks.

Learning and Activities

The Early Years Foundation Stage provides the framework for learning and care: play develops communication, movement, relationships and understanding of number, books and the world. Adult-led activities and children's own choices share the day, with accessible resources supporting independent exploration.

Singing, dance, stories, musical instruments and art sit alongside cooking, which runs across a week each half term. Repeated practice gives children something concrete to describe and investigate.

In May 2023, dough-making prompted discussion of changing textures; pretend journeys involved maps and packing decisions. Counting objects and comparing shapes and quantities brought mathematics into play. Stories, songs and group games practised listening and concentration. At the May 2023 inspection, Ofsted identified a need for more demanding expectations in planned activities so children could demonstrate their abilities. Enjoyment needs challenge too.

A daily mini teacher carries out small tasks. Children fill a chatterbox at home with meaningful objects to share with the group, and take book bags home for shared reading. Responsibility and conversation have practical starting points.

Outdoor and Community Life

Forest school activities involve outdoor exploration; garden planting lets children watch growth. The school playground and park climbing equipment add physical challenges. Environmental learning uses wood, stone, sand and reused materials alongside growing food, nature walks and recycling. Families contribute recyclable materials for creative work, connecting home with preschool activities.

In May 2023, children moved gravel in buckets, balanced on a climbing frame and joined parachute games, combining effort, coordination and group play.

Through its Rights Respecting Pre-School approach, Haylands works with UNICEF to promote children's rights. Children contribute to decisions and shared rules, putting those ideas into everyday practice.

Relationships and Communication

Each child's key person supports settling, tracks development and plans next steps. A change is possible if the bond does not develop; familiarity with other staff also supports continuity. Parents can stay during settling, guided by their child's response and family preferences. Nappy-changing facilities accommodate children still learning toileting routines.

Tapestry, the online learning journal, holds photographs and observations. Parents add home experiences, helping staff connect activities with children's interests. Paper learning records leave with the child, and consultation time allows discussion of development. With parental permission, transition information goes to the receiving school; meetings with Reception teachers cover progress and continuing support.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

Wellcomm identifies concerns about speech and understanding, with parental permission enabling discussion of individual plans or Speech and Language Therapy referrals. SEND support uses The Graduated Response: assessment, planning, putting support into practice and reviewing it with parents, the key person and SENCO. Outside agencies can contribute. Multilingual books, signing resources and translated information support communication across home languages.

The Big brush club, an NHS-linked oral-health initiative, brings toothbrushing into the daily routine after morning snack. Individually named toothbrushes and a song make it a shared activity. Staff hold paediatric first-aid training, and safeguarding arrangements include lead and deputy roles.

Sessions and Attendance

Haylands operates at c/o St Georges Primary School, Clarence Road, Portland, Dorset DT5 2BD. It runs for 38 weeks of the year, with preschool sessions from Monday to Friday. Families can select an all-day pattern combining morning, lunch and afternoon, or book fixed sessions.

The morning session runs from 9am to 11.30am, with an option to remain for lunch until 12.30pm. Lunch and afternoon together run from 11.30am to 3pm; afternoon alone is 12.30pm to 3pm. These choices let families distinguish a shorter preschool experience from a day that includes lunch, rather than treating opening hours as the only attendance option.

Breakfast Club runs from 7.30am to 8.45am on Monday to Thursday and from 8am to 8.45am on Friday. After-School Club operates Monday to Thursday, with collection from St. George's Primary School included; Friday has no after-school club. Some session and contact times differ, making the exact written timetable an important joining detail.

Applications use the preschool registration forms, with a separate form for breakfast and after-school care. Enquiries can be made by telephone on 01305 822625 or by email to contact@haylandspreschool.co.uk. The initial attendance recommendation is two or three sessions, supporting familiarity with routines; it is a recommendation, rather than a stated minimum booking requirement.

Funding and Paid Extras

Haylands accepts eligible two-year funding and offers 15 hours per week over 38 weeks from the term after a child's third birthday, as well as up to 30 hours for eligible families. Its attendance model is term-time, and additional sessions can be paid for privately. Current prices come in the nursery's written quotation.

Parents supply packed lunches; preschool snacks are provided, while breakfast and the after-school hot snack are included in their respective club charges. Haylands' nut-allergy policy excludes nuts and nut products, including from food brought by staff and visitors.

Parents provide nappies or pull-ups and wet wipes when needed. Sun cream and sun hats are supplied, with families able to bring an appropriate alternative cream for a child with allergies. Full fees remain payable during sickness or holidays, and the session terms require two weeks' notice when giving up a place.

Sharing a site does not guarantee admission to St. George's Primary School. Families still apply through the local authority's school admissions process. The preschool's transition work helps prepare children; it does not confer a Reception place.

• Challenge in planned learning. The May 2023 improvement point concerned expectations that sometimes limited what children could demonstrate. During a visit, ask how staff adapt an activity for a child who is ready to go further.
• Exact session boundaries. Morning starts differ between the session timetable and prospectus, after-school starts differ within the timetable, and contact hours differ from booked sessions. Get the agreed start and collection times in writing, especially for Friday care.
• Lunches and personal care. Packed lunches, wipes and nappies come from home, while the nut policy applies to everyone on the premises. Families affected by allergies should confirm current food and sun-cream practice before attendance.
• Settling and notice. Parents can stay during settling, and Haylands recommends two or three initial sessions. Discuss the pattern and key-person support for your child. The general notice rule is two weeks, but the prospectus specifies four weeks of funding as notice for funded children; obtain your applicable notice terms in writing.

Haylands suits families seeking morning or afternoon preschool sessions, an all-day preschool pattern, or term-time care linked to a child attending the on-site primary school. Its appeal lies in concrete routines: children bring a chatterbox to share, parents contribute through Tapestry, and language concerns have a route through Wellcomm and individual planning.

The Good judgement from May 2023 comes with a useful caution about challenge in planned learning. Session-time differences also deserve attention before booking. For families comfortable with term-time attendance and supplying lunch, Haylands combines school preparation with opportunities for children to make choices, practise responsibility and keep home experiences connected to preschool life.