St Andrews Pre-School

A final preschool year spent with one cohort gives St Andrews Pre-School a clear shape. Its Rising room brings together children preparing to start school, while the Toddler room serves younger children; opportunities to mix let the younger group learn from older children and give the older group responsibility as role models. This is a church-hall setting in Felixstowe, with parent and community involvement built into its committee structure.

At its January 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated the provision Good and judged safeguarding effective. That judgement sits alongside a specific improvement point about teaching children to understand risks during physical play. It is an important distinction: effective safeguarding did not mean every aspect of children's safety learning was equally well developed.

St Andrews has 59 places in total and accepts children from two until school age. Morning and afternoon sessions, with a Lunch Club between them, provide the practical shape of the week. The strongest reasons to consider it are its separate stages of provision, individual learning records and opportunities for parents to take part in running the preschool.

Rooms and Ages

Two separate learning rooms organise the children's day. The Toddler room takes children from two until they can move into the Rising room in the September after their third birthday; the Rising room groups children for the year before school, with that cohort moving on at the end of the year. This gives the older room a shared transition point rather than a continually changing mix of school-starting dates.

The rooms also have opportunities to come together. Younger children can learn from their older peers, while older children practise setting an example. The separate rooms therefore provide different stages of provision while keeping contact between the age groups.

Learning and Activities

The EYFS sets the expectations for children's learning, development and care; here, learning through play and individual next steps turn that framework into a child's day. Learning Journeys are individual records shaped around each child's development and interests, with parents encouraged to contribute. They offer a way to connect experiences at home with learning in the preschool.

In January 2023, staff used children's interests to shape activities and adjusted the learning to their starting points. Stories, singing and group conversations gave children opportunities to practise speaking, while pictures and objects helped those whose speech was still developing. Adults expanded children's vocabulary by building on what they said. For a child beginning to communicate more confidently, those small exchanges mattered as much as a planned activity.

Practical independence also featured in January 2023. Children worked towards managing their coats, washed their hands and took turns helping with snack preparation. Cooking happened regularly, and children brought their food and recipe cards home. That linked a preschool experience with something a family could repeat together.

Outdoor and Community Life

In January 2023, regular local walks encouraged children to notice seasonal changes, including frozen water and emerging blossom. Outdoor play also supported physical development. The improvement point concerned how adults helped children understand the risks involved and the possible consequences of their actions, rather than simply whether outdoor opportunities existed.

Fundraising supports preschool trips, resources and end-of-term celebrations. The committee gives parents and local residents a practical role in sustaining these experiences, so involvement can extend beyond receiving updates about a child's day.

Relationships and Communication

Every child has a key person, responsible for their learning record and serving as a contact for the family. Assessments take place each term, and informal parents evenings provide time to discuss development or concerns. Parents can add to their child's Learning Journeys, making communication a two-way process rather than a record produced solely by staff.

In January 2023, children had close relationships with their key people, and staff responded promptly to their needs. Families received activity ideas to use at home as well as updates on development. The value lies in continuity: information from parents helps staff understand the child, while preschool experiences can continue beyond the session.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

At the January 2023 inspection, Ofsted found that families, key people and the special educational needs coordinator collaborated on support for individual children. Funding paid for resources chosen to meet each child's needs. This describes a specific support mechanism rather than a general promise about inclusion.

During January 2023, staff discussed healthy eating and dental care through cooking activities. Children also practised everyday self-care. These experiences connected wellbeing with actions children could understand and begin to manage themselves.

Sessions and Attendance

St Andrews operates Monday to Friday for 38 weeks each year. In the Toddler room, mornings run from 8.30am to 11.30am, Lunch Club from 11.30am to 12.20pm, and afternoons from 12.20pm to 3.20pm. The Rising room starts later: mornings are 8.40am to 11.40am, Lunch Club is 11.40am to 12.30pm, and afternoons run from 12.30pm to 3.30pm.

Families have an opportunity to change their child's sessions each term. Lunch Club can also be booked occasionally, subject to availability. The different room times matter when organising collections, especially for a family with children in both groups.

Getting There

The preschool is based at St Andrews Church Hall, St Andrews Road, Felixstowe, IP11 7EB. Families can enquire by telephone on 01394 278326 or use the contact form.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded childcare includes 15-hour provision and, for eligible families, 30-hour term-time provision; two-year-old funding is also accepted subject to eligibility. The 15-hour arrangement runs over 38 weeks, and eligible grant funding can cover sessions and Lunch Club. Paid sessions and Lunch Club bookings are also offered, with current prices obtained in the preschool's written quotation.

Parents supply a packed lunch for Lunch Club. A separate consumables contribution applies to each session for both funded and non-funded attendance, so funded hours and additional charges need to be considered separately when comparing the overall arrangement.

• Risk awareness. In January 2023, staff needed to strengthen how they taught children to recognise hazards and understand safety precautions. Ask how this is now built into outdoor play.
• Two collection schedules. The rooms have different morning, lunch and afternoon times. Match the appropriate room's timetable to your working day before choosing sessions.
• Term-time funding and extras. Attendance follows a 38-week year, parents provide lunch, and consumables carry a separate contribution on funded and paid sessions. Consider both the holiday pattern and these extras when assessing the arrangement.
• A role in running the preschool. Parents and community members can join the committee, elected at the Annual General Meeting in September/October. Fundraising supports trips, celebrations and resources, making this a setting where family involvement can have a practical effect.

St Andrews suits families seeking morning or afternoon preschool sessions within a term-time routine, with Lunch Club providing an additional booking option. Its single-cohort Rising room gives the final preschool year a clear structure, while key-person contact and individual learning records give parents ways to stay involved. The January 2023 Good judgement is balanced by a concrete point to explore about children's understanding of risk. Committee participation adds another reason to consider it for families who want a part in sustaining their preschool.