Burpham Preschool

A church hall, an enclosed garden and play shaped around children's interests give Burpham Preschool its character. Based at the Church of the Holy Spirit in Burpham, Guildford, it takes children aged 2-5 years and combines a large indoor space with a playground and a playing field behind the preschool. The setting gives children room for both imaginative play indoors and physical activity outside.

Ofsted rated Burpham Preschool Good at its 21 March 2023 inspection. The detail beneath that judgement matters: children practised dressing for outdoor play, explored mathematics through construction and joined songs accompanied by an accordion. Those are dated observations, but they give a concrete picture of the experiences assessed.

Today, the play-based curriculum follows children's interests, and each child has a key person who works with their family. Morning and full-day sessions run during term time, making this a preschool with two attendance patterns rather than a single daily commitment.

Learning and Activities

The EYFS provides the framework for children's learning, development and care: here, play brings together language, physical development, relationships, early mathematics and creative expression. Burpham builds its curriculum around what currently interests the children. That gives staff a starting point for activities children want to explore, while keeping their wider development in view.

A group activity starts the day, with opportunities to communicate and do things together. Music, dance, art, PE and yoga also feature in the nursery day, alongside imaginative play and circle times. These give children different ways to participate: movement, making, talking and listening each have a place. Snacks and lunch bring the group together again, with independence and table manners part of the routine.

In March 2023, early mathematics involved choosing materials for towers made with cardboard tubes, exploring weight and volume with containers in a sand tray, and tackling shape and pattern through jigsaws. These were practical encounters with mathematical ideas rather than isolated exercises. Children could try something, see what happened and adjust their approach.

During the same month, children recalled details about erupting volcanoes and talked about stories they enjoyed. Music included action songs with accordion accompaniment. The two improvement priorities were also specific: staff needed to invite fuller answers through more open questions, and younger children needed easier access to books and somewhere quiet for independent reading.

Outdoor and Community Life

The Playing field behind the preschool complements the enclosed garden area and playground in front of the hall. Indoors, the dress-up and role-play area, musical instruments and book corner provide different starting points for play. The combination gives children spaces for movement as well as pretend play and quieter activities.

In March 2023, children used wheeled equipment outdoors and balance beams inside. Activities about other countries introduced similarities and differences between people's lives. The physical and exploratory sides of the day were both visible in those examples.

Relationships and Communication

Each child has a key person who works closely with their parent or carer. This gives families a particular practitioner with whom to discuss their child, alongside the wider staff team. It is a useful foundation for sharing interests, routines and changes that might affect the preschool day.

In March 2023, staff talked with children about their individual interests and supported everyday independence. Children put on outdoor clothing and changed into slippers with little assistance. These small routines gave them opportunities to do things for themselves, alongside play and group activities.

Communication with families was another feature of daily practice in March 2023. Staff discussed children's days with parents, and leaders sought views from families, staff and children when considering changes. That connects decisions about the setting with the people using it.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

At the March 2023 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and reported encouraging progress for children with SEND, children receiving additional funding and those learning English as an additional language, supported by information-sharing with other professionals.

The current staff structure includes a Designated Safeguarding Lead and a deputy safeguarding lead. The lead's training includes paediatric first aid, speech and language, and SEND. These are concrete roles and areas of training; the effectiveness judgement above belongs to the inspection date.

Sessions and Attendance

Burpham Preschool operates during term time at the Church of the Holy Spirit, New Inn Lane, Burpham, Guildford, GU4 7HW. It opens Monday to Friday, from 9am to 3pm. Families can book a morning session from 9am to 1pm or a full day from 9am to 3pm, with both patterns running Monday to Friday.

The morning pattern offers a shorter preschool day; the full-day pattern continues through the afternoon. School holidays are outside the attendance calendar, so the term-time model is an important part of planning childcare across the year.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded preschool sessions include the 15-hour entitlement for children aged three and four. Funding options also cover two-year-olds and an additional 15 hours for eligible three- and four-year-olds; eligibility determines which entitlement applies. Families can pay privately when they are not eligible for government funding, or purchase extra sessions alongside their funded entitlement. Current prices come in the nursery's written quotation.

Getting There

A large car park is behind the hall. Preschool enquiries can be made by telephone or email, and visits can be arranged through the same routes.

• Term-time cover. Morning and full-day sessions both follow the term-time calendar. Families needing childcare during school holidays will need to plan around that pattern.
• Conversation and quiet reading. In March 2023, the improvement priorities concerned fuller questioning and younger children's independent access to books and a quiet space. On a visit, ask how those two areas work now.
• Funded-session costs. Private sessions can sit alongside funded entitlement. Ask for a written quotation explaining how meals and non-food consumables are handled for your chosen attendance pattern.

Burpham Preschool suits families seeking either a morning preschool session or a full day within a term-time routine. Its church-hall setting combines substantial indoor play space with a garden, playground and rear playing field, while the current nursery day includes creative activity, movement and shared meals.

The March 2023 Good judgement provides a dated assessment, with useful practical detail beneath it. The two improvement priorities deserve attention alongside the positive findings. For parents, the strongest reasons to consider Burpham are its interest-led play, individual key-person relationship and choice between shorter mornings and full days.