Westborough Pre-School

A garden balance challenge built by children themselves captures Westborough Pre-School’s character in May 2023: practical play, growing independence and learning alongside others. This Guildford setting has capacity for 26 children. Its current base is St Francis Church Hall on Beckingham Road, with a close working relationship with Stoughton Nursery & Pre-School.

At its 4 May 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated Westborough Good and found safeguarding effective, while identifying improvements needed in younger children’s engagement and communication about staff changes. Those concerns matter alongside the positive picture. The children attending then were aged two to four; they practised sharing, choosing activities and getting themselves ready to play outside.

Flexible sessions are offered, and the current opening window is Tuesday to Friday, 9am to 3.30pm.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage sets the framework for children’s learning and care, bringing language, physical development, early literacy and mathematics into play and everyday routines. In May 2023, resources were arranged so children could choose activities for themselves. That gave their interests a practical role in shaping the day, rather than making every activity adult-directed.

Conversation was woven into play at that time. Staff listened to children, responded to their ideas and repeated unfamiliar vocabulary. Books were available for children to explore alone, with friends or alongside an adult. Drawing and early writing were treated as ways to communicate meaning, with older children keen to show what they had written.

Mathematics also appeared in play rather than only in a separate activity. In May 2023, children used counting and words for position as they played. This connected early mathematical ideas to things they were doing and could see.

Outdoor and Community Life

In May 2023, the pre-school garden provided space to practise movement, balance and coordination. Children collaborated on a balance challenge, then worked out how to cross it. Trying again after difficulty was part of the experience. The example gives parents something more concrete than a general promise of outdoor learning: children helped create the physical task themselves.

Westborough works closely with Stoughton Nursery & Pre-School, its partner setting. The connection provides a shared approach to early-years care and learning across the two settings. The route between them passes through Stoughton Recreation Ground; that is a connection between settings, rather than evidence of a regular outing programme for Westborough children.

In May 2023, children used a familiar story to help express their feelings, while adults offered comfort when younger children became upset or tired. Sharing and taking turns were practised, and praise recognised children’s efforts. Everyday independence included washing hands and preparing for outdoor play. These are small tasks with a useful purpose: children gain practice managing parts of their day themselves.

At the May 2023 inspection, Ofsted found that children with special educational needs and/or disabilities received effective support through work with other professionals, but that staff sometimes missed younger children’s loss of interest and parents were not consistently told about staff changes or whom to approach about learning. At that time, staff used advice from those professionals to address gaps in children’s learning, making professional guidance part of their everyday support. For families, the important distinction is between warm relationships and reliable information: both need to work.

During that period, an online communication app gave parents updates about activities. Westborough’s current open-door policy also welcomes conversations and questions, and settling support gives each child time to become comfortable. The current open-door policy gives families a direct way to discuss questions with staff.

Sessions and Attendance

Westborough offers flexible sessions and opens Tuesday to Friday, from 9am to 3.30pm. The earlier Wednesday-to-Friday timetable belongs to May 2023; the current opening days include Tuesday. Flexibility is the booking feature, while the opening window sets the boundaries of the day.

Getting There

The current address is St Francis Church Hall, Beckingham Road, Guildford GU2 8BU. Families can contact the team using the enquiry form or telephone, and a tour can be booked.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded childcare can cover all costs at Westborough, with no top-up charges or hidden extras. That gives the funding offer a clear practical attraction: the entitlement can cover the whole cost rather than simply reducing it.

• Younger children’s participation. In May 2023, staff did not always respond when younger children disengaged from activities. During a visit, ask how activities are adjusted when a child loses interest.
• Knowing whom to speak to. Communication about staff changes needed improvement in May 2023. Ask how families are introduced to the person responsible for discussing their child’s learning.
• Planning flexible attendance. Flexible sessions sit within Tuesday-to-Friday opening hours. Discuss the booking pattern that would fit your week, including how funded childcare would be used.

Westborough suits families seeking flexible daytime sessions within a Tuesday-to-Friday routine, with funded childcare able to cover all costs. Its May 2023 picture was strongest in practical independence, conversation and collaborative garden play. The balance is clear: younger children’s sustained engagement and dependable communication about staff responsibilities deserve attention alongside those strengths.