Sallowbush Preschool

A Giant Mud Pit, an Outside Classroom and a purpose-built preschool building give Sallowbush Preschool a clear outdoor identity. Based in the grounds of St John's CofE Primary School in Huntingdon, it caters for children aged two to four and has 30 places in total. The garden is divided into zones, giving outdoor play several different settings rather than a single undifferentiated space.

At its inspection on 27 February 2025, Ofsted rated the preschool Good and found safeguarding effective. The practical fit is equally clear: this is term-time provision, with weekday opening hours of 9am to 3pm and a minimum weekly booking of 15 hours. Families need to weigh that school-calendar rhythm alongside the learning and care.

Learning and Activities

The EYFS provides the framework for children's learning and development, with play supporting communication, physical skills and growing independence. In February 2025, staff adjusted teaching to children's stages of development and reviewed their individual needs together. That matters in a preschool serving children at different points between their second birthday and starting school.

Hands-on experiences gave learning a concrete starting point. In February 2025, exploring slime prompted conversations about how it looked and felt, while working with play dough exercised the hands for later pencil use. Stories featured both when children requested them and within the daily routine. Repeated experiences helped children revisit what they were learning rather than move straight to something new.

The School Readiness Programme adds a named strand of preparation for moving on to school. Its practical content is a useful subject for a visit discussion, especially for families deciding how preschool will support their child's next stage.

Outdoor and Community Life

The Large Zoned Garden includes the Outside Classroom and Giant Mud Pit, while a Sensory Room adds a separate indoor feature. These give the setting recognisable physical spaces alongside its purpose-built building. The outdoor areas are a substantial part of its appeal for families who value active, hands-on play.

In February 2025, children practised running, jumping and climbing, with bicycles and a see-saw providing opportunities to work on balance. Turn-taking also had practical tools: children sought sand timers or digital timers when sharing popular toys. Physical activity and learning to share were woven into everyday experiences.

In February 2025, children sought reassurance from staff and talked with them during play. Practitioners asked for children's agreement before helping with personal care, including wiping noses and nappy changes. That detail gives substance to the preschool's approach to children's dignity: even routine help involved acknowledging the child.

At the February 2025 inspection, Ofsted found that children with SEND made good progress through targeted interventions, professional support and education, health and care plans where appropriate. Support therefore included work with families and outside professionals, as well as adjustments within preschool.

Communication had a clear limitation. In February 2025, parents received information about their child's day, but some lacked guidance on the learning to work on next or how to help at home. Staff also needed more effective ways to involve a small number of children learning English as an additional language in purposeful play. These are specific improvement points, rather than reasons to overlook the strengths of daily care.

Parents can access policies through Tapestry, including safeguarding, complaints and data protection procedures. In February 2025, children were also encouraged to take books home to share with their families, giving home and preschool a common starting point for conversation.

Sessions and Attendance

Opening hours are 9am to 3pm, Monday to Friday, during term time. School holidays and bank holidays are closure periods. A minimum booking of 15 hours each week applies when registering, so attendance needs to fit that commitment as well as the opening window.

The registration form starts the joining process, with the team arranging a preschool visit after submission. Sallowbush Preschool is at St John's CofE Primary School, Sallowbush Road, Huntingdon, PE29 7LA.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded childcare is offered for eligible two-year-olds, alongside the 15-hour entitlement for three-year-olds from the term after their third birthday and 30-hour funding for eligible families. The 15-hour entitlement requires no code; the preschool makes the claim. Families using 30-hour funding must supply a code and renew it every three months, while eligible two-year-olds need their funding code during registration.

Private hours are also offered. For paid sessions, invoices are issued on the first of the month and payment is due on the second; changing booked hours requires a month's written notice. Families can obtain a current written quotation, with the funding and fees page explaining the payment structure.

Sharing the primary school's grounds does not guarantee a Reception place. Families seeking a state-school place still apply through the local authority admissions process.

• English-language participation. In February 2025, some children learning English as an additional language were less successfully involved in purposeful play. Families for whom this matters should give language support particular weight.
• Learning at home. The February 2025 improvement points included clearer communication about children's next learning steps. Day-to-day updates and guidance for home learning serve different purposes.
• Term-time commitment. Holiday closures and the 15-hour weekly minimum shape the practical fit. Families needing childcare during school holidays will need an arrangement covering those periods.
• School preparation. What activities make up the School Readiness Programme, and how are they adapted to each child's stage? This gives the preschool visit a concrete learning question.

Sallowbush Preschool suits families seeking term-time care for a two-to-four-year-old within a school-day opening window. Its zoned garden, outdoor classroom and mud play are clear attractions, backed by a Good judgement in February 2025. The decision deserves equal attention to English-language participation and communication about learning at home: both were identified as areas for further work.