Butterflies Pre-School

A large open-plan space for two to five year olds gives Butterflies Pre-School its defining physical character. This is the preschool at 3 Beulah Road in Wimbledon, distinct from Butterflies’ under-two setting elsewhere on the same road. It has capacity for 56 children. That is a whole-setting figure, rather than the size of a learning group.

At its February 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated Butterflies Pre-School Good and found safeguarding effective. The detail beneath that judgement matters: language development, imaginative play and growing independence featured in the children’s day, alongside two clear improvement points about adult involvement in play and time spent waiting during routines.

Attendance choices include full days, morning or afternoon sessions and term-time places.

Rooms and Ages

A dedicated phonics and mathematics area includes an interactive whiteboard, while a breakout room allows smaller learning groups to work away from the main space. Preschool resources also include a touchscreen computer. Together, these give children different ways to explore early language and numbers; outside space adds room for physical activity.

Learning and Activities

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) provides the framework for learning and care: children learn through play, exploration and activity, indoors and outdoors. Butterflies’ approach across its provision builds on what a child can already do, uses conversation to extend learning and adapts experiences around individual interests. Its curriculum approach sets out these practices alongside opportunities to make choices and develop independence.

In February 2023, younger children shared stories with adults, magnetic shapes became animal enclosures and play dough became dinosaurs. Older children discussed zero while counting, bringing early mathematics into play.

During that February 2023 day, gestures and visual prompts supported speech. Children learnt Makaton signs to communicate emotions, with singing and shared stories adding opportunities to listen and contribute. Communication extended beyond spoken words.

In February 2023, adults sometimes joined play without sufficiently extending learning. The quality of those exchanges matters alongside the resources.

Outdoor and Community Life

Across Butterflies’ provision, frequent Dundonald Park outings and an annual Sport’s Day at the local park extend outdoor activity beyond the premises.

The shared approach includes outdoor access twice daily in all weather and rest periods. Dressing, toileting and serving food give children practical opportunities to take part in their own care.

Relationships and Communication

ParentZone, the app used across Butterflies’ provision, shares activities and learning journeys. Parents can contribute experiences from home and leave notes for their child’s key person, making communication two-way.

Parent evenings take place three times a year, including online meetings. Direct conversations with the key person or manager complement these scheduled discussions.

In February 2023, communication included emails and updates from key persons about children’s achievements. Children also practised putting belongings away and tidying resources, and younger and older children played together. These are dated examples of how relationships and independence worked in the preschool’s daily life.

The non-refundable enrolment charge covers administration and 12 hours of settling time, providing an allocation for the transition into care.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

Butterflies has procedures to identify, assess and review special educational needs. Its management structure includes a Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCo) with experience of autism, global developmental delay, and visual and hearing impairments.

A Designated Safeguarding Officer role also exists. The first-aid policy requires current paediatric certificates and annual refresher training.

Food is cooked daily on the Wimbledon premises by the Head of Catering, with menus changing weekly; breakfast, lunch, an early evening meal, snacks and drinks form the food offer. Special dietary requirements and familiar home routines can be accommodated, making the discussion of an individual child’s needs part of planning their care.

Sessions and Attendance

Butterflies Pre-School is at 3 Beulah Road, Wimbledon, London SW19 3SB. Opening hours are 7.30am to 6.30pm, Monday to Friday. The preschool serves children aged two to five; Butterflies’ younger-child provision is a separate setting.

Full-day attendance begins at 7.30am, with collection between 4pm and 6.30pm. Morning sessions run from 7.30am to 12.30pm, while afternoons begin at 1.30pm and allow collection between 4pm and 6.30pm. Full-day and morning children are expected by 9.30am; afternoon children attend from 1.30pm. The minimum booking is two full days or three half-day sessions.

Term Time Only attendance covers 39 weeks, with payments spread across the year. Extended hours can be requested. Bank holidays, a week at Christmas and three INSET days bring closures; the INSET days are used for training and building maintenance. These closures remain included in fees, and family holidays do not attract refunds or discounts.

Booked sessions cannot be exchanged for another day free of charge. An extra session is charged separately. This matters for families whose working days change: the choice of session is flexible, but the booked timetable carries a financial commitment.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded childcare and private hours are offered. Funding includes the universal 15-hour entitlement, working-parent funding up to 30 hours, and the 15-hour entitlement for eligible two year olds receiving additional government support. Eligibility depends on the entitlement and family circumstances. Under-two entitlements do not change this preschool’s accepted age range.

Funded hours are stretched across the year and managed in term periods. Private full-day prices include meals and snacks. Funded arrangements usually charge separately for meals and non-food consumables, with an Enhanced Provision Rate for provision outside entitlement hours. Butterflies also offers term-by-term arrangements for families in need under which it covers costs outside the entitlement. Funded-only sessions are offered on Mondays and Fridays; Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday attendance attracts an additional charge.

Across Butterflies’ provision, music, language and cooking classes are included in the price. Swimming and Click-it ICT lessons, the latter being ICT classes, attract separate charges. The funding calculator also allows for special-trip costs. Current prices come in the nursery’s written quotation, and the funding and pricing page separates funding deductions from the parent contribution.

The Transition to School Programme across Butterflies gathers information about Wimbledon schools, with staff visiting local primary schools to inform parents. Its value is information and preparation for the move to Reception. It should be understood as transition work rather than an admissions advantage.

• Adult involvement in play. In February 2023, some exchanges between adults and children did not extend learning enough. During a viewing, ask how practitioners now develop a child’s ideas while joining their play.
• Waiting during routines. In February 2023, children spent too long waiting during parts of the day, with younger children a particular consideration. Ask how meals, physical activity and transitions are now organised for a newly two-year-old child.
• The cost of a changing timetable. The minimum booking is two full days or three half-day sessions, and missed booked sessions cannot be swapped free of charge. Compare that commitment with the pattern of your working week.
• Settling and individual care. Enrolment includes 12 hours of settling time. Use the viewing to discuss how those hours would be arranged for your child, including any dietary or additional support needs.

Butterflies Pre-School suits families seeking an open-plan setting for children aged two to five, with full days, shorter morning or afternoon sessions and term-time attendance all part of the offer. ParentZone, early language resources and transition work give parents specific reasons to consider it.

The decision rests on both the setting and its daily practice. The February 2023 improvement points make adult interaction and the pace of routines sensible priorities for a viewing. The attendance choices suit several working patterns, subject to the minimum booking and the applicable funding and charge arrangements.