Bolnore Village Pre-School

Herbs in the garden, imaginative café play and counting games give Bolnore Village Pre-School a recognisable character in its April 2022 account. This is learning through things children can handle, investigate and talk about. Ofsted rated the setting Good on 8 April 2022.

The pre-school has capacity for 40 children at The Woodside Pavillion in Bolnore Village. In April 2022, the children attending were aged two to five; that age range belongs to the visit rather than a current intake promise.

The early years foundation stage sets the framework for children’s learning, development and care, with play providing opportunities to practise language, independence and early number skills.

In April 2022, children explored the scent of garden herbs and made creatures from dough, using feathers and other craft materials. Pretend café play gave them a reason to converse with friends. These examples connect sensory exploration, creativity and communication rather than treating learning as a separate lesson.

Adults also brought counting into a water-tray duck game, asking children to work out what remained after ducks were removed. Vocabulary prompts around the setting supplied words that staff used in conversation. There was a practical emphasis on making language and numbers part of play.

At its April 2022 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and described effective progress monitoring, referrals where needed and individual support for children requiring extra help.

In April 2022, children had established relationships with their key person, and staff shared development updates and next steps with parents. Adults helped children work through disagreements by speaking at their level and supporting them towards a solution. The approach linked emotional support with opportunities to do things independently: children managed coats, helped tidy and cared for resources.

Staff also had regular supervision and time allocated each week for their duties. Team discussions provided opportunities to review practice.

The address is The Woodside Pavillion, 120 Middle Village, Bolnore Village, RH16 4GJ.

In April 2022, opening hours were 9am to 3.30pm from Monday to Thursday and 9am to 1pm on Friday, during term time. At that date, the setting received funding for early education for children aged two, three and four. These are dated arrangements, useful as background when weighing the pre-school against a family’s weekly routine.

• Group learning. In April 2022, some children lost interest in larger listening activities, and staff could not draw them back into the task. The improvement action concerned how group activities were organised; ask how these activities now keep children involved.
• Attendance fit. The April 2022 pattern combined term-time opening with an earlier Friday finish. What attendance arrangements would suit your child and your weekly commitments now?

Bolnore Village Pre-School merits consideration for families drawn to practical play, growing independence and close communication about children’s development. Its April 2022 examples give that appeal substance, from garden herbs to counting with ducks. The dated Good judgement provides a useful quality reference, while the group-activity concern makes sustained engagement a worthwhile topic for a visit.