St Peters Pre-School

A parent-led charity, a play room organised around children's choices and a village setting give St Peters Pre-School its character. Based at St. Peter’s Church Centre in Ardingly, it has 14 places in total and caters for children aged two to five. The scale is modest; the emphasis is on play, independence and learning to be part of a group.

At its November 2024 inspection, Ofsted rated the pre-school Good and found safeguarding effective. There were also clear improvements to make: quieter children needed more encouragement during group activities, and questioning sometimes moved too quickly for children to formulate an answer.

Morning and afternoon sessions run during school terms, with a Lunch Club between them and additional breakfast and extended-session options. That gives families several ways to shape attendance around their week.

Learning and Activities

The Early Years Foundation Stage provides the framework for children's learning, development and care, covering language, physical development, relationships and learning through play. St Peters uses a child-led, play-based curriculum within that framework. Children choose activities, while adults also organise group experiences that introduce skills and encourage cooperation.

The Reading Corner and Sensory/Quiet Area give the play room different purposes: somewhere to spend time with books and somewhere for quieter activity. Crafts, puzzles, role-play and a Music table add further choices. Children can move between the indoor areas and outdoor environment after the register, so the day's learning is not confined to the room.

Free play is the organising principle, rather than a succession of adult-directed tasks. Children are encouraged to choose an activity and follow it through. For a parent weighing different approaches, that means independence is practised through everyday decisions about what to do and how long to stay with it.

In November 2024, mathematical ideas were woven into ordinary play and routines. Children counted plates, explored measurements while building a bridge for a toy railway and used language about weight and height. A train-station role-play activity developed into ticket-making and drawing a journey map. These examples connect early number work, imaginative play and mark-making to something children already enjoy.

The same month's practice also exposed a limitation. Confident children sometimes drew more adult attention during group activities, leaving hesitant children less involved; rapid questions could cut short the time available to think. Those points matter most for children who need a pause or a gentle invitation before speaking.

Outdoor and Community Life

Indoor play areas have counterparts outdoors, and free movement between the two is part of the routine. St. Peter’s Church Centre provides both indoor and outdoor space, giving children options for physical activity as well as quieter play.

In November 2024, children had daily opportunities for outdoor play or walks around their community. The practical preparation is simple: families supply raincoats and wellies for wet weather, and sun hats and sun cream for sunny days.

Relationships and Communication

Each child has a key person who talks with parents, observes their development and creates an individual development plan. Progress is recorded through TAPESTRY and a Learning Journal.

In November 2024, children still becoming accustomed to the pre-school received additional reassurance. Staff also helped children practise sharing, dressing and personal care. These are small daily steps with a practical purpose: managing belongings, joining play and listening to others are useful foundations for the next stage of education.

The volunteer-parent committee supports the manager and takes part in fundraising and local events. Parents can contribute at a level that suits them, so involvement in the pre-school extends beyond their own child's sessions.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

The manager holds the safeguarding-lead role, while the deputy manager is the SENDCO. In November 2024, staff referred children to outside agencies and used professional advice to put individual learning plans into practice. That is a concrete support mechanism, rather than a general promise about inclusion.

Snack time brings adults and children together, with milk or water and a small healthy snack supplied by the pre-school. Lunch Club uses packed lunches and drinks brought from home, so families provide their child's lunch rather than receiving a catered meal.

Learning Journals are shared with Reception teachers to support transition. The pre-school describes links with local primary schools, including St Peter’s Primary School; attendance does not guarantee a school place, and families still use the local authority admissions process.

Sessions and Attendance

The address is St. Peter’s Church Centre, Street Lane, Ardingly, RH17 6UN. Attendance follows West Sussex County Council school terms, Monday to Friday, which makes the school-holiday gap an important part of planning childcare.

Breakfast Club runs from 8am to 9am, followed by the Morning Session from 9am to 11.45am. Lunch Club occupies 11.45am to 12.15pm, and the Afternoon Session runs from 12.15pm to 3pm. Extended Session runs from 3pm to 6pm alongside the after-school club, with collection possible at any point during that session; this option runs Monday to Thursday.

Joining involves completing and returning the registration form. Enquiries can be made through the contact form or by telephone on 07969 890907, and visits can be arranged through the same route.

Funding and Paid Extras

St Peters offers the Early Years Free Entitlement and Extended Entitlement, alongside funding for eligible two-year-olds. Its term-time provision includes funded and privately paid hours; additional hours beyond a child's funded allocation are charged, as are hours where the entitlement is used at another setting.

A registration charge applies to children who are not eligible for government funding, while eligible children pay no registration charge. Invoices are monthly, absences do not attract refunds, and leaving or changing sessions requires half a term's notice. The pre-school also requests a voluntary contribution from parents.

Families provide packed lunches and drinks, together with sun cream for sunny weather. Current prices come in the pre-school's written quotation; the sessions and fees page explains the charging structure.

• Quieter children in groups. In November 2024, hesitant children sometimes received less encouragement and questions could come too quickly. During a visit, ask how staff now help quieter children contribute and allow time for answers.
• Term-time planning. Sessions follow West Sussex County Council school terms, and the extended option runs Monday to Thursday. Families needing Friday evening or holiday childcare should factor those boundaries into their arrangements.
• Changing attendance. Half a term's notice applies to leaving or altering sessions, and absences are not refunded. Choose a pattern that is likely to remain workable beyond the first few weeks.

St Peters suits families seeking morning or afternoon preschool sessions within a village, parent-led setting, with Lunch Club and additional sessions extending the day. Child-directed play, indoor-outdoor movement and a key-person development plan give the offer a clear shape.

The Good judgement in November 2024 sits alongside specific weaknesses in group participation and the pace of questioning. For a quieter child, the most useful visit conversation is about how those two points have been addressed. For families whose childcare needs follow school terms, the session choices and community involvement are practical attractions.