Holmedale Pre-school

Free-flow play between inside and outside gives Holmedale Pre-school a clear organising idea: children can explore, make choices and learn alongside one another. Based at Ravensworth CE Primary School in Ravensworth, near Richmond, it offers care and education for children aged two to five and has 24 places in total.

At its November 2022 inspection, Ofsted rated Holmedale Good and found safeguarding effective, with children developing close relationships with staff and becoming absorbed in their play. That is a dated judgement, but its practical examples give parents a useful picture of the setting: language introduced through activities, mathematical ideas explored while making pizzas, and routines that encourage children to do things for themselves.

A key worker system connects families with their child's progress. Attendance runs during term time, with weekday opening hours extending from 8am to 5.30pm.

Learning and Activities

The Early Years Foundation Stage guides the educational programme: children learn through play across language, physical development, social development, literacy, mathematics, understanding the world and creative expression. Observations and assessments help staff plan around individual needs, while parents contribute to the assessment process. The practical value is a connection between what a child does in play and what staff plan next.

In November 2022, words of the week linked new vocabulary to the topics children were exploring. Direction and sparkly were introduced through planned activities, giving children a context for unfamiliar language rather than presenting words in isolation. This was a concrete example of how speech and language featured in the nursery day.

Mathematics also grew out of hands-on activity in November 2022. Younger children explored shapes using sticks in salt; older children counted pizza toppings and considered what happened when another item was added. These examples made shape and number part of something children could handle and change.

Outdoor and Community Life

Free-flow play connects the indoor and outdoor environments, and the programme includes outdoor activity each day. Children can explore resources and equipment while playing alongside others, so outdoor time sits within the learning programme rather than apart from it.

In November 2022, the outdoor role play area became a hospital-themed space after a child's hospital visit. The example matters because a child's own experience shaped the activity. Nature exploration and imaginative resources also featured outdoors at that time, giving children different ways to use the space.

Relationships and Communication

The key worker system gives parents a route into their child's learning and development. Families contribute to assessments and receive updates about progress, allowing their knowledge of the child to sit alongside staff observations. That makes communication part of planning, rather than simply a summary at the end.

In November 2022, staff listened to children and explained expectations through gentle reminders. Children took turns ringing a bell to signal tidying up, making a shared routine something they could participate in. Mealtimes and self-care routines also gave them opportunities to complete tasks independently. Those everyday responsibilities are relevant to the move towards school, where managing personal needs becomes increasingly useful.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

Families whose children need additional help can receive support and advice about involving other agencies. The staff team includes SENCO training and SEND training, alongside first aid and safeguarding training. These are practical mechanisms for supporting children; families can discuss how they would apply to their child's circumstances.

At the November 2022 inspection, Ofsted identified two improvements: more opportunities for children learning English as an additional language to use their home language during play, and further staff development to strengthen teaching. Both deserve attention when judging how well the setting will meet an individual child's needs.

In November 2022, children received nutritious meals and healthy snacks, with adults joining them for conversation and using photo cards to discuss food choices. Eating therefore also provided an opportunity to talk and practise independence.

Sessions and Attendance

Holmedale operates during term time, following North Yorkshire County Council school dates, and closes on bank holidays. Its opening hours are 8am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday. This makes the school calendar a central part of the childcare decision, especially for families who need care during holidays.

The address is Ravensworth CE Primary School, Ravensworth, Richmond, North Yorkshire, DL11 7ET. Enquiries can be made by telephone or through the contact form, and appointments can be arranged by telephone.

Being based at a primary school does not guarantee a Reception place. The pre-school's school setting and a child's eventual school admission are separate decisions.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded hours are offered during term time: eligible three- and four-year-olds can use the universal or working entitlement of 15 or 30 hours, while eligible two-year-olds can use 30 working-entitlement hours. The allocation of those hours is negotiable within the weekday opening window. Private, unfunded hours are also offered.

There is no additional charge for consumables, including alongside the funded-hours offer. Request a current written quotation for private hours; the fees page sets out the funding and charge structure.

• Term-time calendar. Care follows North Yorkshire County Council school terms and excludes bank holidays. Families needing holiday childcare should weigh that pattern against their working year.
• Home language and staff development. November 2022 improvement points concerned opportunities to use home languages and further development of teaching. Ask how these have been addressed and how the approach would work for your child.
• Your child's attendance plan. During an appointment, discuss how the negotiable funded hours would fit the days you need, and what meals and their charges would form part of that arrangement.

Holmedale suits families seeking term-time preschool care, with an indoor and outdoor play arrangement and a key worker system that involves parents in learning. Its funded-hours offer and additional private hours give families two ways to structure attendance within the weekday opening window.

The November 2022 examples give substance to that picture: vocabulary through activities, number through pizza-making and independence through everyday tasks. The decision should also take account of the term-time calendar and the improvements identified around home languages and staff development.