Polstead Preschool

Hammers, herbs and an annual Farmer's visit give Polstead Preschool a practical character. Children build models with real tools, explore a herb garden and meet animals close up. This parent committee preschool in North Oxford puts learning into activities children can touch, try and talk about.

Polstead has capacity for 24 children aged 2 to 5. At its March 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated it Good and judged safeguarding effective, while identifying improvements needed in staff interactions and the organisation of learning during child-led play. Those findings make the quality of everyday play a useful point to explore, alongside the appealing activities.

Morning, afternoon and combined full-day attendance are offered during term time. The community model matters too: parents can contribute to activities and join the committee, giving families a role beyond paying for childcare.

Learning and Activities

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) provides the shared foundation for learning through play, including language, physical development and relationships. At Polstead, children have opportunities to choose activities as well as join adult-guided experiences; staff use observations and information from home to shape what comes next. The practical additions give that framework its local character.

Woodwork involves constructing models with saws, hammers and drills, with adult help where needed. Baking brings another kind of making: children prepare bread, biscuits, pizza or cakes, then share the results at snack time. These activities connect an idea with a tangible result, rather than leaving learning entirely on paper. The curriculum page gives further examples.

A visiting musician introduces instruments for children to hear and try. Music and Movement, a session exploring how bodies move, also sits within the daily timetable. Story time follows the morning's physical activities, while afternoon plans include small-group work. The timetable is a guide rather than a promise that every day follows the same sequence.

In March 2023, children compared toy trucks using scales and tape measures, testing their guesses about weight and length. They also recalled information about the moon and planets after exploring those subjects. These examples show the kind of concrete investigation and conversation that featured at that time; they are useful illustrations of learning rather than a fixed list of current topics.

Outdoor and Community Life

The herb garden gives children opportunities to taste and smell plants, alongside learning about nature and caring for wildlife. Outdoor play and bike time feature in the session plan. This gives physical activity a place within the day, rather than treating it as an occasional extra.

The annual Farmer's visit brings animals into children's experience: they can feed a kid and lamb and stroke a ferret and hens. Visits from the fire service add contact with people doing useful work in the community. A visiting musician and these practical encounters extend learning beyond familiar toys and materials, with different things to notice and discuss.

In March 2023, children used climbing apparatus and practised cycling. The same period brought activities about cultures and life in other countries. Physical exploration and learning about other people's lives both formed part of the experience, although these are dated examples rather than assurances about today's programme.

Relationships and Communication

Each child has a key person who gets to know their interests and development and builds a relationship with their family. Information from parents contributes to planning alongside observations made at preschool. That gives home experience a practical role in deciding the child's next activities.

Tapestry, a secure digital journal, shares photographs, milestones and daily updates with parents. A termly newsletter covers themes, committee meetings, term dates and social or fundraising events. The two serve different purposes: one follows the individual child, while the other keeps families connected with preschool life.

Settling begins with short introductory visits, and trial sessions are encouraged both before registration and after accepting a place when needed. This lets children become familiar with the adults, other children and surroundings before their usual attendance starts. It is a useful approach for families whose child needs time to adjust to separation.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

A SENCO role, Individual Educational Plans and a graduated response form the support arrangements for children with special educational needs or disabilities. Parents are involved in assessment, planning and review, and staff liaise with other professionals, including over transfers to schools or other settings. These are specific mechanisms for organising support around a child.

Staff expertise includes postgraduate study in early years education and child development. The team includes designated safeguarding responsibilities and paediatric first-aid roles. These describe the organisation of care; the dated safeguarding judgement remains the relevant assessment of its effectiveness.

The behaviour policy centres on calm responses, recognising feelings and working with parents over recurring difficulties. It prohibits physical punishment. For younger children, the policy describes comfort and patient adult help with emotions, giving families a concrete account of how difficult moments should be handled.

In March 2023, children practised pouring drinks, clearing their cups and plates and putting on outdoor clothing with adult encouragement. These small tasks made independence part of ordinary routines. They also provide a useful example of school preparation through everyday skills rather than formal lessons alone.

Sessions and Attendance

The address is St. Margaret's Institute, 30 Polstead Road, Oxford OX2 6TN. Polstead opens Monday to Friday during Oxfordshire school terms, from 9am to 3pm, across 38 weeks. School holidays fall outside the attendance year, so families need a separate plan for those periods.

Morning sessions run from 9am to noon and afternoon sessions from noon to 3pm. A Full Day combines both sessions and includes lunchtime supervision. This allows families to choose between a shorter preschool session and a day spanning morning and afternoon activities. Families commit to a weekly attendance schedule for at least two school terms.

Applications use an account that staff activate before parents complete a registration form. Approved registrations enter a waiting list, with email updates. Enquiries can be made through the contact form or by email to supervisor@polstead.org.uk. These are established routes for applications and communication, rather than an indication of current vacancies.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded childcare is offered for children aged 3 and 4 and eligible two-year-olds. The entitlement described is up to 15 hours each week over 38 weeks, delivered during term time. Private hours and additional hours outside the agreed weekly plan are also charged; families should obtain a current written quotation for their attendance pattern.

Morning snacks are included in the private morning-session fee, while children bring lunch from home; funded-session snacks are covered by a separate charge. Nappies, wipes and art materials sit within the fees, but for funded sessions they are covered by that separate charge rather than the childcare entitlement itself.

The funded-session charge can be declined before accepting a place. Its coverage also includes outings, events and visitors; declining it can mean paying separately for participation or making another arrangement for the child on an activity day, with no charge if the child is withdrawn for that day. The fees page explains this structure, which deserves attention when comparing funded attendance with private hours.

• Learning during free play. The March 2023 improvement points concerned extending children's learning through interactions and keeping child-led activities purposeful. During a visit, ask how staff now develop children's ideas and organise the play spaces.
• Booking and contract terms. Minimum weekly attendance patterns, notice periods and deposit treatment conflict across the admissions terms. Obtain one written agreement covering the minimum weekly pattern, leaving or reducing attendance, and how the deposit is applied before accepting an offer.
• Funded extras. Declining the funded-session charge can affect participation in outings or events. Discuss how that choice would work for your child, including separate activity charges and alternative arrangements.
• Family involvement and settling. Parents are welcomed as activity helpers and committee members, and short trial visits support settling. Use a visit to discuss the contribution that fits your family and how introductory sessions would work for your child.

Polstead suits families seeking term-time morning sessions, afternoon sessions or a combined preschool day, with opportunities to contribute to a parent committee setting. Woodwork, the herb garden, animal encounters and Tapestry give the offer substance. The learning improvements identified in March 2023 and the need for clear contract terms deserve attention before committing.