Fernlea Community Pre-School

A purpose-built building with its own grounds gives Fernlea Community Pre-School a clear identity within the Fernhill School site in Farnborough. Play, social confidence and preparation for the next stage of education shape its offer. This is provision for children from two, rather than a nursery spanning the baby years.

Ofsted rated the setting Good on 12 January 2023. Its capacity is 40 children, with a current age range of two to five. That total describes the whole setting, rather than the size of a room or the number attending together.

The January 2023 picture was of children moving confidently between indoor and outdoor play, sharing imaginative activities and practising independence. There were also clear priorities for further work: broader mathematical learning and more targeted staff development. Both matter alongside the positive overall judgement.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage provides the framework for children's learning, development and care: play and everyday experiences support communication, physical development and growing independence. Fernlea's emphasis on learning through play fits that foundation, with social and emotional development woven into preparation for infant or primary school.

In January 2023, a reptile book prompted children to talk about snakes and the reasons chameleons change colour. Staff extended the conversation from children's interests, making a shared book an opportunity to explore ideas rather than simply identify pictures. Stories and accompanying props also introduced new vocabulary. These examples give parents a useful picture of learning that starts with curiosity and conversation.

Number games featured in January 2023, but mathematical experiences needed to reach further into shape, measurement and size. Counting was only part of the task. For parents, the practical distinction is between children practising numbers and having opportunities to compare, describe and investigate the properties of things around them.

Outdoor and Community Life

In January 2023, the mud kitchen supported collaborative pretend cooking. Children carried soil and natural materials into pans, negotiated what to make and used pictured instructions and recipes. Imaginative play brought cooperation and early reading together in one activity.

Large tyres, balls and hoops offered another kind of challenge that January, with children persisting at moving tyres across the outdoor area. Planting fruit and vegetable seeds connected play with an understanding of food. The outdoor space therefore supported several kinds of experience, from movement to making and growing.

Fernlea also has a history of family fundraising events. On 23rd June 2019, Happy's Circus provided a show in which children and parents participated; The Imperial Outlanders helped publicise and support the day. This was a past community occasion, rather than a description of today's activity timetable.

At its January 2023 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, making good progress from their individual starting points. This is a dated assessment of care and support, with useful detail behind it.

In January 2023, staff identified children needing extra help, agreed support plans promptly and worked with other professionals. Visual resources helped communication where language presented a barrier, including for children learning English as an additional language. These were concrete support mechanisms, rather than a general promise of inclusion.

Everyday independence was also visible that January: older children managed coats and boots themselves, while younger newcomers sought assistance when they needed it. Staff explained personal safety calmly, including why running indoors was inappropriate. The emphasis was on helping children understand an instruction as well as follow it.

Nutritious snacks and conversations about healthy choices formed part of the January 2023 day. Staff performance was discussed and monitored then, but identifying individual training needs needed more attention. For families, that makes ongoing coaching a useful subject to explore alongside the examples of responsive interaction.

Fernlea occupies its own building and grounds within Fernhill School, on Neville Duke Road, Farnborough, Hampshire GU14 9BY. The preschool telephone number is 01276 36836.

Sessions and Attendance

Opening hours are 8.30am to 3.30pm, Monday to Friday, during term time; the preschool closes for school holidays. Families arranging childcare around work need to account for both the afternoon finish and holiday cover.

Funding and Paid Extras

In January 2023, Fernlea received early education funding for children aged two, three and four. That establishes its participation at that date, rather than a current entitlement or charging arrangement.

Its position on the Fernhill School site should not be read as securing a Reception place. Attending a school's nursery does not guarantee admission to Reception.

• Mathematics beyond counting. January 2023 priorities included shape, size and measurement. On a visit, ask how these now feature in play and planned activities.
• Staff coaching. More precise identification of training needs was a January 2023 priority. Ask how practitioners receive coaching and how its effect on children's learning is assessed.
• Term-time logistics. The 3.30pm finish and school-holiday closures need to fit the family's working week. Discuss the intended attendance pattern and request a written quotation covering funded hours, food and non-food consumables.

Fernlea suits families seeking term-time preschool from age two, with play and preparation for the next educational stage central to the offer. Its own building and grounds give that work a practical setting. The January 2023 account adds examples of imaginative cooperation, language development and independence; mathematics and staff coaching remain the key questions to take into a visit.