Hampton in Arden Pre-School

Logs, countryside walks and a visiting farmer’s lambs give Hampton in Arden Pre-School a recognisably village character. In November 2024, these experiences brought the natural world into children’s play, alongside construction, storytelling and practical independence. The outdoor space matters here.

Ofsted rated the pre-school Outstanding at its 14 November 2024 inspection. It has 24 places in total and serves children from two years old until school age, with a charitable, not-for-profit structure and a committee drawn from local parents. This is a small village setting with opportunities for families to contribute to its running.

The current opening window is 8:30am to 12:15pm, Monday to Thursday. That makes its practical shape quite different from a nursery offering care throughout the working day.

Learning and Activities

The Early Years Foundation Stage guides learning through play, with experiences supporting children’s development. Here, children’s interests help shape the activities: the intention is to build learning around what captures their attention rather than give every child an identical task.

In November 2024, children explored numbers through sticks and leaves, while working dough exercised the small movements needed for early writing. These were hands-on ways into learning. A child could investigate quantities while making a mud cake, or practise finger control while shaping something of their own.

Imaginative play also gave learning a purpose in November 2024. Children operated a pretend farm shop, handling purchases and using a till; elsewhere, a bridge built from soft bricks became part of Billy Goats Gruff. The story provided a reason to construct, balance and work together. Staff supported the children’s ideas rather than taking over the activity.

Outdoor and Community Life

The garden is used daily, with climbing frames and balancing equipment among the resources supported by the consumables charge. The charge also supports mud kitchen play. A nearby park, lake and woodland extend the possibilities for exploring beyond the pre-school’s outdoor area. These surroundings give outdoor play more scope than a single set of fixed equipment.

In November 2024, children moved planks and crates, searched beneath logs and learnt words for the creatures they discovered. Physical effort and conversation happened together. Countryside walks, a farmer bringing lambs and fundraising with community organisations also connected the children’s experiences to village life. These are examples from that period, rather than a fixed timetable of outings or visitors.

Relationships and Communication

A Key Person system provides a consistent relationship between each child, their family and a member of staff. Parents, carers and professionals are encouraged to share input about the child’s pre-school experience. That gives home knowledge a place in the pre-school day.

In November 2024, communication included detailed feedback from children’s key people and activities linking home with the setting. The learning library provided another connection, alongside a bear taken home by children. These gave families something concrete around which to share their child’s experiences.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

Support is planned around observation of each child’s abilities and needs, and the staff structure includes a SENCo role. Experiences are adapted with different levels of help so that children can participate. The level of support is specific to the child.

At the November 2024 inspection, Ofsted judged safeguarding effective and found that staff’s knowledge of individual children informed their teaching, with professional partnerships helping children receive support. In that month, everyday independence included pouring drinks, putting on wellington boots and managing belongings; staff allowed time for children to attempt tasks themselves. Care was expressed through those small opportunities to practise.

Sessions and Attendance

The pre-school opens on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, from 8:30am until 12:15pm. In November 2024, it operated during term time. The early finish is an important consideration for families organising work and care around the pre-school day.

The address is Scout & Guide HQ, Shadow Brook Lane, Hampton-in-Arden, Solihull, B92 0DQ. Enquiries can be made by telephone or email.

Funding and Paid Extras

In November 2024, the pre-school provided funded early education for children aged two, three and four. Current prices come in the nursery’s written quotation.

Food and non-food essentials are covered by a separate consumables charge. This pays for breakfast and morning snacks, with food preparation taking account of dietary needs and allergies; breakfast starts from 8:30am. The same charge covers items such as wipes, creams and spare clothing, as well as creative materials and outdoor resources. Families should consider the charge alongside the attendance costs when comparing the overall arrangement.

The charge also supports celebrations, science experiments, singing and dancing, and gifts associated with birthdays and leaving. These are part of its charge structure, rather than separately described optional clubs.

• An early finish. Opening ends at 12:15pm and runs Monday to Thursday. Families needing care later in the day should weigh that timetable against their working arrangements.
• Food and everyday supplies. The separate consumables charge covers snacks, breakfast and non-food essentials. For a child with allergies, confirm how current food preparation and sensory-play materials accommodate their needs.
• Learning beyond the garden. The park, lake and woodland are part of the pre-school’s surroundings. On a visit, ask how outings and outdoor exploration are organised for your child’s stage of development.

Hampton in Arden Pre-School suits families seeking a village pre-school with morning opening, daily garden use and a parent role in its charitable organisation. The November 2024 judgement gives a strong quality reference, while the practical examples from that period show children learning through stories, construction, nature and everyday tasks. The decision rests on whether its short opening day fits family life, alongside the separate charge for food and consumables.