Cranmore & Doulting Preschool

A village-hall base and an age range starting at two define Cranmore & Doulting Preschool's offer. Based at Memorial Hall in West Cranmore, it welcomes children aged two to four, with 24 places in total across the preschool. Its scale and age range make it a setting for families seeking preschool provision rather than care from infancy.

At the November 2022 inspection, Ofsted rated the preschool Good and judged its safeguarding arrangements effective. The detail behind that judgement matters: children explored activities independently, staff used play to introduce mathematical ideas, and everyday routines gave children opportunities to do things for themselves. Those observations describe November 2022, rather than a fresh assessment of today's practice.

Opening hours are 9am to 3pm, Monday to Friday, during term time. Funded early education is accepted, and families bring food and personal-care supplies.

Learning and Activities

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) shapes the curriculum, with planning spanning its seven areas of learning. In parent language, this means play supports different aspects of development together, rather than treating early education as a sequence of formal lessons. Children learn through play at their own pace, with themes and planning covering all seven areas of learning.

At the November 2022 inspection, Ofsted found that children progressed well in mathematics and that curriculum planning responded to individual interests and learning needs, while identifying weaker opportunities for older children to connect letters with sounds. That combination gives parents a useful distinction: practical number work was a strength, but early reading preparation needed more attention.

The November 2022 activities make that distinction concrete. Children added sand to a jug on large weighing scales, watched the dial and adjusted the contents to reach a target number. Baking brought another opportunity to weigh ingredients and recognise numbers. These were hands-on ways to connect a number with something children could change themselves.

Painting, dough play and a home corner also featured in November 2022. Adults joined children at their level and put words to their actions during play. The physical resources supported both independent exploration and conversation, rather than leaving language learning to a separate activity.

Outdoor and Community Life

A garden formed part of the November 2022 routine. Children located their own outdoor clothes and changed footwear when coming back inside, linking outdoor play with manageable tasks they could tackle themselves.

For today's attendance, families bring wellies and either a waterproof coat or puddle suit. That is a practical preparation point: outdoor clothing belongs in the preschool kit alongside spare clothes, rather than being reserved for an occasional special day.

Settling and communication were closely connected in November 2022. Staff gathered information from parents about children's interests and learning, then used it to plan support and help children settle. Individual books carried daily learning information home, giving families something concrete to build on outside preschool.

Current SEND arrangements centre on a SENCO working with parents and staff to identify extra support needs. Plans are then used to monitor the child's progress. This is a clear mechanism for discussing a concern and following what happens next; it does not depend on a general promise that every need will be met in the same way.

Safeguarding lead and deputy roles are identified within the team, alongside first-aid roles. These roles sit within the current staffing structure.

Families supply a lunch box with a snack and a water bottle. They also bring sunscreen and, where needed, nappies, wipes and bags; sunscreen should be applied before preschool on sunny days.

Sessions and Attendance

The preschool operates during term time, with weekday opening hours of 9am to 3pm. This is a clear fit for families whose childcare needs follow the term-time calendar and finish within that window. It needs to sit comfortably alongside working hours and care outside term time.

Enquiries can be made by email or through the contact form. Telephone contact is restricted to preschool hours, and email may receive a quicker response. That makes email a useful first route for families organising enrolment around their own working day.

Getting There

The address is Memorial Hall, West Cranmore, Shepton Mallet, BA4 4QJ. The hall is the preschool's base, so use that address when planning the practicalities of attendance.

Funding and Paid Extras

The preschool accepts grants for children aged two, three and four, together with 30-hour funding, and operates on a term-time basis. Paid childcare is also offered; current prices come in the preschool's written quotation.

Families provide meals, snacks and the personal-care items described above, including for funded attendance. There are no additional fees apart from uniform costs. Keeping food, spare clothes and weather-appropriate clothing ready is therefore part of the family's routine, alongside arranging the childcare itself.

• Early reading and independence. November 2022 improvement priorities covered letter-sound connections and children's own hygiene tasks. At a visit, ask how both are now built into ordinary play and personal care.
• Term-time planning. Weekday opening runs from 9am to 3pm during term time. How can attendance be booked within that window, and how would the pattern fit your working week?
• Food and changing supplies. Families bring lunch, a snack and personal-care items. Build these into the daily packing routine, including nappies and wipes if your child needs them.

Cranmore & Doulting Preschool suits families seeking term-time preschool for a two-, three- or four-year-old, with a village-hall base and a manageable daytime window. Its November 2022 picture combined practical learning, independent play and close communication with families. The useful balance is clear: mathematical experiences were a strength, while early literacy and personal hygiene independence deserved further work. Those priorities give a visit a purposeful starting point.