Cambourne Pre-School

Parent participation has a practical role at Cambourne Pre-School: families contribute to children's learning records, help with sessions and support nature walks and library visits. This is a setting where home interests can shape what happens next in children's learning, rather than remaining separate from the pre-school day.

At its January 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated the pre-school Good and judged safeguarding effective. The setting has 36 places in total, and accepts children aged two to four. Its base is The Blue School on Eastgate in Great Cambourne.

Morning and afternoon sessions run during term time. That makes the attendance pattern an important part of the decision, alongside the key-person system and the opportunities for parents to contribute.

Rooms and Ages

Sunshine Room and Rainbow Room are the named rooms. Across the setting, activities are adapted to children's interests and stage of development, rather than assuming that children of the same age will learn at the same pace.

The Early Years Foundation Stage guides learning: children build language, movement and social skills through play, alongside early experiences of numbers, reading, creative expression and the world around them. This is the shared early-years framework, while the choice of activities gives the day its character. The learning and care approach also makes parents' knowledge of their children part of planning.

Learning and Activities

In January 2023, ice offered a concrete starting point for exploration. Children tried different ways of releasing objects trapped inside it, while adults drew attention to the water that appeared as it melted. The activity connected hands-on investigation with conversation about change. Younger children also spent time with cars and toys that responded to buttons with sounds or moving balls.

Books and singing featured in the January 2023 day, with adults introducing vocabulary during play. These are useful examples of how an ordinary activity can become a language opportunity: the conversation around an experiment matters alongside the experiment itself.

Outdoor and Community Life

The outdoor area supported music and movement in January 2023, including a piano and bells. Obstacle courses gave children opportunities to practise balancing and judging gaps, with some asking adults to time another attempt. Physical play had a clear challenge to work towards.

Nature walks and library visits extend activities beyond the grounds. Parents help make these outings possible, with one adult accompanying two children outside the pre-school. That is an outing arrangement, rather than a statement about staffing inside the rooms. Families who enjoy contributing time have a specific way to take part.

Relationships and Communication

Each child has a key person who works with parents on their needs and interests. Observations, photographs and videos inform learning records and the next steps staff plan. Parents contribute information about activities at home, so a child's interests can be followed across both settings.

Assessment summaries are made periodically and at transitions, including the move to school. The written progress check at age two draws on everyday observations and contributions from parents and other professionals. This gives communication a purpose beyond exchanging daily news: it helps adults decide what support or challenge comes next.

Settling is treated as an individual process. Some children adjust quickly; others need longer to become comfortable with unfamiliar routines. Introductory meet-and-greet sessions let children meet staff and explore the space before starting. In January 2023, key people helped newer children build security, while children also offered comfort and practical help to one another with outdoor clothing.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

At the January 2023 inspection, Ofsted found that staff supported communication through visual cues and simple signs, monitored development and involved other professionals when additional help was needed. Current arrangements include a special educational needs coordinator role, consultation with parents about developmental concerns and parental consent before seeking further professional advice.

Allergy arrangements require families to explain their child's triggers and treatment procedures, supply a hospital management plan where applicable, and complete permission paperwork for medication kept on site. If a child becomes unwell during a session, parents are contacted to collect them.

In January 2023, children brought lunch boxes, and adults encouraged handwashing and eating savoury food before sweet items. The emphasis was on everyday habits children could begin to manage themselves.

Sessions and Attendance

The address is The Blue School, Eastgate, Great Cambourne, Cambridge, CB23 6DZ. Morning sessions run from 9am to noon and afternoon sessions from noon to 3pm, Monday to Friday, during term time. The current opening window is 9am to 3pm on those weekdays.

Joining starts with an application to the waiting list; the pre-school contacts families when it can offer a place. The office can be reached on 01954 715150 or at office@cambournepreschool.org.uk. A registration charge is added to the first invoice, but is waived when the child takes any funded sessions with the pre-school.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded childcare is offered during term time. The entitlements described are 15 hours for eligible two-year-olds and three- and four-year-olds, and 30 hours for eligible working parents of children aged two, three or four. Funding depends on the relevant eligibility requirements; families using an existing 30-hour code must reconfirm it every three months.

Paid sessions are also offered. Invoices arrive at the start of the month for that month's attendance and payment is due within seven days. Charges still apply to booked sessions missed through illness or holidays. Current prices come in the pre-school's written quotation; the funding and fees information explains the payment structure.

• Term-time attendance. Morning and afternoon sessions serve different parts of the day, but both follow a term-time model. On a tour, discuss how the session routine would fit your child's start and your family's working pattern.
• Consistency and staff development. The January 2023 improvement priorities concerned helping children handle resources respectfully and extending development opportunities for less-experienced staff. Ask how these priorities now shape everyday practice.
• Parent-supported outings. Nature walks and library visits depend on parental help, with one adult accompanying two children outside the grounds. Consider whether contributing to these activities would be practical for your family.
• The full cost of attendance. Missed paid sessions remain chargeable, while the registration charge is waived for children taking funded sessions. What would your chosen pattern cost in total, including any meals and consumables?

Cambourne Pre-School suits families seeking either morning or afternoon attendance during term time, especially those who want an active role in their child's early learning. The key-person system, shared learning records and parent-supported outings give that involvement a practical shape.

The January 2023 picture included hands-on exploration, outdoor challenges and supportive relationships, alongside specific improvement priorities for staff practice. Choose it for the session pattern and partnership model, with those priorities forming part of the conversation before joining.