Etwall Preschool

Community participation gives Etwall Preschool its character: parents can volunteer alongside children, contribute to development records and help shape the setting through feedback. Based at Frank Wickham Hall in Etwall, it operates as a Community Interest Company, with profits and assets retained for community benefit. This is a preschool where family involvement has practical substance.

Ofsted rated the setting Good at its June 2021 inspection. Etwall has capacity for 26 children, and its care and education are intended for children over two who have not reached school age. Morning sessions run throughout the working week, with afternoon sessions on Monday, Thursday and Friday.

Play provides the route into the Early Years Foundation Stage: children develop communication, physical skills and relationships alongside early literacy, mathematics and creative exploration. Planning takes account of individual development rather than expecting children to progress together. For parents, the important link is between what a child enjoys doing and the skills that activity helps them practise.

Messy exploration is part of the experience, so washable clothes are a practical choice. Independence also reaches into everyday routines: clothing that children can manage themselves helps them practise using the toilet and putting outdoor clothes on and taking them off. These small tasks give school preparation a concrete meaning.

Development files connect activities with progress. Staff use them to follow each child's development and adjust provision, while parents can add their own contributions. The files can also accompany a child to school when required, giving the next setting information about their learning rather than relying solely on a fresh start.

Membership of the Early Years Alliance sits alongside staff training through the Early Years Partnership with Derbyshire County Council. Training needs are discussed during annual appraisals. These are practical links supporting staff development; the curriculum itself remains centred on play and each child's next steps.

Settling is treated as a joint effort between parents and staff, with recognition that some children need longer to feel comfortable. That matters for a child who is hesitant about joining a group: the approach allows for different starting points rather than presenting confidence as an immediate expectation.

An additional-needs co-ordinator shares current information with colleagues, and staff have experience working with professionals to support children with additional needs. Parents can discuss their child's circumstances with the supervisor. This gives families a defined route into a conversation about support, rather than a general promise that every need will be met.

Parents can consult the preschool's policies at any time, with copies on the notice board. Regular policy reviews welcome comments and suggestions from families, giving parents another way to contribute beyond their own child's development file. Directors oversee reviews of policy and practice and the employment of staff. Family participation therefore includes both conversations about individual children and opportunities to comment on how the group works.

Collection is also a communication opportunity. Parents are asked to finish calls and put phones away before reaching the door, allowing staff to share updates and complete the handover with their attention. The expectation is specific and useful: the conversation about the child's day takes priority.

Each session includes a snack offering, with milk or water and a fruit or vegetable option; drinking water remains accessible throughout. Morning snacks and extra activities carry a separate charge. Children who are unwell should stay at home, including when medicine has been given to make attendance possible.

Sessions and Attendance

The address is Frank Wickham Hall, Portland Street, Etwall, DE65 6JF. Morning sessions run from 9am to noon, Monday to Friday; afternoon sessions run from noon to 3pm on Monday, Thursday and Friday. Attendance must cover at least two sessions each week, so the booking decision involves both the preferred days and a recurring weekly commitment.

Paid sessions are billed in advance for each half-term. Charges continue during short absences or absence without notice, which matters when budgeting for weeks in which a child cannot attend. Enquiries can be made by telephone on 07895 398263.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded childcare includes 15 hours of universal funding for three- and four-year-olds from the term after their third birthday, extended to 30 hours in total for eligible working families. Funding for eligible working parents of two-year-olds is also offered. Eligibility is conditional, and parents need to apply for their code in the preceding term and maintain their eligibility checks each term.

Tax-Free Childcare payments are accepted. Morning snacks and extra activities are charged separately from session fees, so families should distinguish those costs from their childcare hours. Current prices come in the preschool's written quotation.

• A recurring session commitment. The minimum is two sessions per week, and afternoons operate on three named weekdays. At a visit, discuss how your preferred combination fits your child's routine.
• Settling and additional needs. Settling can take longer for some children, and an additional-needs co-ordinator provides a contact structure. Discuss how staff would plan the first sessions around your child's circumstances.
• Charges beyond childcare hours. Morning snacks and extra activities have a separate charge. Ask how those charges apply to your proposed funded or paid attendance.
• The inspection date. The Good judgement dates from June 2021. Use a visit to explore how current planning and parent communication work in practice.

Etwall Preschool suits families seeking morning sessions or afternoon attendance on Monday, Thursday and Friday, with an active role in their child's preschool experience. Parent contributions to development files, opportunities to volunteer and a gradual approach to settling give that involvement substance. The two-session minimum and separately charged morning extras are the practical points to weigh against the pattern your family needs.