Crossbow Preschool CIO

Wooden-brick construction, imaginative play and woodland outings shaped Crossbow Preschool CIO's day at its March 2023 inspection. At its March 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated the preschool Good and judged safeguarding effective. The strongest examples were practical: children talked through their creations, negotiated turns and used the garden for active play.

Based at St. Peters Hall in Frampton Cotterell, the preschool accepts children aged 30 to 60 months and has 29 places in total. It opens during term time, making the school-holiday break an important consideration for working families.

In March 2023, children chose activities independently, with staff extending their thinking through questions. Wooden bricks prompted conversations about shapes; play dough led to discussion of dolphins and other sea animals. These examples connect hands-on exploration with language, rather than treating conversation as a separate activity.

The early years foundation stage sets the framework for children's learning, development and care. Here, the March 2023 examples show learning through construction, imaginative play and physical activity. In the home corner, children worked together to care for a pretend baby, giving their play a shared purpose.

Outdoor experiences added another dimension in March 2023. Children rode trikes and assembled garden obstacle courses from blocks and large shapes. Muddy Mondays took them to the woods to explore a different environment, extending their experiences beyond the preschool's play space.

In March 2023, key-person relationships gave children a familiar adult to approach for reassurance. Staff combined information from parents with assessments to adapt teaching to individual children. Parents received information about learning and ways to continue it at home, and could participate as parent helpers.

At the March 2023 inspection, Ofsted found that children with SEND were generally supported through work with parents and outside agencies, but asked for more consistent help with understanding and managing emotions during changes between activities. This is a specific concern for families whose children find transitions difficult.

Everyday cooperation also featured in March 2023. When two children wanted the same doll's pram, they used a sand timer to agree when to exchange turns. The example shows children practising a concrete way to settle a disagreement.

The address is St. Peters Hall, School Road, Frampton Cotterell, Bristol, BS36 2DA. Opening hours are 9am to 3pm, Monday to Friday, during term time; the preschool closes for school holidays. That calendar needs to fit alongside a family's work and other childcare arrangements.

• Support during transitions. The March 2023 improvement point concerned emotional support for children with SEND when activities changed. At a visit, ask how staff now prepare children for these moments and agree strategies with parents.
• Term-time calendar. School-holiday closures are part of the attendance arrangement. Families needing care throughout the year will need to plan around those breaks.

Crossbow suits families seeking term-time preschool care, with construction, pretend play and outdoor exploration prominent in its March 2023 daily life. Its Good judgement provides a positive inspection foundation. For families considering SEND support, the most useful next step is a detailed discussion about transitions and emotional regulation.