First Step Pre-School

A caravan, a dome and a mud kitchen give First Step Pre-School's garden plenty of character. Based on the Crossways Infant School site in Thornbury, this independent pre-school combines outdoor exploration with an emphasis on children doing things for themselves, from choosing activities to managing coats and shoes.

At its December 2021 inspection, Ofsted judged the provision Good and safeguarding effective, and found that children, including those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), made good progress. That is a dated judgement. The two improvement priorities from that visit concerned staff understanding of the key-person role and consistent teaching about healthy food choices.

Children can attend from 2 to 5 years old, and there are 38 places in total. The attendance choices include mornings, afternoons and, for older children, an all-day session, with separately paid extensions around the core day.

A volunteer management committee supports the running of this charitable setting. Parents and carers can take part in that work, giving families a practical route to contribute beyond their own child's daily attendance.

Learning and Activities

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) provides the educational framework: children learn through play while developing language, movement, social skills, early literacy and mathematics, and their understanding of the world. Here, adult-planned activities sit alongside children's own choices, and practitioners use children's interests to extend what they explore next.

Sessions mix children of different ages. Activities involve small and large groups. For parents, the useful distinction is between the age-based attendance options and the shared play experience within those sessions.

In December 2021, the curiosity approach used everyday objects for imaginative play. Adult-sized clothing, shoes and suitcases helped children act out familiar experiences, giving staff insights into their interests for subsequent planning.

In December 2021, children discussed One Snowy Night through open questions and accompanied seasonal songs with signing. A weekly language and confidence group provided targeted support.

Current planning includes numeracy and language, with children encouraged to ask questions as play develops.

Outdoor and Community Life

Children can play outdoors in all weather. The garden's caravan, dome and mud kitchen offer places to explore, alongside forest and woodwork activities. Families pack wellies and weather-appropriate clothing for participation.

In December 2021, children collected leaves and sticks for pretend cooking in the mud kitchen and investigated texture through foam play. Baking was offered daily at that time. Those examples connect physical exploration with imaginative activity, although the healthy-eating improvement point means food experiences deserve attention as well as enthusiasm.

Thornbury Round Table contributed towards the garden development project in January 2024, connecting local community support with the outdoor space.

Relationships and Communication

Each child has a key person to support settling and participation. Families are invited to a welcome visit before starting and settling sessions after admission is confirmed, helping children become familiar with staff and the setting.

Tapestry, the electronic learning diary, makes communication two-way. Parents can comment on observations uploaded by staff and add experiences from home for their child's key person to see. This gives practitioners information about life beyond the session, while parents have a way to follow learning and contribute to it.

The December 2021 improvement priority concerned staff understanding of key-person information sharing, including at transitions. Alongside the diary, families need clear communication with the adult coordinating their child's care.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

SEND support has a defined structure. A SEND coordinator works with the manager and key person, while SEND support plans organise planning, implementation and review. Parents are involved throughout assessment and support, and liaison with other professionals, including transfer arrangements, requires written parental consent.

At the December 2021 inspection, Ofsted found that assessment informed individual support and that the SEND coordinator worked with families and professionals to secure early intervention, including through the weekly language and confidence group.

Independence is taught through ordinary tasks. Children practise dressing, washing hands, sharing and taking turns, and families receive suggestions for supporting preparation for school at home. Toilet training is not an entry requirement: staff work with parents on it, while families supply changing items when needed.

Snacks consist of fruit or vegetables with a carbohydrate option, and children choose when to eat; lunch comes from home in a packed lunch. The pre-school's policy excludes nuts and squash and takes dietary requirements into account when planning snacks.

Safeguarding arrangements include designated lead roles, staff training and checks for staff and volunteers. These are arrangements for handling responsibilities, rather than a fresh judgement about effectiveness. The current team also includes a SEND role, and early years practitioners have paediatric first-aid training.

Sessions and Attendance

The address is Crossways Infants, Knapp Road, Thornbury, Bristol, BS35 2HQ. Core pre-school attendance is term-time, Monday to Friday, with different options according to age.

For two-year-olds, the choices are a morning from 9am to noon or an afternoon from 12.45pm to 3.15pm. Three- and four-year-olds can use those patterns too, extend the morning through lunch club to 12.30pm, or attend all day from 9am to 3.15pm. The distinction matters for lunch planning: the shorter morning finishes before the lunch-club option.

Separately paid extensions run before pre-school from 8am to 9am and afterwards from 3.15pm to 4.30pm, Monday to Thursday; the Friday afternoon extension finishes at 4pm. Extended sessions are for children aged three and over. Holiday club runs from 9am to 3pm, with the aim of operating in February, October and four summer weeks, subject to demand and staffing.

Applications use an admissions form submitted to crossways@firststeppreschool.co.uk. Children join the waiting list, with admission points in September, January and April; agreed sessions are confirmed by email. Session changes are restricted to those same three points in the year, and withdrawing a child requires four weeks' term-time notice.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded childcare includes eligible two-year-old funding, the 15-hour entitlement for three- and four-year-olds, and 30 hours for eligible families. Delivery is term-time, with the funding policy describing up to 38 weeks a year. Funding applies within core hours, from 9am to 3.15pm; extended sessions and holiday club are paid separately.

The pre-school handles the initial 15-hour funding application for three- and four-year-olds, while parents apply for and manage the additional entitlement. Private hours beyond funded entitlement are invoiced by email each term. Current prices come in the pre-school's written quotation; the funding and fees page explains the charge structure.

For funded and privately paid attendance, families provide packed lunches and personal consumables, including nappies, wipes, nappy bags and sun lotion when needed. Fundraising helps pay for resources and experiences, rather than an additional consumables or sundries charge to parents.

Sharing a school site does not change the admissions position. First Step is independent of the local primary schools, and attendance does not guarantee a place at Crossways Infants School. Families apply through South Gloucestershire Council in the autumn before their child starts school.

• Age determines the day. Two-year-olds have morning or afternoon options, while all-day attendance and extended sessions are for older children. At a visit, discuss how the mixed-age session and settling plan would work for your child.
• Core funding has boundaries. Extensions and holiday club require separate payment, and holiday provision depends on demand and staffing. Build those conditions into your childcare budget and holiday planning.
• Key-person communication and food choices. December 2021 improvement priorities addressed information sharing and healthy-eating messages. Ask how those responsibilities now work in daily practice; allergy-affected families should also confirm current food arrangements.
• A school site is not a school place. Crossways Infants School admission follows the council process. Choosing this pre-school still leaves a separate application to make.

First Step suits families seeking morning or afternoon pre-school sessions, as well as those wanting an all-day core session for an older child. The caravan, dome and mud kitchen give outdoor play tangible variety, while Tapestry and the key-person system provide clear routes for communication.

The Good December 2021 judgement provides a positive, dated assessment, with improvement priorities concerning communication and healthy eating. The practical fit rests on age-based session choices, term-time funding and separately paid extensions, rather than assuming one attendance pattern works for every child.