Winterbourne Early Years Centre At St Michaels

Woodland play gives Rainbow Bears much of its character: charcoal drawing, balancing and learning to handle tools featured in children's experiences in July 2024. This is the St Michaels branch of Winterbourne Early Years Centre, with capacity for 18 children and care for three- and four-year-olds. Its school-site setting also brings a practical link to the next stage of childhood.

At the 10 July 2024 inspection, Ofsted rated the provision Good and found safeguarding effective. The important qualification was consistency: staff sometimes left planned elements out of activities, limiting how far they took children's learning. Outdoor experiences were a substantial part of the day, rather than simply a break between indoor activities.

Rainbow Bears occupies the St Michaels site; the centre's Little Bears and Big Bears rooms belong to its separate Greenfield site. Families can choose morning, afternoon or full-day sessions here, within a term-time calendar.

Rooms and Ages

Rainbow Bears serves three- and four-year-olds in an open-plan space with access to indoor and outdoor play, encouraging children to choose activities, manage their snack routines and practise doing things independently. Pouring drinks and tidying afterwards give independence an everyday purpose. Children also receive help with disagreements during play, connecting personal responsibility with sharing a room and resources.

The physical arrangement matters. Children can use both the inside and outside during their session, so outdoor exploration sits alongside their other choices. The whole setting's 18 places should be understood as its total capacity, rather than a promise about how many children attend a particular session.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage is the required framework for children's learning, development and care: here, play, conversation, practical tasks and exploration give children opportunities to develop those skills. Forest School adds outdoor learning through children's exploration, with adults guiding them and helping them consider safety. It is a centre-wide approach supporting its rooms, including Rainbow Bears.

In July 2024, children used charcoal for drawing during woodland sessions and built detailed block constructions incorporating figures and animals. Staff extended conversations with questions and helped children use a tablet to find information about animals while completing puzzles. These examples show different routes into learning: making something, discussing an idea and looking for an answer.

Mathematics also appeared in practical situations that July. Children counted their group, measured powder for hot chocolate and compared insects and objects using language about size and weight. Rather than keeping number work separate from play, these activities connected it with tasks children could see and carry out.

Outdoor and Community Life

In July 2024, woodland experiences included climbing, balancing and hammering nails into a log. Children also learned how to behave safely near a fire used to warm water. The adult guidance was attached to real situations, giving children opportunities to practise judgement as well as physical skills.

Preparing for those sessions involved putting on outdoor clothing, filling a water container and sharing the job of carrying it. These small responsibilities made participation part of the experience. A child was doing more than watching an adult organise an activity.

In July 2024, new children received flexible support, with activities adjusted to help them begin exploring. Staff spoke at children's level and helped them express what they wanted, handle strong feelings and share resources. After lunch, children could listen to a story or look through books together, providing a quieter part of the day.

At its July 2024 inspection, Ofsted found that assessment and discussions with parents informed children's next steps, with prompt additional help for developmental gaps, including support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. The practical mechanism was a child's focus week, alongside continuing assessment, rather than relying on a single conversation about progress.

Communication in July 2024 combined an online application, everyday conversations and longer meetings. Staff also helped parents continue learning at home and invited family members to participate in activities. This gave families several ways to discuss their child, from a quick exchange to a more detailed review.

School transition had a practical basis that July: staff collaborated with the school sharing the site, other schools and professionals supporting individual children. Information sharing and joint working supported the move onwards.

Sessions and Attendance

Morning sessions run from 9am to noon, afternoon sessions from noon to 3pm, and full-day sessions from 9am to 3pm. Opening days are Monday to Friday. The centre operates for 38 weeks each year during term time, and its dates can differ from those of nearby schools; bank holidays falling within term time are closures.

For Rainbow Bears children aged four and above, Trailblazers provides a separate after-school option run by St Michaels C of E Primary School. Nursery staff escort participating children across when the centre closes at 3pm and pass on relevant information. Families arrange that club directly with the school, so it needs to be treated as a separate booking.

Getting There

Rainbow Bears is at St Michaels C of E Primary School, Linden Close, Winterbourne, BS36 1LG. Enquiries go through the centre's contact route, by telephone on 01454 773781 or email at enquire@winterbournepreschool.co.uk.

The nursery shares the school site, but attending it does not guarantee a Reception place. Families still need to use the local authority admissions process for a state-school application.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded childcare is offered, and families using an entitlement code must supply it before their child starts. Hours outside funding are billed monthly; current prices come in the nursery's written quotation. The registration and funding information sets out that payment structure.

Parents supply food: a morning booking requires a drink bottle and snack, while a full-day booking requires a bottle and packed lunch. Children still using nappies need nappies and wipes from home, kept in their bag for use during the session.

• Consistency in learning. In July 2024, some planned group arrangements were not consistently used and opportunities to extend activities were missed. At a visit, ask how staff now carry plans through and build on children's ideas.
• The term-time calendar. The 38-week year and 3pm closing time shape the childcare commitment. Compare the centre's term dates with your working calendar, and discuss Trailblazers separately with the school if your child meets its age condition.
• Outdoor preparation. Woodland activities in July 2024 involved putting on outdoor clothing, climbing and tools. Ask what children currently need to bring and how staff introduce these experiences to a new child.

Rainbow Bears suits families seeking morning or afternoon preschool sessions, as well as those choosing a full day within term time. Its open-plan indoor and outdoor arrangement gives children practical choices, while the July 2024 woodland activities provide a concrete picture of learning through responsibility and exploration.

The Good judgement provides a positive inspection position, with consistency in extending activities the clear point to probe. The school-site connection supports transition and offers a separately arranged after-school route for eligible children, while Reception admission remains a separate application.