Cholsey Pre-School

An allotment, sign language and ambitious block-building give Cholsey Pre-School’s November 2021 picture its character. Children grew food, communicated their snack choices through signs and turned wooden blocks into a bus. Practical experiences carried the learning.

Ofsted rated the setting Outstanding on 25 November 2021, finding excellent teaching and rapid, sustained progress, including for children learning English as an additional language. The pre-school has capacity for 24 children in total; children attending in November 2021 were aged two to four. That age range describes the children at that time.

The early years foundation stage sets the framework for children’s learning, development and care: here, the November 2021 examples connected play with language, mathematical ideas and independence. During construction, staff introduced vocabulary for shapes, helping children explore the difference between flat and solid forms. Building a bus together also gave children a shared task, with adults extending their ideas about its compartments.

In November 2021, children visited the allotment weekly, cared for vegetables and plants, and returned with produce to share. Trips also took them to nearby parks and shops. These experiences linked learning to growing food and everyday community life, rather than keeping it entirely within the setting.

Sign language had a practical purpose in November 2021: children used it to request milk and bananas. Choosing and serving themselves drinks gave them another manageable responsibility. Small routines mattered alongside the larger activities.

In November 2021, staff gathered detailed information from parents and took time to understand each child. Observations helped them identify learning gaps and plan a response. Children who struggled with behaviour received reassurance and targeted help, while books, songs and conversation supported communication.

At the November 2021 inspection, Ofsted judged safeguarding effective, highlighting staff’s understanding of concerns and reporting procedures, alongside children’s involvement in managing safety. Children used photographs to assess garden risks before outdoor play, making safety something they practised themselves.

Team development in November 2021 included training, mentoring, supervision and colleagues reviewing one another’s work. Additional funding supported children, with cooperation between the pre-school and other organisations contributing to that work.

The address is Cholsey CP School, Church Road, Cholsey, Wallingford, OX10 9PP. In November 2021, opening hours were 8am to 3.45pm, Monday to Friday during term time, and the setting received early-education funding for two-, three- and four-year-olds.

Children brought lunch boxes in November 2021. Mealtimes also provided opportunities to talk about food and experiences beyond the pre-school.

The pre-school operated within Cholsey Primary School in November 2021. Attending a nursery on a school site does not guarantee a Reception place; families still apply through the local authority admissions process.

• A dated picture. The Outstanding judgement dates to November 2021. At a visit, ask how the allotment, signing and construction activities fit into children’s day now.
• School-site expectations. Sharing Cholsey Primary School’s site does not secure admission to Reception. Treat the nursery choice and school application as separate decisions.

Cholsey Pre-School suits parents drawn to practical learning, growing food and children taking responsibility for small daily tasks. Its November 2021 picture combines ambitious language work with cooperative play and community experiences. The term-time opening pattern at that date is also relevant to families considering care around school terms.