Jellytots Pre-School

A small mobile building, favourite stories and parents helping to run the playgroup give Jellytots Pre-School its character. Within Brook Field Primary School in Shaw, West Swindon, it caters for children aged 3 to 5 and has 16 places in total.

At its March 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated Jellytots Good and judged safeguarding effective. Helping every child participate in group activities was the improvement point. Morning and afternoon sessions run during term time.

Learning and Activities

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) provides the framework for learning, development and care: children learn through play, with attention to language, relationships, movement and early understanding of reading and number. Jellytots plans experiences around children's interests and developmental stages. Staff observe what children can do and use this to decide what to introduce next, rather than expecting everyone to work at the same pace.

Handa’s Surprise and The Gruffalo belong to the core selection shared with children, alongside traditional stories and nursery rhymes. Using these titles at home gives families familiar material for retelling stories and joining in rhymes.

In March 2023, circle time included conversations about the weather and a weekly sound, with children connecting that sound to words. During a rhyming story, children anticipated what might happen and supplied missing words. Peg-board pattern making provided a different kind of concentration, combining attention to patterns with practice using small movements of the hands.

Outdoor and Everyday Learning

Children can choose outdoor activities as well as join experiences led by adults. The balance between choosing an activity and following a shared task also shapes indoor sessions: children have opportunities to pursue something to completion, alongside small-group and larger-group work.

In March 2023, garden play included a pretend shark game around the climbing frame, bringing balance, climbing and imagination together. Children also tended chicks and discussed their needs for food and warmth. These were hands-on ways to explore movement and animal care, rather than lessons confined to conversation.

Independence has everyday outlets too. Children organise coats and bags beneath their keyworker animal, retrieve their own snacks and put water bottles in the rack, with adult supervision. Easy-to-manage clothes help children practise toileting and dressing for outdoor play. These are modest tasks, but they make the preschool day a place to rehearse doing things for oneself.

Relationships and Communication

Every child has a key person who works with the family and adapts opportunities to individual needs. Staff plan settling with parents, who stay during induction while their child plays and gets to know the key person.

Informal conversations sit alongside written assessments three times a year and termly activity updates through a private Facebook group. Parents contribute home observations through the Achievement Diary and discuss records of achievement at parent interviews, connecting learning at home and playgroup.

Parents can contribute skills and interests to activities. An elected parent committee oversees finances, staffing and policies, with an Annual General Meeting each October: a formal way for families to help shape the setting.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

At its March 2023 inspection, Ofsted found that children with SEND and children learning English as an additional language received strong support, including joint work with families and outside agencies and the use of pictured audiobooks and visual prompts. Those observations belong to that visit; the current support arrangements include a SENCO role, individual educational plans and liaison with other professionals.

Parents are involved throughout assessment, planning and review, including transfer arrangements with other settings and schools. This gives families a way to review support as needs change.

Physical access is a substantial limitation. The mobile's restricted space makes full access difficult for wheelchair users, and it has no disabled or changing facilities.

A designated safeguarding lead and deputy have defined responsibilities, and the safeguarding policy provides for paediatric first-aid cover whenever children are present, during eating and on outings. Staff qualifications include a Foundation Degree in Early Years and NVQ 3 in Child Care Learning and Development.

Children bring a healthy snack and water bottle for each session. The allergy policy sets out a nut-free rule, individual risk assessments and healthcare plans, with parents explaining how any emergency medication should be administered.

Sessions and Attendance

Jellytots is at Brookfield School, Cartwright Drive, Shaw, Swindon, SN5 5SB, in a small brown mobile beside the main school reception. Morning Sessions run from 8.45am to 11.45am; Afternoon Sessions run from 12.30pm to 3.30pm, Monday to Friday. It operates for 38 weeks during school terms and closes for school holidays. Families need to plan around both the session boundaries and those closures.

The admissions policy prefers a minimum of three sessions to help staff understand a child's progress. This is a preference rather than an absolute minimum: fewer sessions may be considered in particular circumstances, including where a child has no other placement. Parents' preferred sessions are taken into account when an offer is made.

Registration of interest can begin from birth, which is separate from the age at which children attend. The registration form enters a child into the admissions process, and completing it does not guarantee a place. Sessions are allocated by age first and registration date second. Admissions enquiries go to jellytots_rolls@hotmail.co.uk.

An unarranged absence lasting a month or longer can lead to forfeiture of a funded or privately paid place. Families planning extended time away need an agreed arrangement.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded childcare is offered during term time, with 15 hours per week and the possibility of a further 15 extended hours. The funding policy places the start at the term after a child's third birthday and requires a Parental Declaration Form. Extended funding should not be read as an automatic entitlement for every family.

Sessions beyond funded hours are paid for privately. Current prices come in the nursery's written quotation; invoices are issued at the beginning of the term, with payment due by the end of its second week. Where a deposit has been paid, usually only one further invoice is issued.

For both funded and private attendance, parents supply snacks and water, while consumables carry no separate charge: their costs are met through fundraising and donations. Families using funded hours are asked for a voluntary donation. Keeping those arrangements separate makes clear that the donation is voluntary and the child's snack comes from home.

Although Jellytots occupies a school site, attending does not guarantee a Reception place. Families still apply through the local authority's school admissions process. Support with transition between settings is useful preparation, but it is separate from the decision about a school place.

• Access to the mobile. Restricted space and the absence of disabled or changing facilities can affect whether the setting works for a wheelchair user. During a visit, discuss the child's particular access and personal-care needs in the building itself.
• Participation in group activities. In March 2023, some children needed more help to understand what came next during shared music and movement. Ask how practitioners now adapt these activities for children who need extra explanation or support to join in.
• Term-time session planning. Morning and afternoon attendance follows a 38-week year, and the admissions preference is for three sessions. At the joining discussion, explore how the offered pattern fits the child's routine and the family's holiday arrangements.
• Allergy management. Snacks come from home and the allergy policy specifies a nut-free rule and individual plans. Families affected by allergies should confirm current practice, including how food from home and emergency medication are managed.

Jellytots suits families seeking either morning or afternoon preschool sessions, especially those who value familiar books, practical independence and an active role in the setting. The key-person arrangement, home Achievement Diary and elected committee give parent involvement several concrete forms.

The March 2023 Good judgement provides a dated quality reference, with group participation the improvement point to examine. Physical access to the mobile is the clearest practical constraint. For a family whose needs fit the building and term-time timetable, the appeal is a preschool day connected closely to home.