Priorslee Pre-School

An Enchanted Garden and Fairy Glen, a shaded outdoor space and a session attendance cap of 24 give Priorslee Pre-School a recognisable character. This community-based charity pairs play with the practical business of preparing children for school: managing coats, eating independently and recognising their names. Small-scale provision is a concrete part of the offer.

At its February 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated the pre-school Good overall. Children attending then were aged two to four; the setting has 24 places in total. A voluntary management committee runs the charity at Priorslee Community Centre in Telford. Term-time attendance includes morning and afternoon sessions, with a full-day option and a separately charged Lunch Club.

Learning and Activities

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) shapes the day through play, communication, physical activity and early learning, with tasks planned around each child's development. Adult-guided activities sit alongside time for children to choose their play. Group conversations cover topics such as shapes, weather and news children want to share, giving everyday experiences a place in their learning.

Each child's Learning Journey records observations to track development. Letters and Sounds is a group activity on the carpet, followed later by stories or songs that practise listening and language. The rhythm is purposeful: conversation, activity, play and shared stories each have their place, rather than learning being confined to a single teaching session.

In February 2023, children made binoculars before searching outdoors for a bear, using a familiar story as the starting point for conversation and play. Balance bikes provided another link between movement and learning: children matched bike numbers with those on the fence. Handling small objects with tongs also brought counting and finger control together.

There was a limitation. In February 2023, adults sometimes controlled play too closely, reducing children's chances to decide what to do and practise skills independently. The improvement priority was to give children more ownership of their learning. That matters alongside the current timetable's explicit provision for children to choose activities themselves.

Outdoor and Community Life

The Enchanted Garden and Fairy Glen adds a named outdoor setting, while the garden's shade and soft playground support regular outside play. The routine includes at least 20 minutes outdoors in both the morning and afternoon, extending when conditions allow and taking up much of the summer day. Outdoor time is built into both sessions.

School preparation also has a practical thread. Children work on using cutlery, handling their coats and recognising or writing their names, with families encouraged to continue these habits at home. Starting Reception resources extend that work through guidance on preparing for school, toilet training and toothbrushing. These are shared resources for families, rather than a promise of admission to a particular school.

Relationships and Communication

Each child has a key person who helps them settle, develop friendships and keeps track of their progress. Weekly adult-led planning takes account of individual needs. Parents can arrange a discussion with that key person through the Open Door policy, making communication about development part of the ongoing relationship.

Tapestry, the online development system, brings photographs, video and diary entries together in a record of children's experiences and learning. Parents can view activities and progress, then contribute comments and their own media. It gives home experiences a route into conversations at pre-school, rather than making communication solely a stream of updates from staff.

In February 2023, settling sessions were adapted to individual families and transitions were planned with parents. Where practical, key-person allocation followed the adult to whom a child had become attached. Those arrangements recognised that settling depends on relationships as well as routines.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

At the February 2023 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and children with special educational needs and/or disabilities making good progress, supported by individual plans and collaboration with families and other agencies. In that month, smaller-group games also gave children who found larger-group conversation difficult opportunities to develop vocabulary; signs used with songs offered another means of communication.

Most staff hold at least NVQ Level 3 qualifications, and most have paediatric first-aid training. The team includes a designated safeguarding lead role.

Fruit, vegetables and other refreshments feature in the daily routine, while children staying for lunch bring their own packed meal. The pre-school's packed-lunch policy excludes nuts and nut-containing products; refreshments are charged separately.

Handwashing is expected after toileting and messy activities, and before eating. Following sickness, children must remain away for at least 48 hours and be fully recovered before returning. Medication requires the stated consent arrangements, with prescribed items labelled and accompanied by a completed Medication Form.

Sessions and Attendance

Term-time sessions run Monday to Friday: mornings from 8.55am to 11.55am and afternoons from 12.15pm to 3.15pm. Full days are also offered. Lunch Club runs from 11.45am to 12.15pm and can be added to either a morning or afternoon session for an additional charge. This gives families different attendance patterns within the term-time calendar.

Breakfast and after-school club provision has been discontinued. Regular late collection attracts a charge, so the session finishing times need to fit the family's collection arrangements. Fees are invoiced monthly and payable by the first of the month.

Getting There

The address is Priorslee Community Centre, Priorslee Avenue, Priorslee, Telford, Shropshire TF2 9NR. Enquiries can be made by telephone on 01952 299979 or by email at info@priorsleepreschool.co.uk.

Families are directed to the Doctors/Dentist car park and the connecting footpath. Parking immediately outside the Community Centre is reserved for staff.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded childcare includes 15 funded hours from the term after a child's third birthday, Talking Twos funding for eligible two-year-olds, and 30 Hours Funding for eligible working families. Delivery is term-time; the 15-hour entitlement can be used across morning and afternoon sessions, subject to availability. Additional private sessions are charged separately.

There are no top-up fees for funded children, but refreshments and materials carry a separate monthly charge. Parents supply packed lunches, and adding Lunch Club to a morning or afternoon session costs extra. These distinctions also matter when planning funded attendance: funded education, food, materials and lunch supervision are separate parts of the arrangement. Current prices should come in the pre-school's written quotation.

• Children's control of play. In February 2023, adult direction sometimes restricted independent choices. During a visit, ask how staff now balance planned activities with children's own ideas.
• Term-time collection. Morning and afternoon sessions have fixed finishing times, and regular late collection is charged. The discontinued breakfast and after-school clubs also matter for families needing care around a longer working day.
• Packed lunches and allergies. Families provide lunch, and the packed-lunch policy excludes nuts. Allergy-affected families should confirm current handling arrangements, including refreshments and food brought from home.
• Funded attendance and extras. Refreshments, materials and added lunch supervision carry charges despite the absence of top-up fees for funded education. Request a written quotation showing the costs for the attendance pattern you want.

Priorslee suits families seeking morning sessions, afternoon sessions or full days during term time, with school preparation woven into ordinary activities. The session cap, shaded outdoor spaces and two-way Tapestry communication give parents tangible reasons to consider it. Its February 2023 Good judgement provides a positive inspection position, while the priority for more child-directed play remains a useful question for a visit. The practical fit depends on fixed collection times, packed lunches and the separate charges surrounding funded education.