Innsworth Preschool

Growing food, exploring insects and turning plants into paints give Innsworth Preschool a practical outdoor character. Its purpose-built farm area and greenhouse bring children into the work of choosing, planting and harvesting, rather than leaving growing to the adults. For children who enjoy getting their hands dirty, that is a substantial part of the attraction.

The preschool takes children aged two to four and has capacity for 26 children in total. It is based on Luke Lane in Innsworth, Gloucester, next to Innsworth Infant School. At its 7 December 2022 inspection, Ofsted rated it Good overall; the priorities for improvement concerned clearer learning intentions and helping children understand emotions and the effects of their behaviour.

Term-time attendance comes through morning, afternoon or full-day bookings, with families booking whole session blocks. Farm Experience is an optional, separately charged outdoor programme involving growing and harvesting.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children's learning, development and care. In everyday terms, this brings learning into play, communication and practical routines, alongside planned activities. Innsworth combines adult-led experiences with children's own play, shared meals and time outside; its optional additions sit alongside that core provision.

In December 2022, older children counted those present and discussed cold-weather clothing; younger children handled dough in smaller groups. Activities matched developmental stages, using discussion or hands-on work to support participation and concentration.

In December 2022, story props supported participation and owl questions prompted recall. Washing snack dishes and signalling approaching tidy-up time gave children everyday responsibilities, making independence part of ordinary routines.

In December 2022, curriculum planning sometimes prioritised extra resources over precise next steps in knowledge and skills. The improvement priority was to give activities clearer learning purposes.

Outdoor and Community Life

An outdoor area matching the building's size combines grass for growing with hard surfacing for construction, crafts and messy activities. The surfaces support different kinds of outdoor learning across the seasons.

Farm Experience is an optional outdoor programme involving growing, harvesting, animal care and seasonal projects. Children help decide what to grow and take part in looking after the space. Produce and natural materials can then become herb bags, paints or simple desserts, connecting the growing process with something children make or taste.

The greenhouse supports growing unusual plants, flowers and fruits from around the world. Practical clothes are needed for outdoor learning: getting muddy, wet or messy is expected.

In December 2022, parents shared food and traditional clothing from their home countries. Children also made the Bleuet de France alongside poppies for Remembrance Day. These examples gave family cultures a place in children's activities, rather than treating everyone as having the same background.

Relationships and Communication

Stay and Play is a planned step after an initial visit, allowing a child to explore and join activities while their parent or carer remains responsible for them. It also helps staff understand how the child responds to group care before arrangements are agreed. Familiarity develops with a trusted adult present.

Some children, especially younger starters, may be advised to begin with afternoons before moving to mornings. Recommendations depend on individual readiness, wellbeing and the preschool's judgement, giving settling a practical place in the timetable.

Tapestry gives parents a way to follow learning and development and also carries the usual monthly invoices. In December 2022, staff shared learning information and activities that parents could try at home. That exchange linked experiences at preschool with what families could do between sessions.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

At the December 2022 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and support for children with SEND effective, with staff involving families and drawing on professional help, including health visitors, to support children's progress. These are dated findings, rather than a promise about every child's current experience.

Children learning English receive support through visual prompts, repeated language, predictable routines and adult interaction during play. In December 2022, staff also gathered useful words in children's home languages from parents. For a child learning both the setting's routines and a new language, familiar words offer a useful starting point for communication.

Wellbeing Club is an optional, separately charged addition providing age-appropriate vitamins and supported group tooth brushing with child-sized toothbrushes. Information is shared with parents and consent is obtained. Its practical emphasis is on making self-care routines familiar through participation alongside other children.

In December 2022, adults intervened when children needed reminders about sharing or taking turns, but did not consistently use those moments to discuss feelings or the effect on others. That distinction matters: stopping an incident and helping a child understand it are different tasks.

Sessions and Attendance

Opening hours are 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, during term time. The Morning Session runs from 8am to 1pm and the Afternoon Session from 1pm to 6pm; children can attend one session or a full day. Families pay for term-time childcare rather than an arrangement covering the whole year, so school-holiday care needs separate planning.

Attendance from 9am to 3pm requires both blocks. Later drop-off or earlier collection is permitted, but partial blocks cannot be purchased, so booked time may exceed the hours used.

The joining sequence starts with a parent-and-child visit, followed by Stay and Play, discussion of suitable sessions and enrolment paperwork. Visits require an appointment. Session arrangements are agreed after meeting the child and family, and confirmation is given in writing with fees, funding and policies before a start date is settled.

Getting There

The address is Luke Lane, Innsworth, Gloucester, GL3 1HJ, next to Innsworth Infant School and at the end of Mottshead Drive and Luke Lane. The location serves families travelling across Gloucester and Cheltenham, including those connected with Imjin Barracks.

Funding and Paid Extras

Government-funded childcare is accepted for eligible children, including Universal early years funding, Working-parent funded childcare entitlements and Support-based funding for eligible two-year-olds. Funding is delivered during term time within the session blocks, rather than as flexible hourly attendance. Eligibility, valid codes and funding rules still apply, and families remain responsible for applications and renewals.

Private sessions and additional sessions beyond funded entitlement are also offered. There are no top-up charges for funded hours; separately charged choices include meals, consumables and enhancements. Current prices come in the preschool's written quotation, with terms supplied before confirmation; the fees and funding page explains the charge structure.

Breakfast is free from 8.30am to 9.30am, while brunch and lunch are separately charged options, including for children using funded hours. Families can instead supply suitable food in an insulated bag with an ice pack, meeting the allergen and food-safety requirements and completing a food declaration; unsuitable or missing food may require a preschool meal and a charge.

Nappies and wipes can come from home, labelled and sufficient for the session, or through an optional, separately charged supply service. That choice also applies to funded attendance and is not a condition of using funded hours. Farm Experience and Wellbeing Club are likewise optional paid enhancements, rather than requirements for funded childcare.

Attendance here does not guarantee a Reception place at Innsworth Infant School.

• Whole blocks, chosen collection times. A 9am to 3pm attendance window requires both sessions. At a visit, discuss how the booked blocks fit your working day and your child's settling needs.
• Outdoor participation and ongoing works. The preschool describes continuing building work and changes to the setting. Ask how the work affects the spaces children currently use, and how the optional Farm Experience fits into the wider outdoor day.
• Learning purpose and emotional understanding. December 2022 improvement priorities concerned precise next steps in learning and conversations about feelings. Ask for practical examples of how staff now plan for these and respond when children struggle with sharing.
• Food and optional health routines. Home-supplied food must meet specific safety requirements, while Wellbeing Club involves vitamins and tooth brushing with parental consent. Allergy-affected families should confirm current food arrangements and discuss the club's suitability before opting in.

Innsworth Preschool suits families seeking term-time mornings, afternoons or full days with hands-on outdoor learning. Its greenhouse, growing area and optional Farm Experience are strong attractions. The December 2022 Good judgement sits alongside improvement priorities for learning intentions and emotional understanding. Families need to accommodate whole-block bookings and school holidays, while choosing additional services individually.