Clavering & Arkesden Preschool

Forest School and play shaped by children's interests give Clavering & Arkesden Preschool its character. Its purpose-built home sits within Clavering Primary School's grounds, with outdoor exploration taking a prominent place alongside classroom activities. This is provision for children aged two to five, with capacity for 26 children in total.

At its February 2023 inspection, Ofsted judged the preschool Good overall and found safeguarding effective. The practical appeal is a combination of child-led play, outdoor learning and a shared online learning journal, Tapestry. Parents can contribute experiences from home, connecting the preschool day with family life.

Attendance is term-time, with morning, lunch and afternoon sessions plus separately charged wraparound care. That makes the booking choices useful for families arranging shorter sessions as well as a day assembled around lunch.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage provides the framework for children's learning, development and care: play supports communication, physical skills and growing independence. Alongside this, the preschool uses an in the moment approach, allowing children's interests to shape their play rather than prescribing the same activity for everyone.

That approach gives children a part in deciding what happens next. The activity selection includes cookery, music and art, alongside sports and outdoor play. These are concrete ways to explore materials, movement and shared experiences.

In February 2023, children collaborated on floor puzzles, discussing possible positions for pieces and taking turns. Construction play also prompted conversation as children proposed ideas for vehicles. These examples show how an ordinary play activity can bring together language, problem-solving and cooperation.

Literacy experiences at that time included songs, rhymes and stories. Children also worked dough with their hands, practising movements relevant to later writing. The emphasis was on building skills through enjoyable activity rather than moving straight to written tasks.

Outdoor and Community Life

Forest School gives children opportunities to explore the natural world. A mud kitchen and sandpit add other places for hands-on play; the preschool's activity selection also includes independence as an explicit theme. Outdoor learning is therefore part of its educational approach, rather than simply a break from indoor activity.

In February 2023, children collected natural objects to make nests during forest school sessions, with staff introducing discussion about shape and size. Children also practised putting on outdoor clothing themselves. Together, these examples connect exploration with mathematics and everyday self-care, while keeping the activity rooted in something children wanted to do.

Tapestry records children's experiences and invites parents to add events from family life. It provides a shared place for learning observations, with parents contributing information that can help staff understand children's interests beyond preschool.

At the February 2023 inspection, Ofsted found that the key-person arrangements helped staff understand children's development and that cooperation with parents and other professionals supported children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. The practical value lies in connecting knowledge of the individual child with the adults involved in their care.

During February 2023, staff used activities about feelings to help children talk about being nervous, happy or sad. Children sought comfort from practitioners, and handwashing before eating was part of the daily routine. These are useful examples of emotional and practical care working alongside learning.

The staff structure includes a manager, deputy management, practitioners, preschool assistants and a finance manager. This separates educational and care roles from the financial contact families use for payment questions.

Food arrangements allow a choice: morning snack is charged separately, or families can send a healthy alternative, while lunch can be a packed meal or a hot lunch. Families supplying snacks or packed lunches are asked to avoid nuts.

Sessions and Attendance

The preschool operates during term time and closes for school holidays. Morning sessions run from 9am to noon, lunch occupies noon to 1pm, and afternoon sessions run from 1pm to 3pm. Lunch is a separate booking component, so it matters when planning how shorter sessions join together.

Wraparound care is a separate service. Since September 2026, its overall operating window has been 8.30am to 3.30pm, with flexible collection and drop-off within the extra half-hour windows. Using care before 9am triggers the morning wraparound charge; collection after 3pm triggers the afternoon charge, calculated at the hourly rate.

Registration uses the preschool's registration form. The office handles general enquiries, while financial questions go to the finance contact. Visits are arranged by appointment.

Getting There

The address is Stortford Road, Clavering, Essex, CB11 4PE, within Clavering Primary School's grounds. Attending the preschool does not guarantee a Reception place; families still apply through the local authority admissions process.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded childcare is offered during term time, including up to 15 hours Government Funding from the term following a child's third birthday. Two-year funding and 30 hours funding for working parents depend on eligibility. Paid sessions and the separately charged wraparound service provide additional choices around funded attendance.

Morning snack has a separate charge, with a healthy snack from home offered as an alternative. The preschool also requests a voluntary contribution each term. Current prices come in the preschool's written quotation; the sessions and fees page explains the booking and charge structure.

• Routines between activities. In February 2023, waiting for snack sometimes interrupted play, including for children less ready to concentrate for longer periods. On a visit, ask how snack and other transitions now keep children engaged.
• Preparing for Reception. In February 2023, links with the host school were not being used fully, and school transitions needed further development. Ask how the preschool now works with receiving schools to prepare each child.
• Food and extras. Snack can be purchased or supplied from home, and the preschool asks families to avoid nuts in food they bring. Families managing allergies should confirm current practice and include their chosen food arrangements when discussing the written quotation.

Clavering & Arkesden Preschool suits families seeking term-time morning or afternoon sessions, with lunch and wraparound care allowing a broader day. Its appeal is specific: child-led play, Forest School, a mud kitchen and Tapestry's connection between home and preschool.

The February 2023 Good judgement gives a dated assessment of quality. The useful questions concern how daily routines and preparation for school have developed since then. For parents who value outdoor exploration and an active role in recording their child's experiences, the approach offers clear reasons to consider it.