Flitch Green Pre-School

A growing garden, child-chosen activities and Montessori materials give Flitch Green Pre-School a clear character: children have time to try things for themselves. Based in Little Dunmow, it accepts children from 2 years to compulsory school age and has 30 places in total. This is a preschool setting where independence means practical participation, from choosing learning materials to preparing snacks.

At its July 2022 inspection, Ofsted rated the provision Outstanding and found that children made excellent progress, with independence and communication among its strengths. That judgement belongs to July 2022. The current offer combines Montessori learning, mixed-age experiences and outdoor access, with both all-year-round and term-time attendance patterns.

Learning and Activities

The EYFS provides the framework for children's learning, development and care, encompassing communication, physical development and learning about the world through everyday experiences. Montessori adds an approach in which children select accessible materials, pursue their interests and work at their own pace with adult guidance. The practical distinction is choice within a carefully prepared environment.

Mixed ages are part of that environment. Younger children can learn from older children's examples, while older children have opportunities to model cooperation and care. Children have access to purpose-designed Montessori resources and choose activities themselves. For parents, this is an important point of fit: the day gives children scope to sustain an interest rather than moving everyone through an identical sequence.

In July 2022, children worked together on challenging puzzles and used mathematical vocabulary while collecting potatoes they had grown. Staff gave children thinking time and offered help rather than immediately supplying an answer. These examples show how practical tasks and conversation were connected to learning at that date.

Outdoor and Community Life

Outdoor access is substantial. Children can choose the garden or a covered area whenever conditions are safe, with small hills for running, trees to climb and a mud kitchen for imaginative play. The growing garden brings flowers, fruit and vegetables into the day, while an outdoor classroom extends learning beyond the indoor space.

Forest School adds hands-on woodland learning, including caring for the natural environment and developing practical skills. Children use the forest school area at Flitch Green academy school. For a child who prefers movement and exploration, the combination of garden access and woodland experiences offers different ways to engage with the day.

In July 2022, the peace tree in the garden was used to recognise kindness: children gathered to sing and attached ribbons acknowledging a friend's considerate action. Outdoor experiences also included knot-making and a bear hunt with a wool trail. These were practical experiences with a social purpose, rather than outdoor time serving only as a break from learning.

A key person helps each child and family settle into preschool routines. Individual planning takes place termly, supported by observations and photographs that parents can view through an online education portal. Weekly activity updates and regular bulletins give families a way to connect the preschool day with conversations at home.

Coffee mornings, mini concerts, fun days and trips create opportunities for parents to participate. The emphasis is on sharing children's experiences as well as receiving information about them. That matters for families who want an ongoing relationship with the setting, rather than communication confined to practical messages.

For additional needs, concerns raised by staff are shared with the SENCO, who may carry out further observations and assessments; support is discussed with parents. The setting works with families and outside agencies on Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), and supports the process of accessing SENIF financial support. This gives parents a defined route from an initial concern to planning support.

At the July 2022 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and praised support for children needing additional help, including collaboration with parents and outside agencies. In July 2022, children were encouraged to use their home languages, and adults helped them understand feelings and the consequences of their actions. Those observations describe practice at that time.

Lunch is home-cooked and supplied by Flitch Green Academy, using seasonal fruit and vegetables and local produce; at snack time, staff support children to prepare food and serve themselves. The preschool's policy excludes food and drink containing nuts or nut ingredients, and staff check a dietary and allergy list before snacks and use original packaging to check ingredients.

Sessions and Attendance

The preschool is based at Flitch Green Primary School, Tanton Road, Little Dunmow, Essex CM6 3GG. Full day care runs from 8.30am to 4pm, Monday to Friday, across 51 weeks of the year. Term-time places cover 38 weeks, with opening hours of 8.45am to 3.45pm, Monday to Friday.

The two calendars serve different needs: all-year-round attendance extends beyond school terms, while term-time attendance follows a shorter annual pattern. Public holidays, Christmas closures and staff training dates still need to be incorporated into family childcare plans. The all-year-round calendar includes a noon finish on Christmas Eve.

Registrations are handled in the order they are received. The joining sequence is a visit followed by an application form; signing the form creates a contract governed by the parent terms. Preschool enquiries use 01371 823293 or flitchgreen@mymontessori.org.uk.

Funding and Paid Extras

The setting accepts 15- and 30-hours funding, alongside Tax-Free childcare. Its funded provision includes Universal Funded Early Education Entitlement, Extended Funded Early Education Entitlement and 2 year old Funded Early Education Entitlement. Funding can be stretched for children attending all-year-round; a Parent Agreement Form is required for the setting to claim it.

Charges have two components: attendance hours and a daily Integrated Montessori Package (IMP), the package element of the charge structure. Funding covers attendance hours rather than the IMP charge. Children attending funded hours only can opt out of the package and take a no-frills place; the package charge is compulsory for private places and unfunded hours.

Hot lunch and drinks are included in the fee, while parents contribute snack food for sharing and supply summer sun cream. The fee also includes daily activities, forest school and outings. Current prices come in the nursery's written quotation, and the fees and funding page explains the package and funded-hours distinction.

School transition support begins once a child's school place is confirmed. Receiving school staff can visit, meet the child and discuss their needs, with a meeting to share the One Plan and additional supported visits where necessary. Attendance at the preschool does not guarantee a Reception place at the school on its site; families still apply through the local authority admissions process.

• A day ending at 4pm. All-year-round full day care ends at 4pm, and term-time opening ends at 3.45pm. These finish times need to fit the family's working day.
• The funded-hours package choice. Funded-hours-only attendance permits an IMP opt-out, while private places and unfunded hours require the charge. At a visit, ask how the package and no-frills arrangements would work for your child's proposed attendance.
• Outdoor clothing and shared food. Garden access continues whenever conditions are safe, and parents supply suitable clothing, sun cream and snack contributions. Families managing allergies should confirm current food-handling practice before starting.

Flitch Green suits families seeking Montessori choice, mixed-age learning and regular access to outdoor spaces. The growing garden, woodland learning and self-service snacks give its emphasis on independence concrete expression. Its July 2022 Outstanding judgement is an important dated endorsement, rather than a substitute for assessing today's fit.

Both all-year-round full day attendance and term-time places are part of the offer. The main practical considerations are the afternoon finish, closure calendar and the different package rules for funded-only and private attendance. For families whose schedules match those arrangements, the educational character is clear and consistent.