Ladybirds Pre-School

A session cap of 24 children, a garden with artificial grass and covered outdoor spaces give Ladybirds Pre-School a clear identity: a charity-run preschool where children choose where to play, rather than staying in one room for the day. Based in Roebuts Close, Newbury, it accepts children aged two and a half to five. Its scale is a useful starting point for families who want to understand how many children share a session, rather than a count spread across different days.

At the July 2026 inspection, Ofsted awarded Strong standard for inclusion and leadership and governance, and Expected standard for achievement, behaviour and routines, welfare and wellbeing, and curriculum and teaching. Those are separate judgements, rather than an overall grade. The balance matters: thoughtful leadership and support for individual needs sit alongside specific teaching improvements that still need attention.

Morning, afternoon and full-day attendance are offered during term time. Beyond that practical flexibility, the strongest reasons to consider Ladybirds are its adaptable play spaces, a structured introduction for new children and the connection between home and preschool through Tapestry.

Rooms and Ages

The main playroom holds resources for children's chosen activities. A quieter room accommodates stories and group games, while the challenge zone room hosts targeted group work, cooking, sensory exploration and art projects.

Children choose between these spaces through free-flow play, and staff adapt the environment around their interests. The maximum of 24 applies across a session, rather than to each room.

Learning and Activities

The Early Years Foundation Stage is delivered through play: activities and interaction develop language, early number understanding and physical skills. The Characteristics of Effective Learning (CoEL) encourages exploration, sustained involvement and thinking through ideas alongside that framework.

Small Group Time includes dance, early writing, stories, phonics and number activities. Free Flow Play combines children's choices with guided challenges such as baking and explorer walks, supported by water play, construction and accessible books.

In July 2026, children used sign language, and adults introduced vocabulary about position, shapes and colours during play. Puzzles and building blocks developed hand movements; climbing equipment provided larger physical challenges.

In July 2026, adults sometimes moved past unanswered questions instead of helping children find an answer. Some teaching skills being developed with leadership support were not yet secure. More stretching conversations were needed to deepen children's understanding.

Outdoor and Community Life

Artificial grass covers the top garden, and two covered outdoor areas support sand, water, construction and imaginative play across the seasons.

In July 2026, children hunted for pretend golden goose eggs and made foaming volcanoes together. An African-drumming workshop had followed their interest in Africa, linking an activity to their curiosity. Caring for the preschool's two guinea pigs helped children learn what living creatures need.

Relationships and Communication

The Early Years Passport gathers favourite games, interests and home routines, giving the key person familiar experiences to build on. Two induction sessions follow: an hour with a parent, then an hour for the child alone. An optional key-person home visit and adaptable induction support the transition.

Tapestry, the online learning journal, shares photographs, videos and written updates from the key worker, accessible by phone or computer. Families can use these to talk about activities with their child.

The Clever Critters explain everyday expectations: Rodney the Racoon reminds children to walk indoors, while Forrest the Fox helps with sharing and turn-taking. In July 2026, safety reminders sometimes gave instructions without explaining the consequences of ignoring them. Teaching those consequences was an improvement priority.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

At its July 2026 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding standards met and described support that identified individual needs promptly, used repeated assessment to shape next steps and helped children with special educational needs and/or disabilities make swift progress. Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA) training supported work on children's feelings, relationships and emotional development. This gives substance to the inclusion judgement: support was linked to individual learning needs and reviewed over time.

Physical access includes ramps and accessible toilets. For children developing toileting independence, there are potties and child-sized toilets, with a staff member responsible for bathroom assistance. Staff work with families on consistent toilet-training strategies, helping preschool routines connect with what happens at home.

Children staying for lunch bring a packed lunch; snacks are offered, with a voluntary contribution covering them alongside other consumables. The preschool's food policy encourages nut-free lunches, excludes popcorn, marshmallows and boiled sweets, and provides for individual allergy action plans agreed with families.

In July 2026, children could choose when to join the snack table, prepare fruit and practise clearing away afterwards. The arrangement combined eating with everyday independence and reduced the need to interrupt absorbed play. Allergy support also includes informing staff about individual needs and displaying reminders; paediatric first-aid training includes using epipens.

Sessions and Attendance

At Roebuts Close, Newbury, Berkshire, RG14 7AP, Ladybirds operates Monday to Friday during term time. Morning sessions run from 9am to 11.45am, afternoons from noon to 2.50pm, and full days from 9am to 2.50pm. Sessions can be combined subject to space.

School holidays are closures, and term dates follow West Berkshire's school calendar. The registrar handles email and telephone enquiries. Online or paper enrolment leads to confirmation of sessions and a new-parent pack.

Families must report absences. Missed sessions cannot be refunded or rescheduled, although prolonged illness can be discussed with the preschool.

Getting There

Parking is on nearby residential roads, with families asked to park considerately and avoid driving right down to the preschool. A pedestrian route from Andover Road uses the alley near the speed camera opposite Bartlemy Road, offering another approach for local families.

Funding and Paid Extras

Ladybirds offers term-time funded childcare: 15 hours per week from the term after a child's third birthday, funding for eligible two-year-olds and 30-hour funding for eligible three-year-olds. Staff help with applications. Additional private hours are charged; current prices come in the nursery's written quotation.

The fees and sessions information separates session fees from voluntary termly contributions for snacks, wipes, tissues and sun cream. Families opting out can arrange to supply essential items, including fresh daily bedding if their child sleeps.

Contributions also support visitors such as Zoo Lab, cooking and planting resources, the Story Sacks/Resources Library for home borrowing, and Tapestry. Joining items are invoiced separately.

• Session finishing times. The fees timetable ends mornings at 11.45am and afternoons and full days at 2.50pm, while the About Us timetable uses noon and 3pm. At a visit, confirm which collection times will apply to the sessions in your enrolment confirmation.
• Teaching depth. The July 2026 priorities included helping children think through unanswered questions and explaining the consequences behind safety instructions. Ask how staff have developed these parts of their everyday interactions.
• Term-time attendance. School holidays are closures and missed sessions cannot be refunded or rearranged. Consider how those terms fit your work pattern and holiday care arrangements.
• Food and contributions. Lunch comes from home, and voluntary contributions cover snacks and supplies. Families managing allergies should confirm current snack and lunch practice, including the individual action plan; opting out of contributions involves arranging essential supplies with the preschool.

Ladybirds suits families seeking morning or afternoon preschool sessions, or full days during term time. Its session cap, connected play spaces and adaptable induction give families concrete reasons to consider it.

The July 2026 judgements were stronger for inclusion and leadership than for teaching and the other assessed areas. Individual support and play-led learning are the appeal, balanced against the work needed on questioning and safety explanations.