Pied Piper Pre-School

A church-hall preschool with a garden reached directly from the play space, Pied Piper combines a small setting with a practical, parent-led community structure. It has 24 places in total and operates behind Thatcham Methodist Church. A sensory pathway, herb planters and a substantial sand pit give the outdoor space real substance. This is a pack-away preschool, with activities set up for children within the hall.

At its October 2021 inspection, Ofsted rated Pied Piper Good, found safeguarding effective and judged that children, including those receiving additional funding and those learning English as an additional language, were making good progress. That is a dated assessment, rather than a judgement on today's provision.

Children aged 2.5 to 5 are welcomed. Morning, afternoon and full-day bookings run during term time. The preschool is non-denominational and run on a not-for-profit basis by a voluntary trustee committee, mostly made up of parents, giving families a route into its governance as well as its activities.

Learning and Activities

The Early Years Foundation Stage provides the framework for children's learning and care: play, relationships and activities develop skills across its areas of learning. At Pied Piper, a child's observations and next steps help shape the activities staff plan. The emphasis is on building confidence and independence through play, rather than treating preparation for school as a separate exercise.

Artist of Focus adds a concrete strand to the creative work. Each term, children explore the work of local and internationally known artists, trying different techniques and styles alongside freely accessible art materials. In July 2025, families viewed the children's work in an exhibition. The exhibition was an event that had happened, with an intention to repeat it, rather than an established annual fixture.

Other activities include making bread hedgehogs, experimenting with magnets, threading, construction and imaginative play. Yoga also features among the activities, alongside reading and music.

In October 2021, children used apples and sunflower seeds to make feeders for birds, while staff introduced vocabulary connected with the materials. Expressive storytelling held children's attention; older children recalled story characters and began recognising simple words.

At the October 2021 inspection, Ofsted also identified a need to connect planned activities more clearly with their learning aims and to adapt teaching better to individual needs, including addressing misunderstandings. That qualification matters: participation in an appealing activity does not by itself show that each child is being stretched appropriately.

Outdoor and Community Life

Direct access to the garden makes outdoor activity part of the hall's usable space. The 2025 garden project added a sensory pathway, a shed, herb planters and a 4×2 metre sand pit, together with new paths and outdoor learning areas. For children, that means space for digging, exploring textures and working with natural materials, alongside indoor play.

Annual Toddle Waddle takes children and parents to Thatcham Nature Discovery Centre for a fundraising walk around the lake. Wellies are part of the occasion.

The committee raises funds at Thatcham Lights on the Broadway; Henwick Field hosts another community fundraising event, Thatcham Fun Day. Within preschool, termly fundraising events include Christmas Nativity Plays, the Easter Bonnet Parade and Sports Day. These help pay for equipment and resources and give parents ways to participate in preschool life.

Relationships and Communication

Each practitioner has key children whose development they observe and assess. That gives families a continuing relationship with someone building a picture of their child's interests and achievements. Regular feedback is part of the offer, with Tapestry providing the online learning record.

Tapestry records new achievements and allows parents to respond to observations or contribute examples from home. Updates vary: some weeks bring several observations, while others bring none, and entries can take a few days to become accessible to parents. It works as a developing account of learning rather than a daily diary. Towards each term's end, staff add a report with next steps to guide their planning; parents can support these at home, but are not expected to do so.

In October 2021, staff used home visits to learn about new children before they started, and families were directed towards a local library initiative supporting communication. The induction arrangements include a welcome day and adjustment of the settling process to the child, although the usual procedure was adapted during COVID-19 restrictions.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

Children can attend while still wearing nappies. Staff change them when needed and support the stages of toileting, including dressing and handwashing, so becoming independent does not have to be completed before preschool begins.

The allergy procedure gathers information from families, shares it with staff and uses an allergy card for children with food allergies. For medication, parents provide written consent; the preschool administers medicines prescribed by a doctor. If a child becomes unwell during a session, staff contact the family and request collection.

Staff include a manager with a Nursery Nursing diploma and Early Years Teacher Status, a deputy with an NVQ3, and additional practitioners with NVQ3 qualifications in early years care and education. An administration assistant also supports the team.

Moving on is supported through the learning record. With written parental permission, Tapestry can be transferred to a receiving school that uses it; otherwise families can download a copy for a limited time after their child leaves. This carries information about the child forward, rather than conferring an admissions advantage.

Sessions and Attendance

Morning sessions run from 9am to midday, afternoons from midday to 3pm, and full days from 9am to 3pm. Flexible choices of days and sessions allow families to combine shorter attendance with full days.

Opening hours are 9am to 3pm, Monday to Thursday, during term time; Friday is closed. Families therefore need an arrangement that fits both the weekly pattern and school holidays. A full day here finishes at 3pm, which is a material consideration for working parents.

Registration uses a completed form and a registration fee, with that fee waived for children receiving two-year-old funding or EYPP funding. The administrator contacts families in the term before their proposed start to offer sessions, and places are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Current prices come in the preschool's written quotation.

Getting There

The address is Methodist Church Hall, Chapel Street, Thatcham, RG18 4QL, with telephone and contact-form routes for enquiries. For collection and drop-off, families can use a 15 minute parking ticket for the Kingsland Centre beside Waitrose.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded childcare is offered, including funding for eligible two-year-olds and 15 hours funding per week for three- and four-year-olds from the term after their third birthday. Parents sign a declaration after their child starts, and the preschool claims the funding for them. Attendance is term-time, and private paid sessions are also offered.

Families supply a packed lunch for full-day attendance and a named water bottle for sessions. Non-food supplies also come from home: nappies where needed, spare clothes and suitable outdoor clothing, with sun cream applied before attendance in summer.

• A school-hours week. Sessions finish at 3pm and the preschool closes on Fridays and outside term time. Consider how the morning, afternoon or full-day pattern fits the rest of your family's care arrangements.
• Settling arrangements. The usual induction involves a home visit and welcome day, but was adapted during COVID-19 restrictions. At a visit, ask how those stages now work and how staff would adjust them for your child.
• Learning beyond participation. The October 2021 improvement points concerned challenge and adapting teaching. Ask how staff use a child's next steps to change an activity when understanding is less secure.
• Food allergies. Families provide lunch, while the preschool uses allergy information and cards. Confirm how the current procedure works with your child's particular allergy and food brought from home.

Pied Piper suits families seeking morning or afternoon preschool sessions, as well as those wanting a full day within school hours. Its parent-led committee, direct garden access and Annual Toddle Waddle give it a recognisable community character. Artist of Focus and Tapestry add practical detail to the learning offer: children explore creative techniques, while families can contribute to their developmental record.

The Good judgement from October 2021 sits alongside specific teaching improvements that deserve attention. The strongest fit is with families who value participation in a term-time preschool and can accommodate its Monday-to-Thursday week, rather than needing care into the evening.