Newbottle and Charlton Pre-School

A village hall, parent involvement in management and a school relationship built around shared events give Newbottle and Charlton Pre-School its character. Based at Charlton Memorial Hall in Charlton, it has 26 places in total. This is a setting where families can take part in how the provision runs, as well as in their child's learning.

At its July 2023 inspection, Ofsted judged the pre-school Good overall. The detail gives that judgement substance: children's interests shaped activities, books extended their vocabulary and everyday tasks gave them opportunities to practise independence. There was also a clear improvement point about making space for quieter children to contribute.

Attendance combines morning and afternoon sessions with full-day care and additional early and late sessions. The practical distinction is the term-time calendar: this is care organised around the school year.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage provides the framework for children's learning, development and care. Here, play combines activities children direct themselves with experiences led by an adult, covering language, physical development, relationships, early mathematics, literacy and creative expression. For parents, that means learning happens through doing and talking.

In July 2023, caterpillars brought from home became a starting point for learning about butterflies. Children explored the changes in their life cycle, painted caterpillar pictures and acted out butterflies' movements. The useful feature was the connection between activities: a child's interest could travel through conversation, art and imaginative play instead of ending with a single task.

Books extended that same interest. In July 2023, staff linked stories to what children were exploring and introduced unfamiliar words through reading together. Children also selected books themselves and discussed pictures with friends. This gave language a place in shared play, as well as in conversations with adults.

Outdoor and Community Life

In July 2023, experiences beyond the setting included farm visits and walks through the local area to meet people in the community. Those outings connected children's learning with people and places outside the hall; the frequency should not be read as a fixed weekly programme.

The pre-school describes a relationship with Newbottle and Charlton C of E School that includes using the school for events and joining its activities. These shared experiences help children become familiar with a school setting, whichever school they eventually attend. They are preparation for a change of environment, rather than an admissions advantage.

Relationships and Communication

Each child has a key person, giving families a particular adult with whom to share information about interests, development and home life. Shared records and observations help connect what happens at home with activities at pre-school. Settling is planned with parents, allowing staff and family to agree how the child starts.

There are simple physical arrangements to support independence: children have their own named coat peg and a drawer for artwork and letters, while protective clothing is supplied for messy play. These details make personal belongings and children's work part of the daily routine.

In July 2023, children practised putting on coats and gathering their drawings to take home. Snack-time conversation also supported social habits, including polite requests. Staff responded to disagreements by talking through how another child might feel and recognised kind behaviour. For a young child, these are practical opportunities to rehearse managing belongings and getting along with others.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

At the July 2023 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities good, with funding used for targeted help and outside agencies involved when necessary. These are dated findings, rather than a promise about an individual child's future experience.

In July 2023, sleeping children were checked regularly, staff supervised children closely and parents were informed promptly about minor injuries. Current arrangements include a safeguarding lead role held by the manager, while families are asked to provide emergency contacts and details of medical conditions or allergies.

Hot lunches are supplied by Fresh Start, operating at Newbottle & Charlton Primary School, and are charged separately; families can instead send a packed lunch. Parents also supply pull-ups, wipes and nappy bags when their child needs them.

Sessions and Attendance

Morning sessions run from 9am to 11.30am and afternoons from 12.30pm to 3pm. Lunch Club bridges the gap from 11.30am to 12.30pm, and full-day care is another booking option. The recommendation is at least two sessions each week to help children settle; it is advice, rather than a stated compulsory minimum.

Early sessions start at either 8am or 8.30am and finish at 9am. After-school options run from 3pm to 5pm or 6pm, with Friday provision ending at 4pm. Hourly bookings are also offered. These choices allow families to combine a shorter preschool session with additional care when needed.

Opening hours are 8am to 6pm Monday to Thursday and 8am to 4pm on Friday. The pre-school closes for school holidays and usually follows the term dates of Newbottle & Charlton Primary School. Families should plan around that calendar rather than assume year-round childcare.

A waiting list is operated through a returned registration form and a non-refundable deposit. For a child leaving for a reason other than starting school, six weeks' notice and a leaving form are required; fee-paying families leaving sooner remain liable for the rest of that notice period.

Getting There

The address is Charlton Memorial Hall, Main Street, Charlton, Banbury, OX17 3DL. Parents may use the top car park for collection and drop-off, but must leave the bottom car park clear.

Enquiries can be made by telephone on 01295 812909 or by email to newbottleandcharltonpreschool@outlook.com.

Funding and Paid Extras

The pre-school accepts 15 hours of funded childcare and the 30-hour code, alongside privately paid sessions. Its attendance model is term-time. The fees and funding page sets out the session and additional-care structure; current prices come in the nursery's written quotation.

Hot lunches are a separate purchase, with packed lunches an alternative, and families provide the personal-care supplies described above. Keep the childcare booking, food order and supplies from home separate when planning what attendance involves.

• Quieter children's participation. The July 2023 improvement point concerned children who were less confident about speaking. During a visit, ask how staff now give these children opportunities to contribute to discussions and activities.
• Term-time coverage and session choices. Morning, afternoon and additional-care bookings offer different lengths of day, but school-holiday closure shapes the overall arrangement. Ask how your proposed combination of sessions fits the weekly timetable, especially Friday's earlier finish.
• Starting age and settling. A key person and an agreed settling plan support the start. Before joining, confirm the starting age that applies to your child and discuss the recommended two-session weekly pattern.
• School preparation. Shared events with Newbottle and Charlton C of E School introduce children to a school environment. Attendance does not guarantee a school place; families still use the local authority admissions process.

Newbottle and Charlton Pre-School suits families seeking term-time morning or afternoon sessions, as well as those combining full-day care with early or after-school bookings. Parent involvement in its elected committee gives families a route into decisions about the setting, while the school relationship adds a practical dimension to preparation for the next stage.

The July 2023 picture was of learning built around children's interests and everyday independence. The decision point is how today's arrangements accommodate a quieter child and fit the family's required calendar. Those questions matter more than choosing the longest possible day.