Colerne Preschool

Clay birds, willow constructions and children acting out their own stories give Colerne Preschool a recognisable character. Nature and imagination meet here, in a historic village building beside the church, with children able to move between indoor play and the outdoor area throughout the day. For families who want creative play connected to the world around them, that is the strongest draw.

At its 7 November 2023 inspection, Ofsted judged the preschool Good and found safeguarding effective, with children making good progress and forming secure relationships with staff. The judgement came with clear priorities: fuller information about each child, more timely help during group activities and better opportunities to pursue creative ideas. Those points matter alongside the strengths.

The preschool has 32 places in total and welcomes children after their second birthday. Children attending in November 2023 were aged two to four. Its Thursday afternoon Rising 5s session is reserved for children starting school the following September, adding a specific school-preparation strand to its play-based offer.

Learning and Activities

The Early Years Foundation Stage provides the framework for children's learning, development and care: play supports language, movement, relationships, early literacy, mathematical understanding and exploration. It is the foundation of the day rather than an extra programme. Colerne adds In The Moment Planning, an approach that follows children's ideas and interests as they emerge, and draws inspiration from Reggio Emilia for its outdoor learning.

Children choose creative materials and books from the book corner, and use an interactive Smart board. Their interests reshape the home corner into a vets, Chinese restaurant or supermarket, giving pretend play fresh subjects for conversation.

Creative Workshops connect nature with clay modelling, printing, drawing and willow construction. Birds and nests take shape in fabric and natural materials; transformed toys become story characters. A larger willow nature house brings children into shared construction, giving their ideas expression through pictures, models and stories.

Helicopter Stories, documented in February 2024, involved children inventing stories and then performing them within a marked-out stage area. Regular visits supported the work with children and staff. This gives storytelling a social dimension: one child's imagined events become something others can help bring to life.

In November 2023, poetry and storytelling were part of the children's experience, including older children narrating stories for friends to perform. Sand play also brought counting and mathematical vocabulary into conversation. The improvement priorities were equally specific: some group sessions needed faster intervention when attention wandered, while the preparation of some creative activities left too little room for children to develop their ideas. Child-led intentions therefore need to be considered alongside how adults support participation.

Outdoor and Community Life

Outdoor access is a daily choice, including in different weather conditions. Outdoor Explorers turns that access into investigation: children have examined leaf textures and patterns, learnt about the role of veins and threaded leaves onto skewers. Looking closely and handling materials sit together, giving children something tangible to investigate rather than simply time outside.

In November 2023, nature walks, shop and post office visits, and festival-related church visits connected learning with village life. Children also joined the village school's activities in the community hall.

The same month, physical play included climbing equipment and throwing and catching balls. Children also practised putting on outdoor clothing with adult guidance. Movement and everyday independence were connected, rather than treated as separate parts of the day.

Relationships and Communication

A key person supports each child's settling and keeps a Learning Journal charting development. Families can meet that practitioner to discuss progress and contribute to learning. During settling, WhatsApp messages and photographs provide updates through the morning, making the arrangement more concrete than a general promise of parent communication.

Parents help shape individual settling routines. In November 2023, staff adapted settling support for new children, while key-person observations informed what each child would learn next.

However, at the November 2023 inspection, Ofsted identified gaps in the information gathered about some children's needs and a lack of liaison with other settings they attended, alongside the need for better support in group activities and fuller creative exploration. For a child splitting attendance between providers, communication between adults is a practical issue, rather than a minor administrative detail.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

A SENCO and deputy role support SEND arrangements, including individual educational plans that are reviewed and adjusted. Parents participate in assessment and review, with professional liaison and transfer arrangements connecting support across settings.

The July 2021 admissions policy identifies stepped access and confined toilet facilities as considerations for children with disabilities. A ramp also serves as a fire exit and must remain clear. Families with mobility or personal-care requirements should give the physical layout close attention when considering the setting.

Shanker Self-Reg® helps parents understand self-regulation through stress, energy and tension. In November 2023, songs helped children explore emotions, while staff supported sharing and children struggling with boundaries.

Sessions and Attendance

The address is Vicarage Lane, Colerne, Wiltshire, SN14 8EL. Opening hours run from 9am until 3pm on Monday to Thursday, with Friday closing at 1pm. Thursday's 1pm to 3pm Rising 5s session has activities intended to develop independence ahead of school and is for children due to start the following September.

The July 2021 admissions policy provides for ad-hoc attendance when staffing and availability allow, with advance payment. It also sets out parent contracts before each major term and a first-come-first-served process for their return. This makes the contract cycle relevant to families arranging a regular pattern, while ad-hoc sessions remain conditional rather than a dependable substitute for booked attendance.

Enquiries can be made through the contact form, by email at info@colernepreschool.co.uk or by telephone on 07576 496449. Children need clothing suitable for indoor and outdoor activities and a spare set in a bag. Scooters and helmets must be taken away rather than left obstructing the ramp.

Funding and Paid Extras

The funding policy adopted in July 2021 sets out 15 hours funding from the term after a child's third birthday and 30 hours funding for eligible children, with parent declarations required. It describes term-time delivery over 38 funded weeks within 39 opening weeks; hours beyond the funded allocation are invoiced separately. Payment for private attendance is monthly and in advance, and current prices come in the preschool's written quotation.

Morning snacks include fruit or vegetables, with water or milk available; families supply lunchboxes. The 2026 charge structure asks for a voluntary contribution towards snacks and additional resources, so that contribution should be considered separately from payment for childcare hours.

A February 2024 newsletter introduced a nut-free policy while allowing products labelled as potentially containing traces of nuts. That is a specific policy distinction for allergy-affected families, who should confirm current practice before relying on it.

The preschool describes links with the local primary school, and school preparation features in Rising 5s. Attendance does not guarantee a school place; families still use the local authority admissions process.

• Following children's ideas. The November 2023 improvement priorities covered information-gathering, attention in adult-led sessions and creative exploration. On a visit, ask how practitioners now turn a child's interests into activities while helping less engaged children participate.
• The school-starting year. Thursday afternoons are reserved for Rising 5s, while Friday closes at 1pm. Consider how these different arrangements fit your child's stage and your weekly commitments.
• Access and individual support. The July 2021 policy identifies steps and restricted toilet space. Families needing mobility or personal-care support should discuss the layout and their child's practical requirements during a visit.
• Lunch and allergies. Lunchboxes come from home, and the February 2024 nut policy permitted trace-labelled foods. Confirm the current allergy arrangements and how snack contributions apply to your attendance pattern.

Colerne Preschool suits families seeking a village preschool with substantial creative work and freely accessible outdoor play. Clay, willow, storytelling and leaf investigations give that offer substance. Its attendance arrangements can serve families seeking a regular contracted pattern or conditional ad-hoc sessions, with Rising 5s providing a separate afternoon strand for the school-starting year.

The Good judgement from November 2023 is accompanied by useful cautions about understanding individual needs and supporting participation. Parents should weigh those priorities alongside the key-person arrangements, creative opportunities and physical access requirements. This is a setting whose strongest appeal lies in what children can explore and make.