Crudwell Pre-School

Apples picked from the pre-school tree and delivered to local residents give Crudwell Pre-School a clear village character: in September 2025, children combined learning about nature with small acts of kindness. The setting operates from Crudwell Village Hall and has capacity for 24 children.

At its September 2025 inspection, Ofsted rated the provision Good and found safeguarding effective. Children attending at that time were aged two to four. The strongest practical thread was learning through ordinary experiences: handling water, making play dough, noticing rhymes and taking responsibility for belongings.

In September 2025, the early years foundation stage, the framework for children's learning, development and care, took shape through play and daily routines. Pouring water introduced quantity; comparing spoons while making play dough brought size into a familiar activity. Staff repeated language and modelled vocabulary, giving children words to describe their discoveries.

Outdoor learning included sweeping fallen leaves and discussing seasonal changes. The pre-school's random acts of kindness included taking apples to neighbours, connecting an activity with consideration for other people. Its golden rules gave children reminders about behaviour, including checking who was nearby before throwing leaves.

Visits from doctors and fire officers introduced different jobs. Recycling brought sustainability into children's experience, while celebrations drew on information families shared about their cultural backgrounds. These were concrete ways of connecting play with the wider world.

At the September 2025 inspection, Ofsted found that staff responded promptly to additional learning needs and worked collaboratively with families of children with SEND, but needed to use visual prompts more consistently to help children understand instructions and routines.

In September 2025, changes to the physical space supported social communication, with calming areas, puppets and stories used to explore feelings. Staff gave advance warnings before changes of activity, although visual support was not used consistently. That matters for a child who needs more than a spoken instruction to understand what comes next.

Parent communication included updates about development and suggestions for learning at home. Information packs covered matters such as toilet training, and staff coordinated referrals to outside professionals. Everyday independence also received attention, from storing belongings to washing hands and managing nose-blowing.

The address is Crudwell Village Hall, Tetbury Lane, Crudwell, Malmesbury SN16 9HB.

In September 2025, opening hours were 9am to 3pm on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, during term time. Government-funded places were offered at that time. This was a weekday, term-time operation rather than an all-year timetable.

• Visual support for routines. Consistency with visual prompts was the September 2025 improvement point. At a visit, ask how these prompts now support changes of activity for a child with SEND.
• Term-time timetable. The September 2025 pattern excluded Tuesdays and school holidays. How would the current attendance arrangements fit your working week?

Crudwell merits consideration for families drawn to village-based early learning, practical play and community connections. Its September 2025 provision suited a term-time rhythm, with language, independence and everyday kindness woven into activities. The decision point is how consistently children receive the help they need to understand routines, especially when spoken instructions alone are insufficient.