Nestlings Pre School

In December 2023, a homemade vet’s surgery, a lending library and uninterrupted play shaped the experience at Nestlings Pre School. Based at Pratten Hut in Staverton, near Trowbridge, it has capacity for 24 children in total. Its December 2023 picture was of children choosing their own activities, with adults adapting play to their interests.

At its 12 December 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated Nestlings Good, judged safeguarding effective and found that targeted support included children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. The important qualification concerns adult-led group activities: planning and sustained engagement needed greater consistency.

In December 2023, children used their interest in pets to turn an indoor den into a vet’s surgery. At the craft table, they selected materials themselves, cut with scissors and assembled their creations. These examples make the child-led approach tangible: children had opportunities to develop an idea rather than simply complete an adult’s task.

The early years foundation stage is the required framework for children’s learning, development and care; here, the December 2023 activities illustrate learning through play. Outdoors, trikes, equipment for balancing and climbing, and a small trampoline gave children different ways to practise movement.

Literacy also had a practical presence in December 2023. A lending library brought books into family life, while older children practised letters and sounds using an approach aligned with the neighbouring school. Visits to that school’s library and events introduced children to a school environment. These visits helped children build confidence in that environment.

In December 2023, key persons gathered information from parents and other settings children attended, tracked development and planned next steps. That exchange connected the preschool day with learning at home and elsewhere.

Support also extended to everyday frustrations. In December 2023, staff responded sensitively when younger children struggled with expectations, and encouraged them to persevere with tasks such as peeling an orange. Children practised changing into outdoor clothes and clearing away after meals. Independence was built through ordinary routines.

For children learning English as an additional language, staff used clear speech and repeated phrases in December 2023. Targeted support programmes were planned with parents, giving families a role in shaping the help their child received.

Nestlings Pre School is at Pratten Hut, School Lane, Staverton, Trowbridge, BA14 6NZ. In December 2023, children attending were aged two to four, and opening hours ran from 9am to 3pm on weekdays, Monday to Friday.

At that time, the preschool provided funded places for children aged two, three and four. This is a dated account of its provision, rather than a promise of a funded place for an individual child.

• Adult-led activities. In December 2023, some group activities were less consistently planned to keep children involved and learning. Families weighing structured group learning should give this improvement point attention alongside the strengths of self-directed play.
• Attendance needs. The December 2023 opening window was 9am to 3pm, Monday to Friday. At a visit, what current attendance arrangements and age intake would fit your child?

Nestlings suits families drawn to child-led play, practical independence and links between preschool learning and home. Its December 2023 examples are concrete: making a vet’s surgery, borrowing books and managing everyday tasks. The balance to weigh is equally specific: engaging self-chosen play alongside group activities that needed more consistent planning.