Shaw and Whitley Pre School

A village-hall pre-school with a parent-led charity structure gives Shaw and Whitley Pre School its character. Based at Shaw Village Hall in Melksham, it combines indoor play space with an outdoor area, while families can take part in the committee that oversees its running. The pre-school has 30 places in total.

At its February 2024 inspection, Ofsted rated the pre-school Outstanding and judged safeguarding effective. The detail behind that judgement matters: children explored ideas through practical activities, staff gave them time to think, and everyday routines encouraged independence. This is a setting whose inspection strengths were rooted in the children's day.

Attendance is term-time, with morning, afternoon and all-day arrangements alongside a flexible approach to funded hours.

Learning and Activities

The pre-school uses EYFS, the framework for young children's learning, development and care. Here, its day-to-day meaning can be seen in play that builds language, physical skills and independence.

In February 2024, older children searched through sand for pretend fossils and considered which animals they belonged to. Adults extended the activity with questions, then paused to let children work out their answers. The combination gave children something concrete to investigate and a reason to explain their thinking.

Early writing followed children's interests. In February 2024, children beginning to form letters were given books in which to practise, making their developing skills visible. Stories, singing and rhymes also featured in the day. Adults used expressive voices and gestures, then returned to a story with questions that helped children recall its sequence. These are useful examples of how play and conversation can carry learning together.

Outdoor and Community Life

The indoor space and outdoor play area give children different settings for activity. In February 2024, younger children rode tricycles independently in the garden, while a climbing wall offered a physical challenge. Balancing, coordinating movements and judging how to move safely were part of the activity itself.

Community connections include Shaw Primary School and Churchfields at Atworth, alongside health visitors and speech and language specialists. These links bring school transition and specialist support into the pre-school's relationships with other services; they should not be read as an admissions advantage.

Relationships and Communication

Each child has a key person who supports settling, takes responsibility for their Learning Journey and agrees individual learning goals. The Learning Journey records the child's learning and can be viewed by parents whenever they wish. Having a particular adult to approach gives families a clear starting point for discussing concerns, rather than leaving them to find the right person each time.

Parent meetings take place at intervals. The key person arrangement connects those conversations with the goals agreed for the child, so communication can be about what comes next as well as what has already happened.

In February 2024, predictable routines helped children understand the next part of their day. Older children also helped younger ones locate their coats. That small example makes the social expectations tangible: consideration for other children was practised through ordinary tasks.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

At the February 2024 inspection, Ofsted found that staff used assessments to identify learning gaps, worked with outside professionals and provided effective targeted help for children with SEND or awaiting diagnosis. This was a finding about support in practice, rather than simply the existence of a policy.

The manager also holds the SENCO role, and the team includes safeguarding leadership and paediatric first-aid training. These are identifiable arrangements for organising support and responding to concerns.

In February 2024, children explored feelings by making expressions and using words for different emotions. Praise and certificates recognised their achievements. Personal care was also part of learning: children washed their hands before food, and older children managed nose-wiping independently. These examples connect emotional development and self-care with manageable everyday actions.

Sessions and Attendance

The pre-school operates during term time, Monday to Friday. Its day sessions run from 9am to 3.30pm, with an early start available from 8.30am. Morning and afternoon attendance are also offered, and families can use funded hours in different combinations within the opening day.

This gives the timetable more flexibility than a single all-day booking pattern. It remains a term-time arrangement, so its calendar is a central consideration for families whose work continues through school holidays.

Enquiries can be made by email at hello@shawandwhitleypreschool.co.uk or by telephone on 01225 702945 during pre-school hours.

Getting There

The setting operates at Shaw Village Hall, 16B The Beeches, Shaw, Melksham, Wiltshire SN12 8EP. The road directions approach via Shaw Hill, then Beeches Green and The Beeches, giving drivers a specific route to the hall.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded childcare is offered during term time. The entitlements include 15 hours for eligible two-year-olds receiving benefits-related funding, up to 30 hours for eligible two-year-olds through working-parent funding, and 15 hours for three- and four-year-olds, with an increase to 30 where working-parent eligibility applies. Funded hours can be used throughout the opening day; additional private hours are charged separately.

Parents supply a packed lunch, while morning and afternoon snacks are provided. Additional activities carry no extra charge.

Fees are invoiced ahead of each term, with payment due within two weeks of the invoice date. Leaving requires a month's written notice or payment instead, except when a child leaves at the end of the summer term. Charges continue during sickness absence; holiday charges are waived when a month's notice is given. Families should obtain a current written quotation for their chosen attendance pattern through the fees and session information.

The pre-school describes community links with Shaw Primary School and Churchfields at Atworth. Attendance does not guarantee a school place: families still use the local authority admissions process.

• Term-time planning. Care runs during term time, with day sessions ending at 3.30pm. At a visit, discuss how a morning, afternoon or all-day pattern would fit your working week and holiday arrangements.
• Age boundaries. The home information gives an age range of two to five, while the introduction gives two to four. Clarify the upper age limit for your child's intended attendance period.
• Lunch and personal supplies. Families provide packed lunches. Ask which non-food supplies your child should bring, so the practical responsibilities are clear before starting.
• School links. Shaw Primary School and Churchfields at Atworth are named community connections, rather than a guarantee of entry. Keep the school application separate from choosing pre-school care.

Shaw and Whitley Pre School suits families seeking term-time morning, afternoon or all-day attendance in a village-hall setting. Its key person system gives parents a defined contact, and its committee structure offers a route to involvement in how the charity runs. The February 2024 Outstanding judgement adds weight to the practical examples of thoughtful questioning, independence and targeted support. The decisive considerations are the term-time calendar, the child's age at attendance and how the chosen pattern fits family life.