St. Marks Pre-School

Raised growing beds, fruit trees and a bug hotel give St. Marks Pre-School a practical outdoor character. An outdoor classroom and large playground extend the space beyond its two age-group classrooms. For children who enjoy movement, growing things and exploring, these are concrete reasons to consider this Somerset Road setting in Salisbury.

At its 10 March 2022 inspection, Ofsted rated the pre-school Good, while asking for greater challenge in learning and better participation by quieter children during group activities. Those points matter alongside the grade: children need activities that stretch their learning and give them opportunities to contribute.

There are 40 places in total. Separate classrooms serve children aged 2–3 and 3–4, giving younger children and those approaching school their own spaces. Music, storytelling, dance and sport led by local providers add to the activities children can experience.

Rooms and Ages

The younger and older age groups have separate classrooms, rather than sharing one undivided indoor space. Blue Dragons and Green Dragons are the named practitioner teams. The useful distinction for families is the age-based classroom arrangement; the outdoor classroom, playground and growing garden broaden the environments children can use.

In March 2022, children explored pretend dinosaur remains through digging, built roads in the sand and painted from flowers placed nearby. These examples show different ways of engaging with materials: imaginative play, construction and close observation. They also give parents a more useful picture of the inspection-era day than a list of toys alone.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage is the framework for children's learning, development and care. In parent terms, learning and everyday care belong together: play, language, relationships and increasing independence are part of the same day.

Local providers lead music, sport, dance and storytelling activities. These bring different kinds of participation into the week, although no fixed frequency is attached to them here. In March 2022, staff followed children's curiosity about dentistry by demonstrating the use of a mirror to examine teeth. A child's question could become something to investigate, rather than simply an answer to remember.

Books had different uses across the ages in March 2022. Younger children used illustrations to tell stories with friends, while older children searched books for information. The St Marks Pre-school Story Bag is linked to a book-sharing scheme, giving families another connection with reading beyond the classroom.

Outdoor and Community Life

Growing beds and fruit trees put food growing within the children's surroundings, while the bug hotel offers something small-scale to explore alongside the larger playground. In March 2022, bicycles, obstacles and climbing and balancing equipment formed part of outdoor play. Movement involved steering, negotiating space and testing balance.

Past events include Wacky Races, a sponsorship activity in which children chose vehicles and helmets for laps of a winding track. Tall Tree Theatre Group also brought An Albatross Fly-By to the playground. These are examples of experiences children have had, rather than promises of recurring events.

Relationships and Communication

A flexible transition plan supports the start at pre-school. Parent Chats provide opportunities to discuss development, while Tapestry is an online Learning Journal through which the key person regularly shares observations, photographs and videos. Parents can contribute their own material and comments, making communication a two-way exchange.

Access to each child's journal is restricted to that family and practitioners. The confidentiality policy prohibits sharing its photographs or videos through social media or other online platforms. This is a practical responsibility for parents using the system, as access can be withdrawn if confidentiality is breached.

Activity cards, book bags and Busy Bags extend the connection with home. In March 2022, parents also contributed skills to gardening and woodwork activities. That involvement offered a direct way for family experience to become part of children's learning.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

A SENCo works four days a week, and support workers are employed where appropriate for children with additional needs. These are identifiable mechanisms for support, rather than a general promise that every need will be met in the same way.

At the March 2022 inspection, Ofsted found effective safeguarding arrangements, well-established key-person relationships and support for children with SEND through adapted learning and work with other professionals. In March 2022, staff also used words from children's home languages to help those learning English communicate their needs.

Sessions and Attendance

The address is Somerset Road, Salisbury, SP1 3BL. Enquiries can be made through the contact form, by email or by telephone. In March 2022, opening hours were 9am to 3pm, Monday to Friday; those are dated opening hours, rather than a description of a current booking pattern.

Uniform is optional. A small stock of New to You clothing can be obtained for a donation, offering a reuse option for families who choose uniform.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded childcare includes Universal Funding of 15 hours from the term after a child's third birthday, Extended Funding of up to 30 hours for eligible children from that point, and Better Together Funding for eligible two-year-olds. Paid childcare hours are also offered. Eligibility conditions remain important when planning the family's childcare budget.

Fees are invoiced by email at the start of each of the six terms, based on booked hours. Healthy snacks carry a separate session charge. An enrichment contribution accompanies each invoice and supports activities and events, alongside consumable resources such as cooking ingredients and playdough.

Examples supported by that contribution include emergency-service visits, mini athletics and drama groups. Families should use the funding and fees page alongside their current written quotation to understand how childcare hours and additional charges fit together.

In March 2022, the pre-school occupied grounds shared with Wyndham Park Infant School and St. Marks Junior School. Attendance at the pre-school does not guarantee a Reception place; families still apply through the local authority admissions process.

• Challenge and participation. The March 2022 improvement points concerned stretching children's learning and involving quieter children in groups. During a visit, ask how staff now adapt activities for a confident learner and a child who takes longer to speak.
• Attendance arrangements. The March 2022 opening window was 9am to 3pm on weekdays. What current booking pattern and calendar would apply to your child?
• Charges beyond childcare hours. Snacks are charged separately and an enrichment contribution accompanies invoices. Obtain a written quotation explaining how those charges apply to the hours you intend to book, including funded hours.
• Parent involvement. Fundraising takes place at least three times a year, and parents and children help choose resources bought with the proceeds. Families who enjoy contributing ideas and practical help have a clear route to take part.

St. Marks suits families seeking age-group classrooms, substantial outdoor play space and an active connection between home and pre-school. Growing beds, visiting activity providers and Tapestry give that offer substance. The March 2022 learning and participation improvement points deserve attention, especially for children who need extra challenge or encouragement to contribute. The strongest decision rests on how that day would work for your child.