Wickham Pre School

A conservation area, mixed-age play and access to primary-school grounds give Wickham Pre School a recognisable character. Based within Wickham Church of England Primary School in Fareham, it welcomes children aged two to four and has capacity for 30 children in total. The school setting brings practical benefits: children can use its grounds and facilities, while outdoor play also has a place in the pre-school’s own daily routine.

Ofsted rated the provision Good on 15 September 2023. That judgement is a dated assessment, and the detail beneath it matters: independence, communication and support for children with additional needs were important parts of the experience, alongside an improvement needed in the organisation of some group activities.

Attendance is term-time only, with morning and afternoon sessions plus early and late options. This is a setting to consider for families whose childcare needs follow the school calendar.

Learning and Activities

Mixed ages share much of the day, with shorter periods in age-appropriate key groups. That gives children time together across ages while retaining activities suited to their stage of development. Children choose between indoor play and the garden, select resources from storage marked with photographs, and are encouraged to return them after use. Those practical arrangements make choosing and tidying part of learning.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) provides the framework for children’s learning, development and care, with play supporting communication, physical skills and growing independence. Staff observe activities, take photographs and keep notes to shape what comes next. Planning therefore connects with what children are doing and what interests them, rather than treating play as time between organised tasks.

In September 2023, children practised everyday independence by serving their own drinks and clearing up. Signing accompanied songs and conversations, giving children another way to communicate. Staff also used smaller gatherings to develop social communication. However, noise from activities nearby sometimes interrupted concentration during group work; improving the organisation of those activities was the required next step.

Outdoor and Community Life

The conservation area adjoining the school grounds is used regularly for exploration. Village walks sometimes have a practical purpose, including posting Christmas cards. These experiences take learning beyond the playroom and connect children with familiar surroundings, rather than making the outdoor offer solely about equipment.

In September 2023, garden play included balancing on beams and using climbing equipment. Physical education sessions and preparation for sports day provided further opportunities to practise movement, while pressing paint pumps exercised the hands during creative work. Children also sang with older people at a local lunch club. That inspection-era example gives a concrete picture of community contact, without making it a current timetable promise.

Relationships and Communication

Tapestry is the online learning journal used to share observations with families. Parents can view their child’s journal remotely and contribute photographs and observations from home. This creates a useful connection between experiences at home and at pre-school, and the remote access has particular relevance for Service families.

In September 2023, staff helped new children settle through close reassurance and comfort. They explained expectations to younger children and helped them work through disagreements. The practical emphasis was on showing children what to do, rather than expecting them to understand routines immediately.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

At the September 2023 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and assessed support for children with special educational needs and disabilities very positively, with the SENCO coordinating targeted plans alongside parents and other professionals. These are inspection judgements from that date, rather than assurances about every child’s present experience.

The current team structure includes a SENCO role and an Early Years Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (EY ELSA). The pre-school also works with Health Visitors and Speech Therapists. For families arranging additional support, those roles and professional links provide concrete mechanisms to discuss, rather than a broad promise of inclusion.

Snack routines differ by age: older children choose when to join the snack table during a rolling period, while younger children eat together with support. Children sometimes help prepare snacks and clear away afterwards, extending the emphasis on managing small everyday tasks.

Sessions and Attendance

The address is Wickham C of E Primary School, Buddens Road, Fareham, PO17 5HU. Sessions run during school terms, and the booking choices are Early, 8am to 9am; Morning, 9am to noon; Afternoon, noon to 3pm; and Late, 3pm to 5pm, Monday to Friday. The separate blocks give families choices around the central morning and afternoon sessions.

Registration enquiries can be made by telephone on 01329 833039, and there is an online registration form. Completing that form does not secure a childcare place. Visits can be arranged by contacting the pre-school.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded childcare is offered on a term-time basis. The funding routes include Universal 15 Hours Funded Childcare for three- and four-year-olds, starting the term after their third birthday, Families Receiving Additional Support (FRAS) for eligible two-year-olds, and 30 Hours Weekly Funded Childcare for eligible working parents of children aged nine months to three years. Paid sessions are also offered; current prices come in the nursery’s written quotation.

Cleverchefs, the school caterer, prepares freshly cooked lunches, which are charged separately and ordered through its app by 8am on the day required; families can also provide packed lunches. For children with food allergies, the catering arrangements include completing a form to organise a tailored menu.

The pre-school works with the local primary school on transition. Sharing a school site does not guarantee a Reception place: families still apply through the local authority admissions process. The benefit here is familiarity and transition support, rather than an admissions entitlement.

• School-term attendance. All sessions follow the school-term calendar. Families needing childcare through school holidays will need to plan for those periods separately.
• Group activities. In September 2023, nearby noise sometimes distracted children during organised group work. On a visit, ask how quieter small-group activities are now arranged alongside other play.
• Lunch and additional costs. Hot lunches require a separate app order and payment. Ask for a written quotation covering your chosen sessions and any consumables, and discuss current allergy arrangements if these affect your child.

Wickham Pre School suits families seeking term-time morning or afternoon sessions, with early and late blocks to extend the day. Its strongest practical attractions are mixed-age play, access to the conservation area and school grounds, and Tapestry’s link between home and pre-school.

The September 2023 assessment gives families a positive starting point, with a specific question about how group activities are organised. The school-site setting also makes transition work relevant, provided families keep the Reception application separate from their childcare decision.