Little Jesters Nursery at Lift Berkeley

A building of its own within the school playground gives Little Jesters a distinct base, while mature woods, a library bus and a large playing field extend its surroundings. This is the preschool at Lift Berkeley, caring for children aged 2 years 9 months to 4 years. Children have their own setting alongside access to the wider school’s resources.

The nursery team works with school colleagues, including the Reception teacher and other professionals. That connection matters for continuity between preschool and school. At the inspection on 15 and 16 June 2022, Ofsted judged the school’s early years provision Good. This was an early years judgement within the school inspection, rather than a separate nursery rating.

Indoor learning space is paired with an outside area that children can use throughout the day. The arrangement gives play and exploration room to move between indoors and outdoors, rather than restricting outdoor learning to a single break.

Beyond the nursery’s own space, children benefit from the school’s mature woods, large playing field, library bus and outdoor swimming pool. These are distinct resources: woodland and open ground broaden the physical setting, while the library bus adds a place associated with books. Access to the pool is another feature of the school surroundings.

In June 2022, early years children explored melting by making ice creams and noticing the effect of sunshine. It is a concrete example of learning through an activity children can observe and discuss. They also compared their own artwork with paintings by famous artists, connecting something they had made with other pictures. Both examples give parents a useful picture of learning through practical experiences.

Hot lunches can be bought for Little Jesters children and are prepared in the school’s kitchen each lunchtime. Families therefore have a hot-meal option within the school setting. The nursery describes these meals as nutritious.

Communication with parents uses Marvellous Me for all correspondence. This gives families a single channel for written messages from the preschool. Alongside that communication, the nursery staff’s work with other professionals provides a connection beyond the immediate preschool team.

Attending Little Jesters does not guarantee a Reception place at Lift Berkeley. Nursery admission and Reception admission are separate processes: families must apply again through the normal Reception route and meet the applicable deadline. Choosing the preschool should therefore remain a decision about the nursery experience itself.

The nursery aims for children to begin school feeling confident and excited. Its staff work closely with the Reception teacher, a useful link between the teams supporting that next step. This working relationship is separate from the allocation of Reception places.

Little Jesters families can access the school’s wraparound care, subject to limited spaces. That condition matters when planning childcare around work: access should not be treated as an assured place.

For nursery enquiries, email littlejesters@bps.cbat.academy or call the preschool on 01453 819328. The school’s main entrance is where School Lane meets Marybrook Street. Small car parks are opposite the school on Marybrook Street and near the library at the end of School Lane; drivers should observe the parking restrictions outside the school.