Dry Drayton Pre-School Review

A mud kitchen, pretend play and two named curriculum groups give Dry Drayton Pre-School its own character within the primary school. Children aged two to four attend provision operated by Dry Drayton CofE (C) Primary School itself. The emphasis is on learning through play, with care and growing independence woven into the curriculum.

The school's early years provision received a Good judgement at the Ofsted inspection on 21 and 22 March 2023. That is a school early years judgement, rather than a separate pre-school rating.

Play shapes the learning here. Adults plan activities and guide some of them, while children also choose and develop their own play. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) brings together care and learning from birth to five: language, movement, relationships, early reading and maths sit alongside creativity and discovering how the world works.

Poppies, the rising threes, work towards recognising their names, sorting shapes and colours, pedalling a tricycle and beginning pretend play. These are curriculum goals, rather than an identical timetable of milestones for every child. Bluebells, the rising fives, have goals including counting items to five, writing their name's initial letter, choosing resources independently and using conversation to resolve disagreements. Practical independence matters alongside early literacy.

Outside, the mud kitchen makes messy play part of the experience. Aprons are used for creative activities, but clothing can still get marked. Staff assess progress by observing children, rather than testing them. Reviews take place when children are aged two to three, then again as the school year closes in the year of their fourth birthday.

Each child has an assigned key person who gets to know their interests and emotional needs, as well as their family. This gives parents a familiar member of staff to build a relationship with. Parents can attend alongside their child with the pre-school leader's agreement, allowing family involvement to be arranged with the team.

Food has clear ground rules. Snacks include fruit, breadsticks and crackers; children staying for lunch can bring a packed meal or book a school lunch. The pre-school excludes nuts and asks for water in a reusable bottle. Packed lunches should follow its healthy eating guidance, with no crisps or sugary drinks, and a cool block is advised in hot weather because fridge space is limited.

Additional needs are identified through observations and records, then discussed with parents. With parental permission, the team seeks extra funding for support. Places for children with SEN depend on arranging reasonable changes to staffing and resources to meet their specific needs. Staff receive regularly refreshed first aid training, and adults working with children undergo Enhanced DBS checks.

Reception admission. Attending this pre-school does not guarantee a place in the school's Reception. Families must make a separate application through the normal admissions process; school admissions are handled by Cambridgeshire's local authority. Treat the nursery choice and the later school application as separate decisions.

Transition activities serve a different purpose: familiarity. Before starting school, pre-school children are invited into Reception for morning sessions and a lunchtime session. The school also describes visiting children in their pre-school setting and meeting parents before entry. These activities help children encounter the next stage; they do not secure admission.

Sessions run Monday to Friday over 38 weeks, with occasional teacher training closures. The morning runs from 8.50am to 11.50am; the afternoon continues from 11.50am to 2.50pm and includes lunch from noon to 12.30pm. An optional, parent-funded late collection session ends at 3.20pm. Additional or ad-hoc bookings depend on space and staffing ratios.

Universal funding covers 15 weekly hours from the term after a child's third birthday. Eligible working families can access 30 hours for two-, three- and four-year-olds, subject to the eligibility code requirements. Funding covers core pre-school attendance, excluding late collection and after-school club. The school requests a voluntary contribution towards snacks and materials. Contact the office for current charges; reducing booked hours requires half a term's notice.

Easy-to-manage clothing supports toileting independence. A pre-school logo polo shirt is optional, while warm waterproof clothing is needed in winter. Arrange a visit or enquire through office@drydrayton.cambs.sch.uk or 01954 780618. Applications use a Pre-School Registration Form returned to the office.