Little Saplings Pre-School at The Elms Primary School

Stories and conversation give Little Saplings its character. This is The Elms Primary School’s nursery provision in Faringdon, taking children from age three, with communication and language providing the foundations for later reading. For parents, that puts the emphasis on learning to listen, talk and enjoy books.

Little Saplings has its own pre-school room. Children can attend a morning, an afternoon or a full day, giving families a choice between shorter sessions and a day spanning both. Ofsted judged the school’s early years provision Good at the inspection on 13 and 14 May 2025; that judgement covers early years within the school.

Books have a practical role here. In May 2025, nursery staff were building early reading foundations through language and communication, while children across early years had opportunities to enjoy stories and books. The emphasis starts before independent reading: sharing a story and developing the language to take part are part of the learning itself.

The mystery reader brings families into that experience. A parent or carer comes into class to read a story, an activity children looked forward to in May 2025. It gives story time a familiar human connection, as well as another opportunity to listen.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is the framework for this provision. Its everyday shape includes learning through language and becoming familiar with routines. In May 2025, routines were introduced promptly in early years, helping children understand expectations as they progressed through school.

Settling visits formed part of the September 2026 start. Families whose children were joining Little Saplings that September could book through the office for visits between 7 and 11 September. These visits gave children an opportunity to become familiar with the setting.

The team includes an Early Years Manager and Early Years Educators, with paediatric first aid and safeguarding qualifications represented. The pre-school manager also holds a deputy safeguarding lead role within the school, connecting nursery care with the school’s safeguarding team.

Support for additional needs begins at entry. In May 2025, children’s needs were being identified during the transition into nursery. Families can contact the school’s SEND team at inclusion@tep.cambrianlt.org, giving them a direct route to discuss support.

Attending Little Saplings does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through the normal Reception admissions process. For the September 2027 intake, the application route is www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/admissions and the closing month is January 2027. Families without internet access can obtain a paper application from the school office.

Keep that application separate from arranging nursery sessions: familiarity with the school does not secure the next place.

Little Saplings runs during term time, Monday to Friday. Morning sessions are 9:00am to noon, afternoons noon to 3:00pm, and full days 9:00am to 3:00pm. Those three patterns make the length of the nursery day a concrete part of the family’s choice.

Nursery applications go directly to the school office, and places are allocated in application order. Contact the office on 01367 240232 or at office@tep.cambrianlt.org for enquiries.