St George's Shining Stars Preschool, Bourton

Stories, rhymes and role-play give the school's early years learning a conversational character. Shining Stars is the preschool provision at St George's Church of England School, Bourton, where the emphasis extends beyond first reading and writing to communication, physical development and learning alongside other children.

The school sits beside St George's Church in Bourton. In the inspection of 20 and 21 May 2025, Ofsted graded the school's early years provision Good. That judgement covers early years within the school; it is not a separate preschool rating.

The school's Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) approach combines adult-led teaching with play and opportunities to practise skills through activities. Topics connect different areas of learning, and planning responds to children's interests and development. For parents, that means early learning includes managing feelings, developing movement and talking with others, alongside literacy, mathematics, creativity and exploring the world.

Language has a daily place. Across the school's EYFS, children join in with rhymes, hear stories and use role-play to practise speaking and listening. Free-choice activities sit alongside focused teaching as children begin reading and writing. Dough disco and materials that children can mould give them practice controlling their movements, helping prepare their hands for writing equipment.

In May 2025, early years children developed confidence in speaking, learned to cooperate in play and became able to work on their own. A sensory rock pool provided one concrete example: children explained their fishcake-making activity. The useful connection is between doing and talking, with practical play giving children something to describe. These are findings about the school's early years provision as a whole.

A preschool leader works alongside a deputy with a preschool SEND link role and preschool practitioners. Staff hold NVQ qualifications at Level 2 and above, with additional training covering Makaton, first aid, safeguarding, child development, special educational needs and behaviour management. The team structure gives additional needs an identified role within preschool leadership.

For early years children needing extra support, activities are adapted around their interests and needs. Staff communicate with parents each day and check progress regularly. Where additional targets are needed, a Support Plan is developed and shared with the family. This gives parents a concrete way to discuss support and follow their child's progress.

Attending Shining Stars does not guarantee a Reception place at St George's. Families must make a separate application through the normal school admissions route. Dorset Council administers admissions, and parents are directed to apply online in the January before their child's anticipated school entry. Treat that application as a separate task from preschool attendance.

Within the school, transition arrangements include staff handovers and sharing Support Plans with the next teacher. Children needing further help with a class change can have photographs of new staff to take home or extra sessions with them. These arrangements support familiarity; they do not establish an admissions advantage.

The school office is the contact point for enquiries and arranging a school visit. Email office@bourton.dorset.sch.uk or telephone 01747 840409 to make an appointment. The school is on Church Track, Bourton, Gillingham, SP8 5BN.