Braywick Court Preschool Review

Nature Warriors, cooking and Spanish give Braywick Court Preschool a distinctive weekly rhythm. This is Braywick Court School’s nursery provision, accepting children from age two and based off site at Bray Village Hall, Old Mill Lane, Bray, SL6 2AR. The village hall is the everyday base; fortnightly Wednesday sessions take children to the school.

Early learning combines language, movement and practical discovery. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) brings together children’s emotional and social development, communication, physical skills, early reading and number work, creativity and understanding of their surroundings. That means learning to interact with other children belongs alongside learning letter sounds.

Monday mornings include a welcome carpet session, stories and phonics; afternoons pair Number fun with Spanish through songs and movement. Tuesday’s Little chef’s cooking club gives measuring and quantities a practical purpose. Friday afternoons include Music and Movement, linking imaginative activity with the development of smaller hand movements and larger body movements.

Nature Warriors uses outdoor exploration to introduce the natural world. On alternate Wednesdays, the school hosts sessions including PE, phonics and Nature Warriors, bringing preschool staff and the school sports coach into the timetable. The allotment adds another physical learning space: in April 2023, preschool children grew vegetables there as part of learning about healthy eating.

At the 25 and 26 April 2023 inspection, Ofsted found that the preschool curriculum was carefully organised and that its activities developed children’s social abilities across the areas of early learning. Those findings give substance to the mix of practical activities and early literacy.

Settling starts with getting to know the child. Staff make home visits when children join Nursery, meeting parents to discuss their child in detail. A Transition Morning lets families meet the teacher and spend time in the new classroom, giving children familiar people and surroundings before they start.

Zones of Regulation begins in Preschool, using language and visual prompts adapted to children’s development to help them recognise feelings and practise managing them. For children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), early years staff are expected to respond to emerging difficulties and listen to parental concerns. The SENCo coordinates support, and parents are informed when special educational provision is introduced. Families can contact the inclusion team through the school office.

Preschool attendance does not guarantee a Reception place and gives no admissions priority under the 2027–28 arrangements. Families must make a separate application through their home local authority’s Common Application Form. For September 2027 entry, the deadline is 15 January 2027. Windsor and Maidenhead residents can apply online or use a paper form from the council’s admissions team.

Preparation for the next classroom is a separate matter. Reception staff meet nursery staff to exchange information about children. Where transition is more difficult, an individual programme may include extra classroom visits or photographs of staff and surroundings to use at home. Familiarity supports the change; it does not determine the admission decision.

Term-time opening runs from 8am to 4pm. Morning sessions last from 9am to noon, with afternoon sessions from noon to 3pm. Breakfast Club covers 8am to 9am, and After School Activity Club runs from 3pm to 4pm. These shorter blocks let families plan care around the preschool sessions.

Funded early education is offered for children aged two, three and four, up to 15 hours weekly and subject to a maximum of 570 hours annually. The preschool’s funding arrangement starts from the school term after a child’s second birthday and lasts until the term of their fifth birthday. Sessions and the clubs carry charges; contact the school for current charges. Changing or ending sessions requires eight weeks’ notice, so alterations need planning ahead.

Send the preschool application form to office@braywickcourtschool.org.uk, or call 01628 782562 to arrange a preschool visit. Joining the waiting list does not assure an offer. Branded polo shirts, sweatshirts and legionnaires hats are optional; pre-loved uniform can be requested through the PTA.