Tree House Pre-school at Upton Noble CofE VC Primary School

Counting on the circle mat, outdoor activities and a quieter spell after lunch give Tree House Pre-school its daily rhythm. This is Upton Noble CofE VC Primary School’s own pre-school, where two-year-olds can attend, on Chapel Street in Upton Noble. Families can choose a morning, an afternoon or a full day, so the length of attendance can fit around their working arrangements.

Ofsted judged the school’s early years provision Good at the inspection on 22 and 23 October 2024. That judgement covers early years within the school; it is not a separate nursery rating.

The morning begins with doors opening at 9:00, followed by circle time at 9:15. Children greet one another and discuss the weather and the day ahead. Older children then practise counting and recognising numbers, while younger children can play freely or take part in an activity with an adult. There is room for different stages of development within the same morning routine.

From 9:30, activities combine children’s own choices with adult guidance. Indoor and outdoor activities feature in both the morning and afternoon. Stories and songs bring the group together before lunch, and again towards the end of the day. These repeated gathering points give the session a recognisable shape rather than leaving it as an uninterrupted stretch of play.

Early years learning links stories with early number understanding. In October 2024, children were retelling stories, singing familiar rhymes spontaneously and quickly learning to recognise quantities without counting each item, known as subitising. Clear routines from the beginning of early years also supported children’s behaviour. For parents, the practical picture is of play and conversation alongside purposeful work on language and numbers.

Fresh fruit accompanies a choice of water or milk at the morning snack. Lunch takes place at 12:00. Children attending for the whole day then move towards calmer choices, including drawing, books or painting, with time to rest before afternoon activities. The pause matters: a longer session includes a quieter period as well as active play.

Stay and play sessions allow parents and children to look around together before choosing the setting. They offer a shared introduction to the pre-school. For discussions about additional needs, the school’s special educational needs co-ordinator can be contacted through the school office on 01749 850375.

Attending Tree House does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal school admissions route. The route is Somerset’s Apply to Start School service. Treat choosing a nursery session and applying for a school place as separate decisions, and follow the normal Reception application deadline.

Morning sessions run from either 8:30 or 9:00 until 12:30; the afternoon option is 12:30 to 15:30. Full days also have either starting time and finish at 15:30. The 8:30 start must be booked in advance, making this an arrangement to settle before using the earlier session.

The pre-school offers 30 hours of government-funded childcare for working parents and asks for a daily contribution towards extra resources for each day attended. Contact the school for current charges.

For nursery enquiries or to arrange stay and play, email treehouseun@gmail.com or telephone 01749 850 375 and ask for Tree House. The pre-school’s address is Chapel Street, Upton Noble, Shepton Mallet, BA4 6AU.