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Blakeney Under Fives

Ofsted: Good
(Apr 2024)
·
5.0(12 parent reviews)
·The Lodge, C/O Blakeney School, Blakeney, GL15 4EB · Gloucestershire
Number of places
24 places
Age range
2–4 yrs
Last inspected
Apr 2024
Local authority
Gloucestershire

About this day nursery

Blakeney Under Fives is a nurturing preschool located in the Forest of Dean, committed to providing a high-quality early years education. The dedicated team focuses on creating a secure and supportive atmosphere where children can flourish through play, learning, and individualised attention.

The preschool's curriculum is carefully designed to spark curiosity and imagination through diverse activities, ranging from outdoor explorations to creative arts, aiming to build a strong foundation for future academic success. Operating during term-time from Monday to Friday, with sessions available from 9 am to 3 pm, the nursery also offers early starts from 8:15 am.

Our ethos

Blakeney Under Fives is committed to providing high-quality early years education in a secure and supportive atmosphere. They aim to spark curiosity and imagination through diverse activities, including outdoor explorations and creative arts, fostering a play-based, child-led learning environment that builds a strong foundation for future success.

What it's like

Children arrive happy and eager to learn at this welcoming pre-school. Staff plan a range of purposeful and fun activities that support children's individual learning in all aspects of their development. All children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and those in receipt of additional funding, are well supported by staff and make good progress in their learning.

Forest of DeanHomely settingOfsted 2024

Pricing & funding

Fees are based on session types, including morning sessions and full days. Additional options include early starts, early drop-offs, and an optional daily snack charge.

Funding accepted

15 hours — universal (3–4 yrs)30 hours — working parents (3–4 yrs)15 hours — eligible 2-year-olds
  • Early starts£2.50 / session
  • Early drop-off£1.00 / session
  • Morning session (9am-12pm)£17.00 / session
  • Full day session (9am-3pm)£34.00 / session
  • Daily snack charge (optional)£0.50 / session

Good to know

  • An optional daily snack charge is available.

Key facts

Opening hours

Monday to Friday from 9am to 3pm (term time), with early starts from 8:15 am

Session types

Morning session (9am-12pm), Full day session (9am-3pm), Early starts (from 8:15am), Early drop-off (from 8:45am)

Term time / All Year

Term Time

Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted rating for Blakeney Under Fives

Last inspected 23 April 2024 · Dominique Allotey

Safeguarding effective
Overall effectiveness
Good
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good

What it's like to attend

Children arrive happy and eager to learn at this welcoming pre-school. Staff plan a range of purposeful and fun activities that support children's individual learning in all aspects of their development. All children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and those in receipt of additional funding, are well supported by staff and make good progress in their learning.

Inspector highlights

  • Children develop good language and communication skills and are confident communicators.
  • Mathematical development is good, with counting and number recognition opportunities in daily routines.
  • Staff encourage children's literacy skills through drawing, purposeful marks, and story time.
  • Staff teach children about nature and living things, and promote physical development and healthy lifestyles.
  • The pre-school has recently linked with an inner-city early years setting to widen children's knowledge of diversity.

Areas to develop

  • 1n consider the use of the physical environment for group storytelling to help all children fully participate, develop a love of literacy through books and enhance their listening and attention skills
  • 2n enhance staff's interactions during free play sessions to extend the learning of the two year olds and to help them to learn new things beyond what they already know.
Inspection #10335502 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

SEND provision

All children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and those in receipt of additional funding, are well supported by staff and make good progress in their learning. Staff recognise the benefits and importance of working in partnership with parents and other professionals. For example, children with SEND have plans in place that include specific strategies and teaching techniques that therapists advise staff to use to best meet children's needs. Staff use simple sign language and visual aids to help children with SEND follow routines and make choices about what they want to do.

Outdoor space

Children are curious about worms and enjoy looking for their hiding places in the garden. Staff promote physical development and healthy lifestyles well and ensure children are active.

Parent Reviews of Blakeney Under Fives

5.0
(12)
Victoria Page
3 years ago

Blakeney pre school is a fantastic setting, both my boys absolutely love it. My eldest is now in reception at Blakeney school and he settled in immediately thanks to the preparation that the all the staff put into getting the children ready to transition. My youngest now attends and he can’t wait to get in there. I know he has had a fantastic day when he returns with paint on his cheeks and a big smile. All the staff care passionately about each and every child, they are all assigned a key worker and the decision is based on which staff member best suits their temperament. We have regular catch ups on progress so that any concerns over development can be discussed. This has been brilliant as my youngest has needed extra support with his speech development. I wholeheartedly recommend this pre school.

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Debbora Hall
3 years ago

My daughter started preschool here a month ago and I cannot fault it so far. As a lockdown baby I was a bit worried how she'd cope but she settled in amazingly, she loves to go in every day. I think this is because the staff are so tuned in - they all seem to have an excellent understanding of each child's mindset, and an obvious love of caring for little ones. They are enthusiastic and joyful, while being sensitive when needed. The setting itself has lots of interest, and the activities are well planned. Lovely - and I recommend it to anyone who asks!

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Kelly Cook
3 years ago

I love this nursery and so does my little girl. It's wonderful seeing our daughter get excited about going here and her personal development since going is remarkable. The staff are truly amazing, such warm hearted individuals with caring mind sets that really make an effort to engage the children and develop them in a very individualised way, which coincides with early learning standards. The staff are really committed to providing a fun, friendly, safe learning environment and I'am truly grateful to the whole team at Blakeney pre school for all that they do for my little girl, thank you.

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Shona Cadogan
3 years ago

I have sent all three of my children to Blakeney preschool, it is such a wonderful setting that there was no question of sending them anywhere else. The staff are second to none - my children adore them all and they provided such a wonderful, supporting and encouraging environment for our children to grow within. Blakeney preschool gave our children the best and I can never thank them enough for it.

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Lesley Greenwood
3 years ago

I cannot rate this setting highly enough. My daughter started here age 2 and has loved it since her very first day. She is excited to go every morning and comes out smiling every afternoon. The staff are fantastic, they go above and beyond for the children with the lovely things they plan and do for them. Parents are kept updated on the personal development of their child and are also given the opportunity to see what they get up to daily on the private pre-school group chat, with photos of their activities and info updates which is added reassurance for the parents of new starters and also a great way of keeping up with what they do. It is a wonderful pre-school.

Read on Google

Reviews from Google for Blakeney Under Fives. See all on Google Maps

Inspection history

Date: November 2010

  • April 2024Good
  • June 2018Good
  • November 2015Good
  • November 2010Good

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