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Elmtree Preschool

Ofsted: Good
(Sept 2025)
·
5.0(6 parent reviews) ·Cotham Gardens Primary School', 19 Elmgrove Road, Bristol, BS6 6AJ · Bristol
Number of places
21 places
Age range
2–4 yrs
Last inspected
Sept 2025
Local authority
Bristol

About this day nursery

Elmtree Preschool is a nurturing and welcoming environment for children aged 2-5 years, operating term-time from Monday to Thursday. The preschool prides itself on a child-centred, free-flow approach, aiming to create a 'home from home' atmosphere where children can grow in confidence.

With small session sizes, typically 12-16 children, the preschool fosters a supportive community and provides high-quality education and care. Elmtree Preschool is a registered not-for-profit charity, ensuring all funds are reinvested directly into the preschool for the benefit of the children.

They offer various session options, including full days and mornings, and are flexible with funded childcare hours, allowing families to maximise their entitlements. The preschool also provides extra sessions and ad-hoc bookings, subject to availability, and offers 'Pay As You Go' settling-in sessions as well as two free 'stay and play' sessions before a child's official start.

Snacks are included in a small daily consumable charge, with dairy-free alternatives available.

Our ethos

Elmtree Preschool prides itself on a child-centred, free-flow approach, aiming to create a 'home from home' atmosphere where children can grow in confidence.

What it's like

Leaders have devised a curriculum that places focus on the prime areas of learning, helping children to develop good foundations for their future. Children keenly explore activities and develop hand strength and coordination. Staff build trusting relationships, ensuring children feel safe and secure and gain self-confidence.

Charity-runSmall session numbersChild-centred approachOfsted "Good"

Pricing & funding

The preschool charges a consumable fee per morning or full day session, which covers snacks. Extra charges or donation requests may apply for trips and special experiences. All fees and charging details are outlined in the provider's welcome booklet.

Funding accepted

15 hours — eligible 2-year-olds15 hours — universal (3–4 yrs)30 hours — working parents (3–4 yrs)
  • Consumable charge per session£1 / session
  • Consumable charge per morning session£1 / session
  • Consumable charge per full day session£2 / session

Good to know

  • Consumable fee applies per morning or full day session.
  • Session fees are inclusive of snacks for all children.
  • Additional charges or donation requests may apply for trips and experiences.

Key facts

Opening hours

Monday - Thursday 8.40am - 3.15pm, term time

Session types

Full day: 8.40am - 3.15pm, Morning: 8.40am - 12.00pm

Food

Children bring their own packed lunch. Snacks are provided and included in the consumable charge.

Age range

2 - 5 years old

Term time / All Year

Term Time

Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted rating for Elmtree Preschool

Last inspected 30 September 2025 · Chelsea Woollard

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

Leaders have devised a curriculum that places focus on the prime areas of learning, helping children to develop good foundations for their future. Children keenly explore activities and develop hand strength and coordination. Staff build trusting relationships, ensuring children feel safe and secure and gain self-confidence.

Inspector highlights

  • Leaders and staff know children well and plan fun activities based on children's individual interests.
  • Leaders ensure that children have free-flow access between the indoor and outdoor spaces, which positively impacts those children who prefer to learn outside.
  • Staff gather detailed information from parents to help them understand children's interests and create robust starting points for children.
  • Children benefit from a wide range of learning opportunities, helping to develop their understanding of the world and their local community.
  • Parents speak highly of the nursery and praise the 'warm and compassionate' staff team.

Areas to develop

  • 1ensure that the planning and delivery of activities for children provide sufficient challenge to sustain their engagement
  • 2further strengthen the curriculum for mathematics to promote children's counting and use of number during their play
  • 3continue to help newer staff develop a deeper understanding of the curriculum to enable them to deliver it more effectively.
Inspection #10420936 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report

What parents say

Verbatim quotes recorded in the Ofsted inspection

Parents comment on the positive progression their children have made.

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

SEND provision

The special educational needs coordinator spoke to the inspector about how they support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities.

Outdoor space

Outside, children develop their hand-eye coordination as they pour and empty water from various-sized containers. Also, children engage in mark making as they paint the fence with water, and others dig in the sand and make pretend ice creams. Leaders ensure that children have free-flow access between the indoor and outdoor spaces.

Parent Reviews of Elmtree Preschool

5.0
(6)
Daisy Mattinhouse
11 months ago

We absolutely love Elmtree! Becky and her team are so lovely and caring, they were brilliant at reassuring our daughter when she began. The other children are lovely and so supportive of her too, encouraging her to come and play, she has made so many sweet friends. It’s such a nice set up, they have really made the most of the space and have lots of outdoor play and stories which our daughter loves. It’s also small so it felt really manageable even when she was starting at 2 and had never been away from us. Really can’t recommend it highly enough.

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Allie Graham
2 years ago

We love Elmtree! My son is very happy there and even asks to go on his days off! Becky and Caroline are so warm, friendly and supportive to both the children and their families. Their flexibility (and the fact that they provide breakfast!) makes my mornings much easier. I love getting little updates on the app about what Rudy and his little pals get up to too. I highly recommend this setting!

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Miriam de Pablos Herranz
a year ago

Absolutely loved this nursery. The staff are kind, loving and supportive, and genuinely care for the kids. They created a positive environment where kids feel welcome and part of the Elmtree family. Thanks so much Caroline and Becky, keep up the amazing job!

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Tam
2 years ago

Amazing pre-school. Becky and Caroline provide a nurturing, lovely and fun environment. My daughter absolutely loves going there and I have seen her develop in leaps and bounds. I can't praise them enough! Definitely the best pre-school I have experienced.

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Gregor King
2 years ago

My wee girl started attending a few months ago, she loves it and she has developed brilliantly. Becky and Caroline are awesome, they are great with the kids and always posting updates on the app with progress reports

Read on Google

Reviews from Google for Elmtree Preschool. See all on Google Maps

Inspection history

Most recent inspection

30 September 2025

Good

Only one graded inspection on record — a trend chart will appear here once a second graded report is published.

View full Ofsted report

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This listing has been compiled from official Ofsted records, the nursery's own website, details provided directly by the nursery where available, and other trusted public sources. We regularly review and update listings to keep the information as accurate as possible. Learn more