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Hartwell Nursery & Preschool

Ofsted: Good
(Jul 2023)
·
5.0(2 parent reviews) ·Hartwell Community Centre, School Lane, NORTHAMPTON, NN7 2HL · West Northamptonshire
Number of places
24 places
Age range
2–4 yrs
Last inspected
Jul 2023
Local authority
West Northamptonshire

About this day nursery

Hartwell Nursery & Preschool is a community-focused, charitable preschool catering to children aged 2 years 6 months to 4 years. The preschool aims to nurture each child's personal, social, physical, creative, emotional, mathematical, moral, and cultural development through carefully planned play and activities, both within the premises and during outings.

The learning approach is child-centred and play-based, encouraging curiosity, discovery, and problem-solving to foster individual growth and a positive self-image. Parental involvement is highly valued, with parents encouraged to provide feedback and suggestions, and regular newsletters keeping them informed of events.

The preschool is committed to continuous assessment and improvement of its management to ensure high-quality care. They are inclusive, offering access and arrangements for children with special needs, and operate under an equal opportunities policy.

All staff are OFSTED registered, undergo strict clearances, and receive ongoing training in safeguarding and first aid, ensuring a safe and healthy environment for all children.

Our ethos

Hartwell Nursery & Preschool adopts a child-centred and play-based learning approach, aiming to nurture personal, social, physical, creative, emotional, mathematical, moral, and cultural development. They encourage curiosity, discovery, and problem-solving, valuing parental involvement and continuous improvement to foster individual growth and a positive self-image in a safe and healthy environment.

What it's like

Staff greet children and parents warmly and provide support for children who need more time to settle. They create vast opportunities for children to be outside and develop physical skills. Staff also support children to share and take turns, praising them for their positive interactions.

Community-runCharitable statusPlay-based learningOutdoor explorationEarly Birds club

Pricing & funding

This preschool offers an early morning club from 8:45am to 9:15am, charged at a flat rate per session with or without breakfast. Government funding can be used to cover the session cost, although funding does not cover the cost of breakfast.

Funding accepted

15 hours — universal (3–4 yrs)30 hours — working parents (3–4 yrs)15 hours — eligible 2-year-oldsTax-Free Childcare

Good to know

  • Early Birds club runs from 8:45am to 9:15am.
  • Sessions can be funded using 15 or 30 hours funded childcare.
  • Government funding does not cover the cost of breakfast.
  • Breakfast consists of a drink of milk or water, plus cereal or toast.

Key facts

Opening hours

Morning 9:15–12:00, Lunch 12:00–12:45, Afternoon 12:45–3:15

Session types

Morning session, Lunch session, Afternoon session, Mini Explorer session, Early Birds Club

Age range

2 years 6 months to 4 years

Term time / All Year

Term Time

Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted rating for Hartwell Nursery & Preschool

Last inspected 11 July 2023

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

Staff greet children and parents warmly and provide support for children who need more time to settle. They create vast opportunities for children to be outside and develop physical skills. Staff also support children to share and take turns, praising them for their positive interactions.

Inspector highlights

  • The manager has worked tirelessly since the last inspection to make significant improvements and has developed an exciting and ambitious curriculum.
  • Overall, staff interactions with children are of a high quality, and many children are confident communicators.
  • Staff sensitively support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), ensuring they make good progress from their starting points.
  • Parents speak positively about the staff, praising their kindness and nurturing approach, and highlighting how the pre-school celebrates every child as an individual.
  • Children are encouraged to be independent throughout the day, learning to manage tasks like unzipping coats, spreading toast, and even separating recycling.

Areas to develop

  • 1provide consistent support for children to develop their communication and language by always using the correct pronunciation of words
  • 2improve staff understanding of how to support children's mathematical knowledge of more complex shapes.
Inspection #10281238 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report

What parents say

Verbatim quotes recorded in the Ofsted inspection

Parents say the staff are kind and nurturing, and their children love attending.

They say their children have such a good time at pre-school they ask to stay for longer when they come and collect them.

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

SEND provision

Staff sensitively support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). They find out all about children's individual needs and support them in the best possible way. Staff maintain regular communication with parents and external agencies to ensure consistent support is provided for children. Children with SEND make good progress from their starting points.

Outdoor space

Staff provide vast opportunities for children to be outside in the fresh air and develop their physical skills. Children excitedly tell visitors to the pre-school that they are going on a minibus to visit the local forest with friends from a neighbouring pre-school. They share that they will spend the whole day outdoors and have their lunch sitting under the trees. At pre-school, children learn to negotiate space and race on tracks on pedal bicycles and cross the wobbly bridge on the climbing frame.

Parent Reviews of Hartwell Nursery & Preschool

5.0
(2)
Soft Glam by Rose
10 months ago

This nursery has been amazing for our little boy. When looking into local nurseries, we initially looked at 3 but Hartwell stood out straight away. It was the only place that felt like a home-from-home setting and the staff and environment felt calm, which was huge to us as we wanted our child to enjoy his space around him and for it to feel relaxed and fun. One thing we noticed when visiting, was how the team were really proud of what they’ve set up for the children and it felt that they would be more personable than the others we saw. That did not disappoint as we’ve continuously seen how they’ve adapted things or put new routines in place specifically for our child, to help him and his daily routine, which we are very grateful for as they’ve put a lot of effort into settling him in. He has absolutely loved his time at Hartwell and has been there nearly a year now. They have an outdoor park seconds away, which they often use and they love outdoor play, which is great. His confidence and social skills have come on loads since starting and he has grown a real bond and shown that he feels it’s a safe place with his amazing key workers Jo & Ashley. They have been so good with him but they have also shown that they listen to what he needs daily and will adapt around him, something we are so thankful for. The manager Katy is always available to ask questions or for help and she has also supported Declan daily. Although some staff may not be his key workers or in his room, the whole team really take an interest in your children and really does care. Thank you for everything so far. We are so pleased we found you.

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Nikkita Gurney
6 years ago

I could not reccomend hartwell preschool enough, they have been amazing. My daughter thoroughly loved her time there, often coming home excited to tell me the different adventures and things she had learnt. Fantastic preschool!!

Read on Google

Reviews from Google for Hartwell Nursery & Preschool. See all on Google Maps

Inspection history
Improved from Inadequate → Good in 2023

Date: November 2011

  • July 2023Good
  • February 2023Inadequate
  • April 2017Outstanding
  • June 2015Good
  • November 2011Good

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