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Thatcham Pre-School

Ofsted: Good
(Nov 2021)
·8 The Burdwood Centre, Thatcham, RG19 4YA · West Berkshire
Number of places
35 places
Age range
2–4 yrs
Last inspected
Nov 2021
Local authority
West Berkshire

About this day nursery

Thatcham Pre-School, formerly Thatcham Playgroup, has been a cornerstone of early childhood education in Thatcham since 1966. As a registered charity and committee-run establishment, it is regulated by OFSTED and is a member of the Pre-School Learning Alliance.

Conveniently located within the Burdwood Community Centre, the pre-school is easily accessible by public transport, and is close to Thatcham town centre, train station, and local primary schools like Francis Baily and Spurcroft School. It offers term-time care for children aged 2 to 5 years, providing a stimulating and fun educational environment.

The pre-school focuses on child-led learning, planning activities based on children's interests to help them thrive and learn through play. Facilities include daily access to art and craft activities, physical play, a role-play area, sensory activities, and sand and water play.

Children also benefit from free flow between indoor and outdoor spaces, weather permitting, with the outdoor area featuring a mud kitchen and various toys and climbing equipment. The pre-school also aims to offer flexible childcare and works in partnership with parents/carers and the local community to achieve positive outcomes for children.

Our ethos

Thatcham Pre-School aims to provide a caring, secure, stimulating, and happy environment where all children can flourish. They value the contributions of all families and offer children opportunities to develop physically, emotionally, socially, and intellectually. Their approach involves taking into account children's interests and planning activities they will enjoy, allowing them to thrive and learn through play.

What it's like

Children are happy and secure, and enjoy the time they spend at the pre-school. They are motivated to explore the learning environment and make new discoveries. The pre-school provides a secure foundation for children's future learning, and children make good progress.

Charity-runCommittee-runEstablished 1966Play-based learningIndoor/Outdoor free flow

Pricing & funding

Fees are charged at a flat hourly rate. A one-off registration fee is required to secure a place, and a voluntary weekly contribution is requested from families to cover the cost of healthy morning and afternoon snacks.

Funding accepted

15 hours — eligible 2-year-olds15 hours — universal (3–4 yrs)30 hours — working parents (3–4 yrs)

Good to know

  • A registration fee is required to secure your child's place.
  • A voluntary weekly snack contribution is requested per family to cover AM and PM snacks.

Key facts

Opening hours

Mon-Fri: 9:00am - 3:00pm

Age range

2 to 5 years old

Term time / All Year

Term Time

Session types

term time

Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted rating for Thatcham Pre-School

Last inspected 8 November 2021 · Ingrid Howell

Overall effectiveness
Good

What it's like to attend

Children are happy and secure, and enjoy the time they spend at the pre-school. They are motivated to explore the learning environment and make new discoveries. The pre-school provides a secure foundation for children's future learning, and children make good progress.

Inspector highlights

  • Children are motivated to explore the learning environment and make new discoveries.
  • Staff have high expectations for all children and are committed to providing high-quality, inclusive care and education.
  • Staff make good use of observations and assessments to help plan for children's next steps in play and learning.
  • Children behave well, copying the good role modelling of staff.
  • Children demonstrate good levels of imagination and play together harmoniously with their friends.

Areas to develop

  • 1develop further the arrangements to share information with parents and to gather their views and ideas for improvement.
Inspection #10202446 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report

What parents say

Verbatim quotes recorded in the Ofsted inspection

parents report that they would like staff to provide more suggestions on how they can support their children's learning at home.

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

SEND provision

Staff support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities effectively.

Outdoor space

Children particularly enjoy the freedom to play and learn outdoors. They eagerly challenge themselves as they use a selection of resources that encourage them to be adventurous and physically active, exploring different ways of climbing on and off apparatus.

Inspection history
Improved from Inadequate → Good in 2021

Date: June 2021

  • November 2021Good
  • June 2021Inadequate

Frequently asked about Thatcham Pre-School

About the setting

Thatcham Pre-School registered in 2017 and is located in Thatcham, Berkshire. The setting operates Monday to Friday, during term time only, between 9am and 3pm. There are currently five staff who work directly with the children; all hold a level 3 qualification. The setting receives funding to provide free early education for children aged two, three and four years.

URN
EY555048
Registered person
Thatcham Pre-school Committee
Day care type
Full day care
Register
Early Years Register
Establishment type
Childcare on non-domestic premises

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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