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Tithe Barn Preschool

Ofsted: Outstanding
(Mar 2023)
·
5.0(14 parent reviews) ·Cheltenham Road, Bishops Cleeve, CHELTENHAM, GL52 8LU · Gloucestershire
Number of places
36 places
Age range
2–4 yrs
Last inspected
Mar 2023
Local authority
Gloucestershire

About this day nursery

Tithe Barn Preschool, situated in Bishop's Cleeve, aims to provide a nurturing and vibrant setting that fosters a love for learning in every child. The preschool focuses on engaging children through play and exploration to build confidence, self-esteem, and independence, while also developing their social and emotional capabilities.

Housed in the historic Tithe Barn, the preschool maintains an intimate atmosphere with limited spaces: 20 in the Preschool Room and 16 in the Early Learners Room for children aged 2-3. This approach ensures high-quality teaching, preparing children effectively for their transition to school.

The preschool prides itself on its strong staff-to-child ratios—one staff member for every five children in the Preschool Room and one for every four in the Early Learners Room. The leadership team comprises qualified teachers with diverse specialisms such as Early Years, Forest School, PE, Mindfulness, and Communication.

All key workers are highly experienced and hold either QTS or Level 3 qualifications. Admissions are primarily in September, with occasional January openings, and prospective parents are encouraged to register their interest online.

Our ethos

Tithe Barn Preschool fosters a love for learning through play and exploration, aiming to build children's confidence, self-esteem, and independence alongside their social and emotional capabilities. The preschool prioritises high-quality teaching with strong staff-to-child ratios and a leadership team with expertise in areas like Forest School, PE, and Mindfulness, preparing children for school and beyond.

What it's like

Children arrive with excitement and happiness, ready for their day at this exceptional pre-school. Highly enthusiastic, caring staff greet them and children enter an environment that has their needs and interests at the centre. Highly qualified staff are close by to facilitate children's learning, and children are highly motivated, display exceptional behaviour and excellent attitudes to learning.

Ofsted OutstandingSmall class sizesHigh staff-to-child ratioQualified teachersPlay-based learning

Pricing & funding

Fees are charged at an hourly rate based on the child's age group, with distinct rates for children aged two to three years and those aged three to four years. Funded children are subject to a flat daily charge.

Funding accepted

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

Good to know

  • Funded children are required to pay a daily charge.

Key facts

Opening hours

Monday to Friday (term-time): 9:00am - 3:00pm

Staff

1:5 in Preschool Room, 1:4 in Early Learners Room

Waitlist

Register interest advised, one intake a year in September, occasional January spaces

Age range

2-4 years

Term time / All Year

Term Time

Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted rating for Tithe Barn Preschool

Last inspected 28 March 2023

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

What it's like to attend

Children arrive with excitement and happiness, ready for their day at this exceptional pre-school. Highly enthusiastic, caring staff greet them and children enter an environment that has their needs and interests at the centre. Highly qualified staff are close by to facilitate children's learning, and children are highly motivated, display exceptional behaviour and excellent attitudes to learning.

Inspector highlights

  • The managers create an inspiring pre-school for all that attend, and are constantly reflecting and improving on their already outstanding practice.
  • Highly qualified managers and staff create an ambitious, high-quality curriculum that they tailor to children's needs and interests.
  • Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and children who are learning to speak English as an additional language receive exceptional support.
  • Highly committed and knowledgeable managers and staff have identified the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on children's confidence and communication skills, and these areas are a strong learning focus.
  • The inspirational managers and staff understand the importance of early years education and embedding the foundations for life-long learning, and engage with their wider community.
Inspection #10283049 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report

What parents say

Verbatim quotes recorded in the Ofsted inspection

parents report how managers and staff go 'above and beyond' to support children and families.

They share the excellent opportunities the setting provides for them to access, for example, nativity plays, parent workshops and stay-and-play sessions.

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

SEND provision

Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and children who are learning to speak English as an additional language receive exceptional support. Extremely knowledgeable staff create ongoing activities to extend children's learning and provide home visits to support a smooth transition and facilitate home learning. Managers hold regular meetings to share detailed and accurate assessments on children's learning with parents and outside agencies.

Outdoor space

Children are provided with regular weekly access to the 'Welly Wood' forest area. The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning.

Parent Reviews of Tithe Barn Preschool

5.0
(14)
Solange Baena
a year ago

I am so happy with the decision to have our little one doing preschool at Tithe Barn. The setting provides an exciting, well structured learning environment with an incredibly professional team of teachers. You will notice their contagious passion, enthusiasm and dedication in their interaction with children, as well as their weekly themed lessons. These have been complemented with various interactive activities at their premises (i.e. this year the children enjoyed the visit from a farm tractor, farm animals, a bus, an ice-cream truck...), visits to the library or local shops, sessions between parents and children and seasonal events. Information to parents about classes as well as your child's progress is provided on a frequent basis, and their reporting is top quality. I highly recommend this setting to any parent that wants to see their child thrive in a learning environment. I am confident my little one has benefitted greatly from her experience in Tithe Barn.

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Claire Booth
a year ago

It would be hard to find enough amazing words to describe Tithe Barn preschool. Our 3 children all spent a couple of years each at Tithe Barn and they absolutely loved it, as did we! They developed so much in confidence, and the thought and care that went into designing the programme was outstanding. It's a real little community, with so many opportunities to come in and take part in the activities and see what the children are doing. We love it so much, I'm also tempted to have another baby so that we can come back!

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Rachel McDaid
7 years ago

My daughter attends the Tithe Barn Preschool and absolutely loves it!! We as parents have really noticed her progressing in so many areas since she has joined. There are so many lovely learning activities that are planned for the children and parents are always informed about what they are doing and their progress. The staff are so friendly and approachable, they really care about all the children. I would highly recommend this setting.

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Sonia Scott
a year ago

I remember first contacting the lovely Managers at Tithe Barn late one evening after my daughter's previous preschool closed down unexpectedly. I couldn't believe it the next morning when I had an email in my inbox offering her a place 😊 and really this was the start of the amazing, speedy, exemplary service and care we would receive during our preschool journey with Tithe Barn. Cathy, Sam and their team truly love children and their jobs and it shows every day in the attention they give to each child and the caring environment they foster in their settings. I would have no hesitation in recommending them to anyone who wants an outstanding preschool experience for their little one.

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Camilla Craven-Webb
4 years ago

Tithe Barn Preschool provides the most caring environment for your little one to flourish. All the staff are professional, friendly and incredibly supportive. They always celebrate what your child can do, and encourage their development in such a nurturing manner. The setting has regular access to a woodland area, excellent communication with photographs via an app, and interesting visitors to reflect weekly topics. I cannot recommend Tithe Barn Preschool enough to give your child the best start on their learning journey.

Read on Google

Reviews from Google for Tithe Barn Preschool. See all on Google Maps

Inspection history

Most recent inspection

28 March 2023

Outstanding

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

View full Ofsted report

Frequently asked about Tithe Barn Preschool

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