Pre School (3-4yrs)

Crowmarsh Pre-School – where children Care, Grow, Persevere & Shine

Crowmarsh Pre-School offers a warm, inspiring start to learning for children aged three to four. Our experienced and nurturing team creates an environment where every child feels cared for, valued and excited to explore new ideas through playful, purposeful learning.

Our spacious, well-equipped classroom supports all areas of development, while our wonderful shared outdoor space—used alongside the school’s EYFS class—helps children build confidence and enjoy a smooth transition into Reception.

Learning here is shaped by children’s interests and curiosity. Alongside child-led exploration, we provide focused group times that introduce early phonics, maths, stories and circle sessions. Each key person spends one-to-one time supporting their children, helping them grow at their own pace and guiding them towards the next steps in their learning journey.

What families appreciate about Crowmarsh Pre-School:

A strong, confident start to school readiness
Outcomes across our school consistently above national levels (EYFS, KS1 & KS2)
A warm, community-minded setting where everyone belongs
A large and engaging outdoor learning area
A culture where children Care, Grow, Persevere & Shine

Our ethos reflects our belief that children thrive when they are known, loved and encouraged. By building strong, trusting relationships, we help every child feel emotionally secure—ready to persevere, take risks, make discoveries and shine in their own unique way.

We value close partnership with parents, recognising that you know your children best. By sharing insights and celebrating progress together, we ensure each child receives the most meaningful, tailored learning experiences.

At Crowmarsh Pre-School, we grow and learn together—every day, in every moment.

We invite you to contact us and arrange a visit.

Funded Hours

Our early education provision follows the government-funded entitlements. The pattern of hours available for funded provision is

Five days a week: 30hr places: 8:45am –3:15pm

Five days a week: 15hr places: 8:45am – 11:45am morning session or 12:15pm – 3:15pm afternoon session

Lunch optional paid extra for 15hr places.

Applications

If you would like to submit an application, you can do so via the following link. Please note this is a show of interest and does not guarantee a place.

https://forms.office.com/e/ML13qSYXBW

Places are allocated according to our admissions policy at the following times.

First day of March to start in September
First day of July to start in January
Last day of September to start in February half-term
First day of December to start in April
Last day of January to start at May half term

After each allocation window, parents will be contacted within two weeks and places offered according to our Admissions Policy.

Early Education and Childcare Fees

Early Education and Childcare Fees

At Crowmarsh Gifford C of E Primary School, we are committed to transparency so that families can make informed decisions about early education and childcare.

Optional Fees and Chargeable Extras

The following optional items are available for families and are not a condition of taking up your child’s free entitlement:

Additional Hours: Families may purchase 15 extra childcare hours outside of the funded entitlement.
- Cost: £6 per hour/session.
Additional Lunch time : For 15hr children
- Cost for the extra lunch session £3 per day (1/2 hour session 11.45am - 12.15pm)
Cost for meal

Cost: £2.70 per meal - if not having a packed lunch

Trips and Visits: All school trips are voluntary.
- Cost: As applicable per trip; details will be provided in advance.

Funded Hours

Our early education provision follows the government-funded entitlements. The pattern of hours available for funded provision is

Five days a week: 30hr places: 8:45am –3:15pm

Five days a week: 15hr places: 8:45am – 11:45am morning session or 12:15pm – 3:15pm afternoon session

Important Notes

Families are under no obligation to pay for additional hours, meals, or trips to access free entitlement.
All fees and optional services are published to ensure transparency and compliance with Oxfordshire County Council’s Early Education and Childcare funding terms.

For further information or to discuss your child’s needs, please contact the school office.

Helping Your Child Get Ready for School

Getting Ready for Pre-School

Starting pre-school is an exciting step! There are lots of simple ways you can help your child feel confident and happy:

Sing and rhyme together – nursery rhymes help children hear sounds in words, remember things, and grow language skills. Children familiar with rhymes are more likely to read and spell well later.
Play with adults – games and role play help children practise language, problem-solving, and imagination.
Play with other children – playing with friends helps children share, take turns, cooperate, and make friends.
Encourage independence – practising putting on coats, using the toilet, and managing belongings helps children feel ready for pre-school routines.

A little singing, playing, and practising independence each day helps children feel happy, confident, and ready to learn.

A Typical Day at Pre – School

As the children arrive, they are encouraged to self- register, then select an activity while they wait for all their friends.

When the session begins we all gather on the carpet to greet one another and talk about the day ahead. Following this, the Owl group (our older children) often stay for a short, adult – led session – typically a maths or phonics session. The younger children (the Robins) choose their own activities, supported by practitioners.

Snack time follows, with all children being encouraged to participate. We provide a variety of healthy food (cereals, fruit, toast, cheese) along with a choice of milk or water. The children are encouraged to serve themselves (under adult supervision).

We operate a ‘free flow’ system. This means that children can choose whether they would like to be outside or in the classroom. We open our doors to the garden as soon as possible and staffing is organised to support this.

During the rest of the session, children are encouraged and supported to choose their own activities and resources. Practitioners work and play with and alongside the children, observing their play and scaffolding their learning. In addition, our practitioners work 1:1 or with small groups of children to offer planned learning experiences, designed to support children to meet their next steps in development.

Following ‘tidy up time’ at 11.30, the children take part in circle times before lunch. We generally run two circle times – one for the Owls and one for the Robins. The primary aim of these is to support the development of children’s language and communication skills along with their personal, social and emotional development.

Lunch time is between 12.00 and 1.00. Children and staff sit together to eat their lunch, with staff supporting children throughout. This provides an excellent learning opportunity.

The afternoon follows a similar pattern. We tidy up at around 2.30, then share a snack and story before we go home.