What we do

We are an outdoor preschool that believes in an holistic approach to the development of children, supporting physical health, emotional development and overall wellbeing and mental health through a curriculum based in nature. Our setting offers both unstructured and adult led play both of which promote imagination, curiosity, and creativity.

Our curriculum is based on real life experiences and focuses on the environment, community and the natural world. Children care for plants, look after the chickens and guinea pigs, play in the mud kitchen and talk with local visitors. All these activities and so many more are supported by our expert and passionate staff, enabling children to learn though their interests, to reach their potential and enrich their lives.

We work to the new Early Years Foundation Stage framework though we are not restricted by it having written our own curriculum based in nature and use the Birth to 5 document as a guide.

The multi-sensory experience of the outdoors enables children to cover the whole curriculum while offering space, fresh air and freedom.

Our setting

We run from the rural setting of Clophill Village Hall. We have created a bespoke outdoor area which includes an allotment, polytunnel and mud kitchen area.

Children don’t just play for fun; they play to learn, the benefits of outdoor play for children’s development are infinite. Play in nature supports children's problem-solving skills and nurtures their creativity providing rich opportunities for their developing imagination, inventiveness and resourcefulness.

All children come with different skills and abilities, nature is the ultimate enabling environment offering possibilities and challenges that allow all children the opportunity to flourish.

Our provision for Special Educational Needs (SEND)

Our preschool prides itself on its excellent care and provision of children and their families in need of additional support. We are firm believers in early intervention and the sensitive collaboration with parents. We have excellent key workers and a SEND support team, all with a variety of experience.

Our SENDCo, Chris and deputy Sarah, are extremely experienced in supporting children and families; whether you’re worried about a lack of speech, perhaps they’re not as physically able as you expect them to be or you feel their development is not as it should be, Chris and Sarah are here to talk through your concerns and find ways to help.

We have a SEND handbook for parents, please see below for other useful links.

SEND policy

Clophill Preschool’s Local Offer

Central Bedfordshire Council’s Local Offer

Adventure Fridays

Our Adventure Fridays are a more extreme version of our usual sessions; we start each day tending our allotment and nature garden, grounding ourselves before setting off on bigger adventures, around the local area, hiking through village pathways and fields, tackling new experiences and terrains. Children are taught to be aware of their surroundings and its inhabitants, learning safe road crossing and meeting people from the local community. We may walk down the road to Tracy’s woods or explore further afield, wherever we go children have the opportunity to try new skills, use tools and explore deeper into nature.

Children need to be emotionally and physically able to cope with these all day sessions as well as able to follow instruction to ensure they are safe on the road and beyond the boundaries of preschool.

Please be aware that this session is only for the cohort due in school the following academic year and are for the full day. Places on Adventure Friday are granted at the discretion of the managers, please let your key worker know if you wish your child to be considered for a place. We offer a short Adventure Friday Experience for children and parents each term.

There is an additional half termly charge for this session, please click for more information.

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