Birch Hill Preschool
GoodBirth to 8+Long established
A pre-school in Bracknell for children from birth to 8+, open 08:30 to 15:45, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in November 2021. Open since 2017, with 38 places.
What you might pay
This setting does not publish its fees, and no national dataset holds them. This is what childcare costs across the council, as a starting point for the call.
What childcare usually costs in Bracknell Forest
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Bracknell Forest from the Department for Education's 2025 provider survey. No national data holds what an individual nursery charges, so ring and ask.
Places, hours and the day
Who they take, when they are open, and what a day there includes.
Where it is
RG12 7AQWhat the inspector found
One grade is one visit. A run of them tells you whether it has been good for years or has only just got there.
Ofsted inspector, 9 November 2021 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children are warmly welcomed by staff as they arrive at the pre-school. Older children are eager to begin their play as soon as they arrive but take time to comfort their younger, newer friends to help them settle. Children are well behaved. They respond to gentle reminders from staff about using good manners and staff help children to share and take turns as they play.
Children show that they feel safe and secure. For example, they talk to staff and visitors with great enthusiasm about the carrots they have picked in the garden and invite them to join in songs. Children are gaining a real interest in the natural world as a result of the staff's good quality teaching skills. They gain confidence handling the pre-school's giant African land snail and hissing cockroach; they learn about hibernation and what different bugs eat.
Children are keen to play outside, where they enjoy a wide range of activities that support their physical development. They blow bubbles for their friends to chase and pop and confidently ride on balance bikes. Staff deploy themselves very well around the setting and join in children's play. They help children to learn about keeping healthy, as they talk to them about why they need to wash their hands and why fruit is good for their bodies.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- create more opportunities for committee members to develop a clear understanding of their roles and legal responsibilities n review the organisation of records, particularly those relating to the recruitment and vetting of staff, to ensure they are more easily accessible and available.
- 9 November 2021Good
- 21 January 2020Needs improvement
Rated Good or Outstanding at 1 of the last 2 graded inspections.
Still missing for Birch Hill Preschool
- What it costs
- Funded hours
- Youngest age taken
- Meals
- Nappies
- Waiting list
No dataset holds any of this. Two parents telling us the same thing puts it on the page for whoever looks next.
What to ask them
None of this is in any national dataset and this setting has not published it, which is exactly why it is worth asking.
- What does it cost, all in? What is on top: meals, nappies, late pick-up, and what happens if you are late.
- Can I use my funded hours here? Whether they stretch them over the year, and the minimum days you have to book.
- Is there a place for my child's age? Baby rooms fill first and waiting lists are common.
- Who would my child's key person be? And how long have the staff been there. No dataset holds this and it matters more than anything above.
- Can I visit at a busy time? Mid-morning on a weekday tells you far more than an empty room after hours.
Pre-schools within a couple of miles
This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.