The Beacon Church Preschool
Good★ 5.0 on GoogleBirth to 5Open for decades
A pre-school in Poole for children from birth to 5, open 08:30 to 14:30, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in January 2024. Open since 1992, with 48 places.
Places, hours and the day
Who they take, when they are open, and what a day there includes.
Where it is
BH17 8UEWhat 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, 30 January 2024 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Staff know the children well. They love them, care for them, and give children their wholehearted attention. Leaders and staff take time to know each individual child's developmental needs. They gather views from parents and use a range of assessment tools to pinpoint children's next steps. They provide children with a curriculum that is bespoke to their needs, particularly children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Children learn to sustain their concentration for longer periods of time, as staff carefully build on children's previous learning. They also benefit from engaging in physical activity, such as balancing, crawling and climbing in the sports hall.
Children feel safe. Leaders and staff are vigilant in making sure that the premises is a secure and inviting environment for children. Staff are affectionately known as
'Aunties' by children, contributing to the family feel that children experience. They promote children's positive behaviour by teaching them to take turns, say what they would like and learn to wait. Staff actively spot good behaviour and let children know when they have done a good job. Children are polite, gentle and kind. They take pleasure in their achievements and know how to be a good friend to others.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- make sure that staff know the learning intention for all planned activities to help improve the consistency of teaching and learning that children experience in all areas of the pre-school play spaces.
- 30 January 2024Good
- 17 April 2018Good
- 23 November 2015Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for The Beacon Church 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.