Moulsford's Co-Ed Pre-School for Boys and Girls in Oxfordshire
Moulsford’s co-educational Pre-School (the Bobcats class) welcomes boys and girls from the term after their third birthday and will continue the journey from nursery through to preparing children for school.
Whilst there is a natural emphasis on learning through play and having fun, there is also a strong educational focus. Pastoral care is at the heart of a Moulsford education and this is a key part of our co-educational Pre-School with care and attention taken to ensure the wellbeing and happiness of each child.
The Co-Ed Pre-School for boys and girls is housed in a newly constructed state-of-the-art building next to the main school site.
The Pre-School Day
Parents can book a minimum of 4 sessions to start with, with one session being a half day period. These must be the same sessions each week (ie on the same days). It is anticipated that the number of sessions will increase during the course of the Pre-School year.
Parents may equally choose for their child to attend full time from the beginning of their Pre-School journey. Most boys and girls are expected to be attending Pre-School 5 full days per week by the Summer term to prepare for their full-time start in Reception the following September.
The two sessions will be split as follows:
8.30am – 12.15pm (to include lunch)
12.30pm – 3.30pm
The morning session includes a mid-morning snack, followed by lunch, and the afternoon session includes an afternoon snack.
Please note that Moulsford is a registered childcare provider and offers up to 15 hours of free childcare between 8.30 - 11.30am and 12.30 - 3.30pm, Monday to Friday during our term times, from the term following a child's third birthday until they start in Reception class, at age 4. Please find more information about this Government scheme on our Fees page.
Pre-School Curriculum and Additional Activities
Moulsford Co-Ed Pre-School Nursery follows the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum. EYFS sets standards for the learning, development and care of your child from birth to 5 years old. Your child will mostly be taught through games and play.
The areas of learning are:
- communication and language
- physical development
- personal, social and emotional development
- literacy
- mathematics
- understanding the world
- expressive arts and design
It is our intent that the children who enter our EYFS develop physically, verbally, emotionally, creatively, intellectually and spiritually whilst embedding a positive attitude to school and learning in order for each child to achieve their full potential. Early Years learning challenges boys and girls and encourages them to develop into independent, motivated learners and thinkers, full of curiosity about the world around them within a fun, happy and secure environment.
In addition, taking full advantage of all the Pre-Prep facilities and to supplement the core EYFS curriculum, the Moulsford co-ed Pre-School in Oxfordshire offers opportunities for PlayBall, Music, Forest School and Yoga, which take place during the school day.
The Pre-School children will feel part of a busy and vibrant Pre-Prep and will have the opportunity to join in with events that feature the whole Moulsford community over the course of the year.
Pre-School Wraparound Care
We understand that for many working parents, it is essential for a Pre-School to provide the extra flexibility of after school or wraparound care. In acknowledging this necessity of modern life, we aim to provide nurturing care after the timetabled school day ends, without expecting too much more from children that will undoubtedly be tired after a busy day. Parents can choose to book extra care for the 3.30 - 4.15pm activity, and then pick up when they wish before 5.30pm.
From 3.30pm - 4.15pm, we offer a relaxed and informal activity each evening. There is no additional charge for these teacher-led activities. These might include PlayBall, Snipping and Sticking, Outdoor Games, Musical Movement and Forest School.
For those that choose to stay beyond 4.15pm, we offer a substantial evening tea, which might be a sandwich, bagel or similar. After tea, story time, audio books or calming music take us through to pick up time by 5.30pm. There is a flat £10 charge for this, which includes the cost of tea.
Pre-School Staff
At Moulsford, we believe that it’s the people within our community – teachers, support staff, children and their families - who make our school extra special and our mixed-sex Pre-School will be no exception. We will have a team of experienced members of staff to teach and nurture pupils in this formative year.
Our highly qualified and experienced staff know that starting school can be daunting and will work with the children to ease their transition from Pre-School into Reception, either at Moulsford, or for the girls, with their chosen schools.
Pre-School Uniform
To ensure the children feel part of the Moulsford Pre-Prep, children in the Pre-School wear the same red polo shirt with Moulsford logo as the Pre-Prep boys and girls wear for Forest School, together with a navy blue fleece with Moulsford logo. Both of these items are available via the Moulsford Uniform Shop. All other clothing is home choice in the Pre-School.
Does Moulsford Co-Ed Pre-School Nursery offer wraparound care?
Pupils may arrive from 8.00am with no additional charge, prior to the 8.30am start. After-school care is offered from 3.30pm to 5.30pm. Parents can choose to book a 3.30 - 4.15pm activity at no cost. For those choosing to stay between 4.15 - 5.30pm, a substantial tea will be provided and a flat fee of £10 charged until the last pick up time of 5.30pm.
Do pupils in the Co-Educational Pre-School have to be dry or ‘toilet-trained’?
Whilst we accept that accidents may still happen, we ask that every effort should have been made by parents to ensure that children are ‘toilet-trained’ and dry before they start at Moulsford Pre-School in Oxfordshire.
Does Moulsford participate in the Government 15 or 30 hours free childcare scheme?
Yes, Moulsford does participate in the Government scheme for up to 15 free hours of childcare. Please refer to our Fees page for more details. Moulsford does not currently participate in the 30 hours scheme.
Does Moulsford accept payment via the Government Tax-Free Childcare scheme?
Yes, Moulsford does accept payment via the Government's Tax-Free Childcare scheme run through an HMRC account. For more details, please refer to our Fees page.
Will children born later in the year be disadvantaged at Moulsford in terms of place allocation?
There is no disadvantage to children with birthdays later in the year. However, early registration is both advisable and advantageous, as the date of registration will be taken into consideration when offering places, and the year group can fill up well in advance. Accepted places (with deposit paid) will be held until the term after the child has turned 3.
Will a boy/girl ratio be observed in the mixed-sex Pre-School?
No, however early registration is both advisable and advantageous, as the date of registration will be taken into consideration when offering places, and the year group can fill up well in advance.
Does entry into Moulsford Pre-School in Oxfordshire mean automatic transition into Reception?
At the end of their Pre-School year, it is expected that all children will transition directly to Reception. In the event that the school, in conjunction with parents, believe that Moulsford Reception would not be the right learning environment for a child (as with the transition to any other year group), a dialogue would have taken place during the Pre-School or subsequent year.
As Moulsford is a boys’ School from Year 3 onwards, parents will need to select an alternative setting for their daughters to move on to at the end of Year 2. We will work closely with parents and prospective schools chosen for the girls and will fully support the transition. If any boy leaves Moulsford before the end of Year 8 (or girls before the end of Year 2), a minimum of one term’s notice is required as stated in the contract with parents.
Is there an admissions assessment for children joining the Pre-School?
Moulsford recognises that children joining the Pre-School are extremely young. While there is no formal admissions assessment to join Moulsford nursery school at this point of entry, we do ask all potential pupils to come and spend a 'taster' day in advance of offering them a place, so that we've had the opportunity to spend time with them in our Pre-School and check that they will flourish in our environment.
