Welcome to Saplings

We are delighted to welcome you to our pre-school 'Saplings' class at Callow End Primary School – a vibrant, caring, and nurturing part of our Early Years Unit. Working closely alongside our Reception class, we provide a gentle and seamless transition into school life when the time comes. Children move forward confident and happy, surrounded by familiar adults, friends, and routines they already know and trust.

Our preschool is a place where curiosity is celebrated, imaginations can run free, and every child feels valued. We believe that the early years are the foundation for a lifetime of learning – and we take great pride in creating an environment where your child feels safe, supported, and inspired to explore.

We welcome children from the age of two years and nine months or the term in which they turn three. Our core opening hours are Monday to Friday, 9:00am–3:00pm, term time (38 weeks per year) with access also available to our wraparound care.

Once your child turns 3, they can access our wraparound care provided onsite through an external company, 'Empower Active':

• Breakfast club is available from 7:45am.

• After-school care available until 5:30pm.

We aim to offer flexibility for busy family life while keeping children in a warm and familiar setting throughout the day.  

Funding: 

We accept 15 hour funding, 30 hour funding and non funded hours. These are able to be used for any sessions.  Additional hours and non-funded places are charged at £6 per hour. Wraparound care can also be booked at an extra charge.

Please visit Childcare & Early Years Education - Best Start in Life for full details regarding funding. 

2 Year Olds - Eligible working parents of 2 year olds will be able to access 30 hours childcare support, the term after their child turns 2 years old. This can then be used at our setting from 2 years and 9 months.

Families receiving some additional forms of government support are entitled to 15 hour childcare support as soon as their child turns 2 years old. This can then be used in our setting from 2 years and 9 months.

3 & 4 Year Olds - All children are entitled to the statutory 15 hours free childcare which takes effect the term after their 3rd birthday. Working families may be eligible for an additional 15 hours, known as 30 hour funding.

Please note - working families childcare support must be applied for the term BEFORE your child is due to attend a setting. Applications must be made by the following dates :-

• 31st August - for Autumn Term starters
• 31st December - for Spring Term starters
• 31st March - for Summer Term starters

To apply for a place at our pre-school, please click on the link below to register your interest -

Callow End Pre-School Register Interest Form 

Our approach to learning:

Our curriculum is thoughtfully delivered through a blend of continuous and enhanced provision, whole-group learning, and high-quality adult interactions. This means your child will experience a balance of:

• Free-flow exploration in rich, well-planned environments.

• Carefully designed enhanced activities linked to their own interests.

• Focused whole-group inputs to develop key skills and a sense of community.

We link our enhanced provision to our Book of the Week and our half-termly topics, ensuring that children’s learning is meaningful, engaging, and connected to the world around them.

What we do together:

Every week, our children enjoy:

• Daily phonics to build strong early reading and language skills.

• Weekly Woodland School sessions to explore nature, develop independence, and build resilience.

• Twice-weekly PE to grow confidence, coordination, and a love of being active.

Our pre-school children have access to our outdoor area and garden, no matter the weather. These spaces are a natural extension of our classroom and are always open for:

• Mud kitchen creations.

• Seed planting and gardening.

• Building and problem-solving with loose parts.

• Quiet moments of discovery and imaginative play.

We know that fresh air, movement, and outdoor exploration are essential for wellbeing and healthy development – so we make them part of our everyday routine.

Above all, we believe pre-school should be a place where every child feels safe, happy, and excited to learn. We build strong relationships with families, working closely with you so that your child’s early education is a joyful, positive experience.

If you are interested in applying for a place or would like more information, please email preschool@callowend.dowmat.education or call our school office on 01905 830337. We would love to welcome you for a visit, show you around our bright and busy classrooms, and let you see for yourself why our pre-school is such a special place to begin a learning journey.