Our Story

We are a community based Charity Preschool and Childcare provision, based in a “bubble of loveliness”- North Hinksey, on the outskirts of Oxford. We share the site of North Hinksey Primary School and although we are independent, governed by our parent/ volunteer management committee, we work closely with the School especially in regard to transitions for children starting reception. We provide extended daycare for preschool children from 8.00-8.45and from 3.15-5.00 Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Our Ethos

We believe children learn when they are feeling safe, secure and nurtured. Children learn through all of their experiences. Through these experiences we look to create provocations and opportunities for Child-led learning and the development of skills.

Children’s well-being is paramount to us. We support them, whilst they learn to self-regulate, share, and express themselves, whilst investigating their own interests, guiding them through various opportunities, whether its cooking, creating, or playing a game with others, or sharing a book with an adult. We engage their curiosity through play and interactions, extending their knowledge sensitively.

"Staff place a high emphasis on ensuring children feel safe, secure and welcome." "Children show high levels of well-being". "The pre-school is full of happy children." OFSTED 2019

Parents said 

“Thank you for everything you have done for my child this year! They’ve had a lovely time, and we will miss you. Thank you for creating such a warm, caring and supportive place for them”. Parent 2024

“You guys are so great at what you do and make such a huge impact on a daily basis. Thank you so much for all your hard work, we will miss you all!” Parent 2024

 Our Aims

We strive to be the best we can be! We aim for children (and staff) to be happy, engaged, confident,  and secure, whilst children become independent at the beginnings of their learning journeys.

We aim for staff to develop their own knowledge and actively promote apprenticeships, enabling new staff to begin a career as Early Years Practitioners and encourage more experienced staff to research and engage in various approaches in Early Years Pedagogy. This enables children to experience a range of child-centred approaches, in a stimulating environment.

For parents we strive to provide a professional, reliable, trustworthy service, where they can feel confident their children are supported, cared for and stimulated.

Parents said 

Dear Ruth and Team “you have made this year very effortless for me and my family. We have made good friends, and we are always proud to say we attend North Hinksey Preschool! Thank you for all you do and this community.” Parent 2024

At our Preschool, your child:

• will be in a safe, stimulating environment

• will have generous care and attention, because of our high ratio of adults to children

• will have their own key person to make sure they make are well supported 

• will have the chance to join in with other children and adults to live, play, work and learn together

• will progress their learning and development by being helped to build on what they already know and can do

• will be in a pre-school which sees you as a partner in helping your child to learn and develop; where parents help to shape the service it offers; that shares indoor and outdoor space with North Hinksey Primary School, allowing them to become familiar with the staff and environment of ‘the big school’

In our extended daycare, your child:

• will be in a safe, stimulating and familiar environment

• will have generous care and attention, appropriate to their age/ stage from our experienced staff team

• will have the chance to join in with other children and adults to have fun, share and relax

• will be supported in their friendships and developing their understanding of the world

• will be in a setting which sees parents and carers as partners in their children’s experiences