The Settings

At the Community Centre setting there are two main areas used by the children throughout each day at our Community Centre site.  These are Woodlands (Main Hall) and the Garden.

Whiteley Prechool North is based within a classroom in Cornerstone School, this is a smaller setting with a small secure garden and access to the wider school grounds.

You can find out more about both settings below.

Community Centre –

The Main Hall

The hall is the main play space within the preschool, providing a welcoming and secure environment where children are dropped off and collected each day. This supports children’s sense of belonging and emotional security, in line with the EYFS prime area of Personal, Social and Emotional Development. Each child is part of a key group, represented by a designated carpet area where they can safely store their drinks bottles and comforters. The key group system helps to build strong, supportive relationships with adults and peers, promoting confidence and wellbeing.

At various times throughout the day, children come together in their key groups to take part in small group activities. These sessions provide opportunities to develop communication and language skills as children discuss their emotions, share their ideas, and talk about plans for the day or special events. Activities such as letters and sounds games support early literacy development.

The preschool also offers a range of well-resourced areas that encourage active learning and play. The playdough station and creative area support Physical Development (fine motor skills) and Expressive Arts and Design, while the mark-making table promotes early writing skills within Literacy. The role play area and small world resources, such as bricks and trains, encourage imaginative play, social interaction, and problem-solving, supporting Understanding the World and Personal, Social and Emotional Development.

Snack and lunchtime take place within this room, providing valuable opportunities for children to develop independence, social skills, and an understanding of healthy lifestyles, linking to Physical Development and Personal, Social and Emotional Development.

Overall, the Main Hall room is a stimulating and nurturing environment that supports all areas of learning and development, in line with the EYFS framework.

The Main Hall leads directly onto a spacious and well-resourced garden, providing children with continuous access to outdoor learning. The garden includes a range of permanently available areas such as a water play area, sensory walkway, playhouse, mud kitchen and a bug and investigation area. These areas are carefully designed to support all areas of learning within the EYFS through play, exploration, and first-hand experiences.

Outdoor learning is a key part of the preschool’s ethos, recognising that many children learn more effectively when they are active and engaged in an outdoor environment. Children are therefore encouraged to access the garden throughout the day, all year round. This supports the EYFS principles of Active Learning and Playing and Exploring, while also promoting Physical Development, Understanding the World, and Personal, Social and Emotional Development.

The different outdoor areas provide rich opportunities for development. For example, the water area and mud kitchen encourage exploratory play and early scientific thinking, linking to Understanding the World. The sensory walkway supports physical coordination and sensory development. The bug and investigation area fosters curiosity about the natural world, encouraging observation and discussion, which supports both Understanding the World and Communication and Language.

Children are provided with all-in-one weather suits to ensure they can remain comfortable, warm, and dry during wet or cold conditions. This enables consistent access to outdoor provision, supporting sustained engagement in learning. However, children’s safety and wellbeing are always prioritised. During periods of extreme weather, such as excessive heat or cold, access to the garden may be adjusted in line with the setting’s adverse weather policy.

Overall, the outdoor environment is an integral part of the learning experience, offering a stimulating and enabling space that supports development across all areas of the EYFS.

Whiteley Preschool North

At our satellite site, we are based within Cornerstone Church of England Primary School, where we have a dedicated classroom, toilets, and our own secure garden space that free-flows directly from the room. This continuous indoor–outdoor provision supports the EYFS principle of an enabling environment, allowing children to independently choose where and how they learn.

Children have access to a wide range of resources that promote development across all areas of the EYFS. Opportunities for messy and creative play encourage self-expression and imagination, linking to Expressive Arts and Design. Construction activities support problem-solving and critical thinking within Mathematics and Understanding the World. Outdoor resources such as bikes and gardening equipment promote Physical Development, while musical instruments, dressing up, and role-play experiences foster Communication and Language and Personal, Social and Emotional Development through collaboration and storytelling.

We are also fortunate to make regular use of the wider school grounds for Wellie Walks, where children explore the natural environment and engage with the Forest School area. These experiences support curiosity, resilience, and a deeper understanding of the world, aligning with Understanding the World, Physical Development, and the Characteristics of Effective Learning, particularly Playing and Exploring and Active Learning.

For children attending full day sessions, drop-off and collection take place in the garden area of WPS North within the Cornerstone grounds, providing a calm and familiar transition that supports children’s emotional wellbeing. For those attending sessions that begin or end at lunchtime, drop-off and collection take place at the school’s main reception, ensuring clear and consistent routines for families.

Whiteley Preschool Illustration