Little Pippins Pre-school

Little Pippins Pre-school, established in 1970, is a community-run pre-school located in the heart of Harwell Village, Oxfordshire. We are proud to provide high-quality early years education and care for children aged between 2 and 5 years. Our purpose-built pre-school is situated in a beautiful orchard and boasts a spacious outdoor play area, providing a perfect environment for children to learn and grow.

At Little Pippins, we are committed to delivering outstanding early years provision, as evidenced by our 'Outstanding' rating from Ofsted in our last two inspections (December 2014 and July 2019). We are dedicated to fostering an environment where children can develop into happy, confident, and independent learners, ready to take on the world.

Our Services

We offer a range of services tailored to meet the needs of families in our community. These include:

• Forest School: Our Forest School provides children with regular opportunities to learn and develop through hands-on experiences in a natural environment. Our experienced Forest School leader delivers a curriculum that promotes children's confidence, self-esteem, and independence, while providing a rich and inspiring learning experience.
• Early Pips Club: We offer pre-bookable sessions for early drop-off, for children aged 3 and above. With limited spaces and a small fee, this service provides parents with the flexibility to drop their children off early, while still receiving the same high-quality care and education that Little Pippins is known for.
• Breakfast Club: Our Breakfast Club offers children a healthy and nutritious start to the day, with a variety of breakfast options available. This club is a great way for children to socialise and prepare for the day ahead.

Our Curriculum and Learning Approach

At Little Pippins, we recognise that each child is unique, with their own particular needs and learning styles. Our experienced and dedicated staff team work hard to promote learning and development through a well-planned play-based curriculum, differentiated to meet individual needs. We provide both support and extension activities, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to progress and achieve to the best of their ability.

We work closely with Harwell Primary School to provide a curriculum for the Foundation Stage and ensure a seamless transition into primary school. We are proud of the strong relationships we have built with our local community and the support we receive from our parents and families.

Our Facilities

Our purpose-built pre-school is situated in a beautiful orchard and and has a large outdoor play area, allowing children to enjoy the great outdoors, while learning and developing important skills. Our well-equipped classroom provides children with a range of resources to explore and learn, promoting their development in all areas of the Early Years Foundation Stage.

Managed by a Voluntary Committee

Little Pippins Pre-school is a voluntary managed charity and company limited by guarantee. We are run by a dedicated committee of volunteers, who work hard to ensure the smooth running of the pre-school and to provide the best possible environment for our children.

Join Us

If you would like to learn more about Little Pippins Pre-school, please do not hesitate to get in touch. We would be delighted to show you around our pre-school and answer any questions you may have. We look forward to welcoming you and your child to our community.