Pre School

At Hopscotch, we believe children thrive when they feel safe, secure and valued. We know that you, as parents and carers, know your child best, so it’s important to us to share what we do, and why we do it.

Play is at the heart of everything we do. We place value in hands-on experiences; guiding children as they learn about the world and make relationships.  Learning is led by your child’s interests, allowing us to follow their curiosity and extend their imagination in meaningful ways.

Whether children are fascinated by dinosaurs, aeroplanes, growing vegetables, painting, or music and dancing, we use these interests to introduce new experiences, ask thoughtful questions and gently challenge their thinking; encouraging deeper learning through play.

Our preschool offers a warm, nurturing environment where learning happens through play, exploration and positive relationships, all supported by clear routines and consistent boundaries. We recognise that young children need both freedom and structure, and by providing a predictable daily rhythm alongside rich, child-led experiences, we help children feel confident, settled and ready to learn. Consistent routines and gentle boundaries are essential for emotional wellbeing. 

Our preschoolers benefit from wonderful engaging class times wherein they sing a good morning song, and a ‘Star of the Day’ is picked. The star is picked at random, so all children have turns regularly, it is a very coveted role!  The star has certain responsibilities such as leading all of our lines, and helping set up snack and lunch times. 

We always use a visual timetable throughout the day to support our transitions, so that children know what to expect next. 

At Hopscotch, children are supported to understand expectations, develop self-regulation and feel safe within their environment. High expectations of behaviour supports our children to become respectful and supportive of each other. Through emotion coaching and supportive interactions, we help children recognise and manage their feelings. When children feel emotionally secure, they are better able to build relationships, cope with change and approach new experiences with confidence; including the transition to school.

Strong relationships are central to our ethos. We encourage children to form friendships naturally through free play, while also teaching kindness, respect and inclusion. Our practitioners model positive behaviour and support children to listen to others, respect different views and work through challenges together. These experiences help children develop the social skills they need both within preschool and beyond.

Hopscotch benefits from a small Forest School area, accessible all year round. While we’d love a bigger forest school, we are so happy to have even a small space that offers children the freedom to explore. Our mud kitchen is perfect for play with mud, water, sand, pots, pans and natural materials; supporting role play, problem-solving, measuring and early mathematical thinking. We have a digging tyre, a herb garden, and lots of pots to grow vegetables in throughout the year. 

Outdoor messy play provides invaluable learning experiences. It allows children to explore, experiment and enjoy the freedom of learning through nature - something we see as a vital part of early childhood. For this reason, we ask that children come prepared with wellies and appropriate clothing for outdoor play. Messy play will also continue indoors, so please dress children in clothes suitable for an active, creative preschool day.

We also have a woodworking area in forest school, so our preschoolers can start their DIY skills early! Our preschoolers are introduced to early woodworking skills in a safe, structured and supportive environment. These hands-on experiences help children develop confidence, focus and fine motor skills while learning to use real tools appropriately. Woodworking encourages problem-solving, perseverance and creativity, while also supporting early maths and language skills through measuring, planning and discussion. Most importantly, it gives children the opportunity to take pride in their achievements and develop independence.

Our overarching aim is to provide a safe, nurturing and structured environment where children learn through play, exploration and positive relationships. Clear routines, emotional support and hands-on experiences help children develop confidence, independence and a love of learning, preparing them for their next steps into school.

To make our preschool unique and exciting, we also provide a large range of opportunities in and out of the nursery, including some wonderful extra curricular activities. These include;

Library

The children often take a trip to the library, either using our Hopscotch minibus or catching the bus down into town to read some stories or join their singing session. During the festive season, we like to visit Bath Abbey on our way to listen to some carol singers rehearsing!

Local Community trips

We often use the Hopscotch minibus to get out and about, exploring our local community, such as Bath City Farm, The American Museum, Rainbow Woods, local parks or the local cafe or shop to learn about money exchange and enjoy a treat! We also visit our friends at the allotment to learn all about healthy eating and preparing healthy meals, as well as take a trip to the park to have fun!

Spanish

Katy comes in once a week, on Tuesdays, to introduce children to the foundations of Spanish. Katy’s classes are fun and engaging, with use of puppets, songs and games. The children have tons of fun while they learn!

Midford Manor Care Home

Bi-weekly, the children visit the residents at our local care home. They explore their outdoor play area, participate in arts and crafts or join them for local trips.

Baskervilles Gymnastics

Vicky visits us once a week, on Thursdays, to encourage the children’s physical development, along with their listening and attention, following instructions and taking turns. Vicky’s sessions progress over time, challenging the children to develop core strength and self-confidence, while having loads of fun!

Tennis

The children have tennis lessons once a week, on Mondays, with Connor at Bloomfield Tennis Club to learn the basic beginning skills. These sessions are great for hand-eye co-ordination and physical development.

Little Dancers

Miss Sophie sees the children once a week, on a Wednesday, to teach them the basics of ballet! The class is fun and imaginative, allowing the children to use lots of props and listen to different types of music as they dance, listening and following her instructions. 

The Theatre

Occasionally we take the children to the Egg Theatre to watch an interactive performance, particularly during the festive season.

Hopscotch celebrations

Join us each year for our Christmas Party to enjoy mulled wine and mince pies as well as our Summer Party to say goodbye to our School leavers.

Check out our Events page for further details!

Whether you’re looking for full-time care or just preschool sessions, we aim to provide something convenient for everyone and with that, our sessions are flexible but reasonably priced.

Please do not hesitate to give us a call to ask us any more questions you may have.