A Bratton pre-school starts new term with outstanding OFSTED report

CYGNETS Pre-School in Bratton has marked the start of its third full year of operation with a glowing report from Ofsted, following an inspection in July.  

The pre-school, which operates from the Bratton Pavilion in the centre of the village, was graded outstanding in all areas and the report was full of praise for the enthusiasm and expertise of the staff, which the report says allows children to “flourish in this extremely welcoming and inclusive pre-school”.  

In the report, the inspector commented on the confidence shown by all the children at Cygnets, particularly their curiosity, creativity, independence, and enthusiasm to learn by exploring – all supported by highly skilled staff. Also praised in the report were the “exceptional partnership with parents”, “strong bonds with families”, and the “exceptional bonds” children have with all staff members.    

Pre-school manager Emma Osmond said, “We opened Cygnets Bratton at an exceptional time during the pandemic and have faced a huge number of unexpected challenges, so to receive such an overwhelmingly positive report has made all the work worthwhile.  

“The staff team have really pulled together, and we are continuing to grow and develop alongside the needs of the children in our care. We are grateful to the Bratton Parish Council for supporting us from the outset and for all the help they continue to provide.” 

The report especially praised the support provided to children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), saying that “the staff go above and beyond to support children with SEND. Staff use their extensive knowledge of each child to provide them with the best possible individualised learning opportunities”.  

Chair of the committee for Cygnets Pre-school, Alex Reynolds, commented, “This incredible report is so well deserved and is a testament to the hard work of every member of the team. We are enormously proud of the work Emma and the staff have done at Bratton in the last three years and to see the pre-school going from strength to strength is wonderful.  

“When we started the process of opening a second setting in Bratton back in 2019, we couldn’t have foreseen the global pandemic. We also didn’t expect that the demand for early years childcare in the village would be so great, but we supported Emma’s vision and are delighted to see the setting flourishing.” 

Cygnets Bratton opened in June 2020, just as the first lockdown was lifted and with an initial intake of 14 children. The pre-school was set up with the support of Bratton Parish Council, local businesses, and a team of volunteers, following the closure of the old Bratton Pre-School in 2019. There are now 33 children aged 18 months to 4 on roll for the pre-school and a staff team of eight – double the number originally employed.  

To read the full report online, please visit: https:// files.ofsted.gov.uk/v1/file/50191774. For more information visit: www.cygnetspre school.co.uk