The Under Fives Roundabout preschool is open each weekday during term-time between 8:40 and 3:10 in our own building adjacent to Mayfield Primary School, Warwick Road, Cambridge. 

Children can attend flexible hours but must attend from either 9:40am -11:40am and/or 12:40pm - 2:40pm and must attend a minimum of two sessions (which may include a morning and an afternoon on the same day, or on two separate days). Session times will have been agreed before your child starts and it is important you adhere to these agreed times.

Lunch runs from 11:40am to 12:10pm. Children bring their own healthy packed lunches.

Sessions for our younger children (those under 3 before the start of the school year)
In the Autumn term we usually run sessions on 3 or 4 mornings per week  – we choose the days according to demand by parents. We increase the number of sessions for younger children according to demand and availability of spaces

Until your child has turned 3 our session times are from 9:10-11:40. If you would like to leave your child earlier than 9:10 or would prefer an afternoon session, please speak to Sam Capes, our Manager, as it may be possible to accommodate your child from 8:40 or in the afternoon depending on space and adult:child ratios.

Nursery Education Funding: - All children are eligible for up to 15 hours of childcare a week during term-time from the term after their third birthday. Additional hours are charged at £4.50 per hour. Please see our payments page for more information.

The preschool works within the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). The main principle of the EYFS is learning through play.

Type of activities provided for the children
We provide a wide variety of open ended resources ensuring all abilities and interests are met, extended and stimulated with children inspired to learn. There are always mark making opportunities available using a wide spectrum of materials on a small and large scale. Children are encouraged to be independent in all aspects of their learning, given support where necessary and guidance to progress at their individual rate. 
 
Daily routines
Each of the two preschool rooms holds a structured register time on arrival in the morning and in the afternoon and within this we incorporate phonics, brief exercise and show and tell.

Immediately after this the external doors are opened and the children can choose freely where to play, what to play with and decide whether they would like to help prepare the snack for everyone. At the beginning of freeplay some children are taken aside for targeted small group activities. As an example such activities might consist of 4 children and one adult using a giant die, throwing it up and seeing what number it lands on, counting the spots and doing the corresponding number of jumps. To extend such an activity further another die would be introduced and the two amounts added; in addition to this the children will be asked to select the corresponding numeral. Such an activity enables the children to learn about turn taking, the effects of physical exertion, number recognition and other numeracy and social skills.

We provide resources which appeal to all of the children’s interests where possible and strive to provide new and interesting experiences at Roundabout. Every session has a degree of flexibility with the staff team taking the children over to the Mayfield grounds to play football, or to visit the chickens or play on the climbing equipment. This again is according to choice.  The independence of the children remains a priority.

For information about availability of places, please contact: Sam Capes on (01223) 309066,

email enquiries@underfivesroundabout.org.uk.

Please download the new registration form.

If your child currently attends preschool, we would like to hear what you think.  Please fill in one of our feedback forms and hand it to a member of staff.  Thanks.