Building Strong Foundations For Exceptional Futures
At St John Rigby, we believe preschool is where strong foundations are built—foundations that shape a distinctive Early Years' experience where curiosity is ignited, individuality is celebrated, and a lifelong love of learning begins.
Our preschool is based within our current Early Years setting, providing a nurturing, engaging, and well-resourced environment where our youngest learners can thrive. Within this area.
Being part of our wider Early Years provision means that our preschool children benefit from a rich and connected learning experience. For part of the day, they spend time in our dedicated Exploratory Zone, where they engage in carefully planned, play-based learning alongside our Reception children.
This shared experience is thoughtfully designed to extend learning opportunities, allowing younger children to be inspired by older peers while building confidence, independence, and social skills in a natural and supportive way. At the same time, Reception children deepen their understanding through collaboration, leadership, and shared exploration.
Alongside this, Reception children also benefit from a dedicated Learning Zone—a carefully designed space for more focused teaching and the purposeful application of key skills. This ensures that children experience the best of both worlds: rich, exploratory play alongside structured learning that supports their academic development.
By learning within this environment, preschool children become familiar with the routines, expectations, and spaces they will encounter as they move into Reception. This creates a smooth, confident transition, helping children feel secure, capable, and ready for the next stage. Above all, it fosters a strong sense of belonging within our school community, where every child feels included, valued, and inspired to learn.
Session Times and Fees
Little Rigby's Preschool is open Monday to Friday, between the hours of 8.30am - 3.00pm, term-time only.
Session allocations are discussed with families at the point of admission, including funded/non-funded hours.
The following sessions are currently available:
| Morning | 08.30am - 11.30am |
| Lunchtime | 11.30am - 12.00pm |
| Afternoon | 12.00pm - 3.00pm |
Children receive 15 hours of funded provision from the term following their third birthday, offered as five morning sessions each week.
We also accept applications for 30-hour funded places, with provision available across either four and a half days, or five full days + lunch cover (£3 per day)
Please note: When a child is ill, absent or goes home early from preschool, or takes a holiday, no refund will be permissible.
Additional Childcare:
Extra childcare outside funded eligibility is available on a half-term basis only, by completing a commitment order with the school office. A copy can also be viewed below.
Additional sessions will be charged at £15.00 per session or £6.00 per additional hour
Additional Charges:
The charges above are for childcare only. Any additional items your child may require, such as nappies and wipes, will need to be provided in a named bag.
Water and healthy snacks are provided for all children at no extra cost.
If your child attends all day, and you would like your child to have a school lunch, this will need to be booked via your My Child at School (MCAS) app. School lunches are provided at a cost of £2.50 per meal. For more information about school lunches and to view our menus, please click here.
Preschool children are also welcome to attend our Wrap-Around Care, Before and After-school. More information can be found here.