Through a strong emphasis on outdoor learning, child-led play, and emotional development, we nurture resilience, independence, and a lifelong love of learning.
Brookside Pre-School has been part of the Gatley community since 1975, opening first as a playgroup and then registering with OFSTED as a pre-school in 2002. You can find us tucked away in the Scout Hut on Gatley Hill (behind Gatley Hill House), just off Church Road. We are open from 9.00am- 3.15pm term time only and offer flexible sessions (morning, afternoon or all day) to meet you and your chil
10/06/2026
We have a limited number of places available for the next academic year.
If you would like to register your child for a place, please complete an enquiry form via our website
https://www.brooksidepreschool.co.uk/contact-us
28/05/2026
What an amazing day our preschool children had on their trip to Cockfields Farm!
The children were so excited for the journey, travelling together by coach ready for a day full of adventure!
We started our visit by looking at the owls and birds of prey before heading down to the duck pond, where we spotted ducks, geese and adorable baby goslings. The children were amazed to discover a huge egg too!
Next, we enjoyed a tractor ride around the farm. Along the way we saw sheep in the fields, and after spotting a black sheep, many of the children happily began singing “Baa Baa Black Sheep!”
After the tractor ride we made our way to the animal barn, passing the beautiful Highland cows on the way. One of the cows had even welcomed a baby calf the night before!
Inside the animal barn, the children had the opportunity to feed goats, kids, sheep, alpacas and piglets. We also got to stroke a tiny baby chick, which was a very special moment for everyone.
After washing our hands, we visited the petting shed where the children gently stroked rabbits and guinea pigs. They listened carefully to instructions and made sure to stay calm and quiet so the animals didn’t get frightened.
Our next stop was the reptile house! The children bravely stroked a corn snake and met a giant tortoise. There were lots of fascinating creatures to see including lizards, bearded dragons, tarantulas, snakes, rats and more!
We then headed inside for lunch where the children thoroughly enjoyed their picnics before exploring the outdoor play areas. The huge bouncy pillow was definitely a favourite!
To finish our fantastic day, the children made bird feeders using Cheerios before heading back to the coach for the journey home.
We are so proud of all the children for being so well behaved, inquisitive and caring throughout the day.
We had a brilliant day of fun, exploration and hands-on learning!
Thank you to Rosie, our host for the day, who was so kind and patient with the children.
20/05/2026
🐝🌼 World Bee Day 🌼🐝
We’ve been celebrating World Bee Day this week through lots of fun, hands-on, multi-sensory activities!
Our children have been:
💛 Enjoying messy play in foam
💛 Exploring a jelly sensory tray
💛 Counting bees into beehives using tweezers to build fine motor skills
💛 Creating their own play dough bees
💛 Learning fascinating facts about bees
💛 Looking closely at real honeycomb and even tasting it
💛 Practising the famous bee dance
💛 Making bee-themed recipes in the mud kitchen
💛 Reading bee themed books
Did you know? 🐝
Bees are incredibly important because they help pollinate many of the fruits, vegetables, and flowers we need to survive. Around one third of the food we eat depends on pollinators like bees! Without them, our world would look very different.
Teaching children to care for and respect bees helps them develop an understanding of nature, kindness towards living things, and awareness of how we can protect our environment. Through play, exploration, and real-life experiences, children learn to appreciate the important role bees have in our ecosystem.
These activities support our children by encouraging:
🌼 Communication and language development
🌼 Fine motor skills and coordination
🌼 Curiosity and investigation
🌼 Understanding of the world
🌼 Sensory exploration
🌼 Imaginative play and creativity
What a wonderful week we’ve had learning, exploring, and creating together! 🐝
13/05/2026
We have very limited availability for September starts - please contact us to register your interest for September 2026, or to add your child’s name to our waiting list for 2027 and beyond!
https://www.brooksidepreschool.co.uk/contact-us
Gatley Hill allotment held its annual plant sale this week. We took some of the children along to choose and buy plants for our own allotment.
Being part of the local allotment community is such a positive experience for the children, helping them learn about nature, growing food, caring for plants, and building confidence through real-life experiences and connections with others.
The children chose some lovely plants: beautiful scented lavender, a yummy gooseberry bush, a fragrant lemongrass plant, and a variety of colourful flowers.
The children were brilliant and made us extremely proud. They were confident and chatty with the ladies and gentlemen there, asked questions, and were so polite too. We loved seeing them enjoying being a part of the local community and taking such pride in choosing plants for our allotment.
We are also very grateful to the wonderful allotment volunteers who always make the children and staff feel so welcome. Thank you for always being on hand with help, advice, and encouragement. A huge thank you as well to the other plot holders who often kindly donate plants to us - your generosity and support mean so much to the children and help our allotment continue to grow 🌱
On Friday we joined people around the world in celebrating the 100th birthday of the wonderful Sir David Attenborough!
The children arrived at preschool dressed for the occasion in wonderful Sir David-inspired outfits. From animal-themed clothing to lots of green to represent nature and the environment.
Using our book of the week, Little People, Big Dreams: David Attenborough, the children learnt about Sir David’s life and how he became such an inspiring voice for nature and wildlife. Together, we explored the importance of caring for our environment and protecting animals that are at risk of extinction.
At Brookside Preschool, caring for the natural world is a very important part of our ethos. We encourage children to develop curiosity, respect and appreciation for nature through everyday experiences, and Sir David Attenborough’s values and lifelong work closely reflect the messages we aim to share with our children.
This celebration has been more than just looking back at one incredible person’s achievements, it has been a fantastic opportunity to encourage our children to look ahead to the future with curiosity and care.
We have been asking thoughtful questions about the world around us:
🍃 What do we notice in nature?
🌎 Why is it important to protect our planet?
💚 How can we help care for the world around us?
Some of the important vocabulary we have been learning this week:
Endangered – A species that is so rare it could disappear forever.
Extinct – When every single animal of a certain kind has died out.
Habitat – An animal’s natural home, such as a forest, ocean or wetland.
Predator – An animal that hunts other animals for food.
To mark Sir David Attenborough’s special birthday, some of our children also took part in a litter pick to help care for the environment in our local community. This was a wonderful way to give back to the planet he has spent his life inspiring us to protect.
07/05/2026
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30/04/2026
We spent this afternoon at the allotment being very busy and enjoying lots of learning through play.
The children worked together on a variety of meaningful tasks. We built a wigwam frame for sweet peas and peas, carefully placing each stick and tying them together, and created sturdy supports for the tomatoes and broad beans. The children helped prepare the soil, digging, turning, and getting it ready before planting our young plants.
These activities supported both gross motor skills - through digging, lifting, and carrying - and fine motor skills, as the children handled tools, positioned plants, and poured water with care. Watering the plants sparked great conversations about why plants need water to grow, helping the children begin to understand responsibility and the basic needs of living things.
We also spent time exploring the wider allotment, observing what other plot holders are growing. It was wonderful to see the children recalling the names of different plants they recognised, including forget-me-nots, rhubarb, and bluebells. During our exploration, we rescued a bee that had become trapped under some netting, prompting gentle discussions about caring for living creatures. The children were excited to spot other insects too, including ladybirds and worms, deepening their interest in the natural world around them.
The children showed a growing awareness of why we care for our allotment. They are beginning to understand that with time, effort, and teamwork, we can grow our own food. Experiences like this help children build patience, confidence, and a sense of achievement.
For our children. the allotment is more than just a place to play - it’s a space to explore, learn, and connect with nature. It encourages curiosity, resilience, and an early appreciation for where our food comes from.
💚 Preschool Development Plan - Inclusion and Diversity
As part of our ongoing development plan, we will be reaching out to parents and the wider Gatley community to help us with ideas and resources.
We try to ensure our preschool environment truly reflects and celebrates the rich diversity of our multicultural community.
We believe it is so important for children to see themselves, their families, and others represented in their environment. This helps to build a strong sense of identity, encourages respect for different cultures, and supports children in understanding the world around them.
We would really appreciate your support in helping us gather a variety of authentic, culturally meaningful items to create a warm, inclusive space where all children can see themselves and learn about others.
Some ideas of items we would love to receive:
* Cultural and faith-related items
* Objects that reflect traditions and heritage from around the world
* Role play and dressing-up items such as hats, costume jewellery, and traditional or cultural clothing and fabrics
* Traditional toys, puzzles, and books that celebrate a range of cultures and languages
We would also really value your ideas for snacks that your children enjoy at home, especially those that reflect your culture. We previously reached out about this but didn’t receive any responses, so we would love to hear your suggestions to help us offer a wider variety of foods.
Thank you so much for helping us create a space where every child feels seen, valued, and included.
🪴 Preschool Development Plan - outdoor learning
As part of our ongoing development plan, we are reaching out to parents and the wider Gatley community to support us with ideas and resources to enhance our outdoor environment.
We are passionate about creating an engaging and stimulating outdoor space where children can explore, be active, and develop a love for nature and the world around them. Outdoor learning plays a vital role in children’s physical development, wellbeing, and curiosity, giving them opportunities to learn through play in meaningful, hands-on ways.
We would really appreciate your support in helping us gather a range of items to enrich our outdoor provision and create an exciting environment for all children to enjoy.
Some ideas of items we would love to receive:
* Sports equipment such as balls, bats, hoops, or balance equipment
* Children’s gardening tools (child-safe)
* Plants, flowers, herbs, or seeds for planting
* Outdoor toys and resources suitable for imaginative and active play
* Natural materials such as logs, stones, or wooden items
Thank you for helping us create a fun, active, and inspiring outdoor space for our children
| Monday | 9am - 3:15pm |
| Tuesday | 9am - 3:15pm |
| Wednesday | 9am - 3:15pm |
| Thursday | 9am - 3:15pm |
| Friday | 9am - 3:15pm |
