Shoreham Preschool

Growing strawberries and raspberries gave children something concrete to talk about at Shoreham Preschool in June 2026: learning about the world began with their own garden. This Swiss Gardens setting has 22 places in total.

At its June 2026 inspection, Ofsted assessed behaviour and routines, welfare and wellbeing, inclusion, and leadership as Strong standard, with achievement and curriculum and teaching at Expected standard; safeguarding standards were met. Mathematics was the clear improvement priority. The children attending that month were aged two to four.

In June 2026, the early years foundation stage shaped learning, development and care: stories, conversation, physical play and practical independence formed part of children's day. Staff built activities around children's interests, with language running through their interactions rather than being confined to a separate activity.

Books, rhymes, music and movement featured alongside discussions about butterfly lifecycles and growing fruit. Children asked questions and started conversations with adults and other children. These experiences gave them things to explain, describe and revisit.

Outdoor access was continuous that June, and learning extended into the outdoor space. Obstacle courses invited children to crawl, jump, climb and skip, giving physical activity a purposeful place in the day. Mathematics teaching was less consistent: plans for staff training and monitoring had yet to take full effect.

At the June 2026 inspection, Ofsted found that staff recognised individual needs early, adapted activities and worked with other professionals to support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, while parents understood children's progress and received help to continue learning at home.

In June 2026, children turned to staff when they needed comfort or help with their emotions. Sand timers supported turn-taking, and children joined in tidying and sorting snack packaging into recycling bins. Everyday routines gave them practical responsibilities.

Care routines also made room for conversation. Staff spoke kindly during nappy changes, while children practised washing their hands, using the toilet, pouring drinks and peeling fruit. Leaders worked with local schools and special educational needs coordinators on the move to school, helping to connect care and support across that transition.

The address is Swiss Gardens, Shoreham by sea, West Sussex, BN43 5WH. In June 2026, opening hours were 9am to 3pm on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, and 9am to 1pm on Wednesday. That shorter Wednesday matters when planning a working week.

• Mathematics teaching. In June 2026, explicit teaching in this area needed greater consistency. Ask how training and monitoring have changed children's mathematical experiences.
• The shorter Wednesday. June 2026 hours ended at 1pm that day, compared with 3pm on the other weekdays. Families needing afternoon care should weigh that difference carefully.
• Booking around your week. What attendance pattern can you book at this Swiss Gardens setting? Make this a priority question when visiting.

Shoreham Preschool suits families drawn to outdoor learning, conversation and practical independence. Those strengths have concrete June 2026 examples, from fruit growing to children managing snack-time tasks. The inspection picture also calls for balance: mathematics teaching needed further work, and the dated daytime opening pattern deserves close attention before choosing it around work commitments.