Quarndon Pre-School

Imaginative stories, frog-counting games and a climbing frame shaped Quarndon Pre-School's May 2023 inspection picture. Based at St Pauls Church Hall in Quarndon, it has 24 places in total. At its May 2023 inspection, Ofsted judged the provision Good and safeguarding effective.

The children attending in May 2023 were aged 2 to 9. That inspection-time range included a setting operating both preschool provision and a before- and after-school club.

In May 2023, children could choose resources stored within their reach and move between indoor and outdoor activities. This put practical choices within their reach. Role play included inventing a princess story together, agreeing characters and turning an ordinary book into an imaginary pillow.

The early years foundation stage provides the framework for learning, development and care: here, the May 2023 examples included learning through play, conversation and physical activity. An interest in frogs became a counting activity using pretend lily pads, followed by comparing and ordering sizes. The progression gave children another challenge as their understanding developed.

Movement mattered too. In May 2023, the climbing frame and slide gave children opportunities to practise balance and coordination. Action songs encouraged participation, including from children who were less confident about joining the group.

In May 2023, staff listened to children's news and used questions to keep conversations going. Children shared materials and took turns; during crown-making, they deliberately left some decorations for their friends. These small exchanges made consideration for others part of everyday play.

Daily conversations with parents covered children's experiences, but in May 2023 some families were getting too little explanation of the learning behind activities. Improving that communication was an action for the setting, so parents could better support learning at home.

Staff development also needed clearer direction in May 2023. Individual meetings covered training, safeguarding and health and safety, but objectives did not consistently identify the support practitioners needed. The improvement action concerned making supervision more useful for targeted development.

The address is St Pauls Church Hall, Church Road, Quarndon, Derby, DE22 5JB.

In May 2023, preschool opening hours were 9am to 3.15pm, Monday to Friday, during term time. The before- and after-school club operated from 7.30am to 9am and from 3.15pm to 6pm, also on term-time weekdays. These were separate arrangements for preschool attendance and care around the school day.

In May 2023, the setting received early-education funding for three- and four-year-old children.

• Learning shared with home. Communication about learning needed improvement in May 2023. How are children's next learning steps now explained to parents?
• Staff development. Clearer objectives for supervision were a May 2023 improvement action. This matters because identifying individual training needs helps staff develop their practice.
• Attendance fit. The May 2023 arrangements combined term-time preschool opening with care before and after school. Families should weigh that pattern against the coverage their week requires.

Quarndon Pre-School's May 2023 picture suits families drawn to child-led imaginative play and practical early learning, whether considering preschool attendance or before- and after-school care. Low-level resources, counting games and physical play gave children concrete ways to participate. The balance is parental communication and staff development: both carried specific improvement actions alongside the Good judgement.