Leen Mills Pre School Playgroup

In August 2024, yoga, handling vegetables at the Farm Shop and stories adapted into children's own play gave Leen Mills Pre School Playgroup a recognisable character. At its August 2024 inspection, Ofsted judged the provision Good overall. The setting has 60 places in total and is based at The Old Church in Hucknall.

Children attending in August 2024 were aged two to four. That snapshot offers a picture of preschool life, with physical activity, imaginative play and preparation for school sharing the day.

In August 2024, a specialist yoga teacher helped children build strength through movement. At the Farm Shop, children packed heavy vegetables for customers, putting that strength to use. Making models from recycled materials also brought smaller movements into play, with children adding labels to their creations.

The early years foundation stage provides the framework for children's learning, development and care. Here, the August 2024 activities translated those aims into movement, making, conversation and imaginative play, with children's interests helping shape the curriculum.

Books prompted children to invent rather than simply listen. In August 2024, children used Under the Sea as the starting point for their own role play, drawing on story language and props. They also chose books independently. Outside, the redesigned play area supported water activities, including mixing a pretend soup and watching its colour change.

At the August 2024 inspection, Ofsted found effective safeguarding arrangements, good support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, very good progress for those children, and effective support for children learning English as an additional language. Vocabulary development received deliberate attention.

In August 2024, staff knew the children well, and older children helped younger ones during play. Shared model-making involved cooperation over materials. Parents received regular progress updates and ideas for activities at home, connecting learning across the two settings.

Staff also supported children through settling and the move towards school. In August 2024, relationships with local schools enabled teachers to receive information about children before their next stage. Staff development included training, supervision and mentoring, giving practitioners opportunities to work on their daily practice.

The address is The Old Church, Carlingford Road, Hucknall, Nottinghamshire NG15 7AE.

In August 2024, the setting operated Monday to Friday across 48 weeks, with sessions from 8am to 4.30pm. It also provided funded early education for children aged two, three and four. These arrangements describe that period rather than a current booking offer.

• Group activities. In August 2024, some younger children spent too long listening and lost interest. During a visit, ask how group activities now accommodate different ages and attention spans.
• Doing things independently. In August 2024, adults sometimes intervened before children had tried tasks themselves. Look for opportunities for children to attempt, persist and solve problems before help arrives.
• Attendance arrangements. The August 2024 operating pattern covered weekdays across 48 weeks. What session patterns and funded-hours arrangements would apply to your child now?

Leen Mills suits families drawn to preschool experiences that connect stories, practical making and physical activity. Its August 2024 picture combines imaginative play with communication between staff, parents and schools. The two improvement priorities are useful tests for a visit: whether younger children remain involved in group activities, and whether adults give children enough space to try for themselves.