Tiny Tots Pre School

Play-dough birthday cakes, a pretend bear hunt and balancing on small stilts give Tiny Tots Pre School a recognisable character. In March 2023, these play activities supported counting, storytelling and physical coordination.

At its March 2023 inspection, Ofsted judged the provision Good and found safeguarding effective. The setting is on Ogle Street in Hucknall, Nottingham, NG15 7FQ, and has capacity for 26 children. Children attending in March 2023 were aged two to four; that age range belongs to that visit.

In March 2023, communication and language were central to the curriculum. The early years foundation stage provides the framework for children's learning and care, with play supporting language, movement, social development and practical skills.

A pretend bear hunt led into We're Going on a Bear Hunt, connecting children's imaginative play with a story they could join in. Magnifying glasses gave them another way to explore their surroundings. Play-dough cakes brought counting into making: children matched candles to their age.

Outdoors in March 2023, steps and a slide offered physical challenges, while balls and small stilts supported coordination and balance. Indoors, stacking wooden bricks required careful hand movements. The activities gave children different ways to practise control, from whole-body movement to precise construction.

Community experiences also featured in March 2023. Visits to nearby shops and residential homes introduced children to people beyond the playgroup and gave community learning a concrete setting.

In March 2023, a tambourine signalled snack time, followed by handwashing. Familiar cues helped children understand what happened next. Serving snacks, pouring drinks and putting on coats gave them practical opportunities to do things for themselves.

Staff encouraged persistence in March 2023, including showing children how to move their feet when using stilts. Manners received gentle reminders and encouragement. A special educational needs coordinator also took part in discussions about support for children with additional needs.

Ogle Street, Hucknall, Nottingham, NG15 7FQ is the setting's address.

In March 2023, attendance operated Monday to Friday across 48 weeks, with sessions running from 9am to 3pm. Funded early education was provided for children aged two, three and four. These are historical arrangements, rather than a current booking promise.

• Conversation and thinking. In March 2023, staff sometimes asked questions without allowing enough response time. Developing vocabulary and giving children more room to think were improvement priorities.
• Following children's interests. In March 2023, opportunities to develop spontaneous play were sometimes missed, including children's exploration of cars moving down the slide. Staff monitoring and professional support also needed further development.
• Your attendance pattern. The March 2023 session window was 9am to 3pm. Which current session pattern would fit your family's week?

The provision described in March 2023 would suit families seeking play-based early education with practical independence and community experiences. Its March 2023 examples give that approach substance: counting candles, joining a story and learning to balance. The improvement priorities matter too, especially for parents weighing how adults extend children's conversations and follow their ideas.