Portland Place Pre-School

Garden obstacle courses, counting games and outings to the library give Portland Place Pre-School its character in June 2023: practical learning rooted in play and the surrounding community. It has capacity for 25 children, with premises at Sutton cum Lound C of E School in Retford.

At its 7 June 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated the provision Good and judged safeguarding effective. Children attending then were aged two to four. That age range describes the children at the visit, rather than a current admissions rule.

The early years foundation stage sets the framework for children's learning, development and care, bringing communication, physical development and early mathematical understanding into everyday experiences.

In June 2023, staff planned activities around children's interests and their next learning steps. Counting was woven into play, older children tackled addition and subtraction, and games involved finding hidden shapes. This gave mathematical ideas a practical setting rather than leaving them as abstract exercises.

The garden supported movement and imagination. In June 2023, children balanced and jumped through an obstacle course, practised climbing and sliding, and used pencils and chalk for mark-making. Seats became an imaginary journey to the beach, with children contributing ideas about destinations. Outings to the library and local church extended their experiences beyond the pre-school.

In June 2023, staff encouraged children to recognise their achievements and talk about their preferences. They helped children join others' games and practise polite turn-taking. Children also took responsibility outdoors, helping prepare garden equipment and checking gates and the slide with adults. These were concrete opportunities to practise cooperation and think about safety.

Daily conversations with parents in June 2023 covered children's activities and their next learning steps, alongside strategies for continuing learning at home. Staff used gestures and signs alongside speech, as well as songs and stories. However, expectations during group activities and the accuracy of some adults' spoken language needed greater consistency.

The address is Sutton cum Lound C of E School, Portland Place, Sutton, Retford, Nottinghamshire, DN22 8PP.

In June 2023, the pre-school operated on weekdays during school terms, with session times running from 7.45am to 3pm. It also provided funded early education for children aged two, three and four at that time. These are dated arrangements, useful for understanding its sessional model.

• Group-time expectations. In June 2023, some children chatted or handled nearby objects during stories without staff redirecting them. Consistent reminders were an improvement priority, relevant to families weighing how children are helped to participate together.
• Adult language. In June 2023, some practitioners shortened words or omitted parts of sentences. More accurate spoken examples were needed to support children's developing speech.
• Planning attendance. The June 2023 pattern was term-time weekday provision ending at 3pm. At a visit, what attendance arrangements now apply?

Portland Place Pre-School merits consideration by families who value practical preschool experiences, outdoor movement and connections with the local community. Its June 2023 activities provide tangible examples of that character. The two improvement priorities also matter: consistent expectations and accurate adult speech are central to making everyday group learning work well.