Hopscotch Pre-School

In January 2025, a miniature bear travelling between home and preschool gave children a personal starting point for conversations about their family experiences. In January 2025, Ofsted judged the provision Good and found safeguarding effective.

Based at St. Francis Community Centre in Bournville, Birmingham, Hopscotch has capacity for 25 children aged 24 to 60 months. Its term-time calendar makes school holidays an important part of the childcare decision.

In January 2025, Superhero Bears week involved children taking a small bear home, then sharing its weekend adventures. This gave conversations a personal starting point and connected activities with family life.

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children's learning, development and care; here, the January 2025 day combined play chosen by children with activities led by adults. Stories, music and a morning greeting provided shared routines. Counting children before outdoor play brought number work into an everyday task.

Handa's Surprise supplied another link between learning and experience: in January 2025, staff connected the story with fruit children had eaten. They stopped to discuss events and characters rather than simply reading through. Regular neighbourhood walks also took children to a park, shops and a garden centre, giving them familiar places to explore together.

At its January 2025 inspection, Ofsted found that children with special educational needs and/or disabilities made good progress, supported by plans, parental involvement and specialist advice when appropriate.

In January 2025, staff used children's interests and family experiences to start conversations. Snack routines encouraged practical independence: children served their own water and dealt with their plates afterwards. These small responsibilities gave them opportunities to practise caring for themselves.

The address is St. Francis Community Centre, Sycamore Road, Bournville, Birmingham, B30 2AA. Opening hours are 9.30am to 2.30pm, Monday to Friday, during term time; the setting closes for school holidays.

In January 2025, Hopscotch provided funded early education for children aged two, three and four. Families considering this term-time arrangement need to weigh the daytime opening window alongside their holiday childcare needs.

• Early writing. In January 2025, writing activities did not build children's skills consistently from one stage to the next. During a visit, ask how staff now organise that progression.
• Choice during play. In January 2025, some children missed activities during independent play, potentially narrowing their learning. Ask how practitioners help children explore beyond their familiar choices.
• Term-time rhythm. School holidays are closure periods, and the day ends at 2.30pm. This calendar needs to fit the family's wider childcare arrangements.

Hopscotch suits families seeking term-time preschool care within a daytime opening window. Its January 2025 strengths lay in personal conversations, shared stories and everyday independence, with neighbourhood walks extending children's experiences beyond the community centre. The two development priorities are practical ones: clearer progression in writing and help for children to use more of the activities offered.