Little Cherubs Preschool

Play dough, familiar stories and preparing cucumber for snacks give Little Cherubs Preschool a practical, hands-on character in its March 2023 account. Based at Kingsway Primary School in Leicester, it has capacity for 24 children. Children attending in March 2023 were aged two to four; that age range belongs to that period.

At its March 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated the preschool Good overall and judged safeguarding effective. The strongest everyday examples involved children practising useful skills through play, from handling scissors to sharing food fairly.

In March 2023, children shaped play dough while discussing shapes and acting out a familiar story. This brought hand control, vocabulary and imaginative play together in one activity. A pretend kitchen gave children another setting for make-believe, while outdoor cornflour play prompted staff to repeat words and help with pronunciation.

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children's learning, development and care: here, the March 2023 examples show how play can bring language, physical skills and social learning into the same experience.

There were weaknesses in how adults extended that play. In March 2023, staff sometimes moved through questions too quickly for children to think through an answer or find their own solution. Some children also needed more adult interaction than they received during activities they had chosen. These were practical teaching issues, affecting how much children could gain from an otherwise engaging activity.

At the March 2023 inspection, Ofsted found that staff worked effectively with other professionals to support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, adjusted activities and shared helpful strategies with families.

In March 2023, staff helped children name their emotions and negotiate over resources. Children also practised personal care, including handwashing and wiping their noses with reminders. However, expectations after snacks varied: some children were supported to clear their plates, but the approach was inconsistent across the group.

Daily conversations with parents featured in the March 2023 account, covering children's interests and ways to continue learning at home. This connected nursery activities with family life rather than leaving parents with only a description of the day.

The address is Kingsway Primary School, Kingsway North, Leicester, LE3 3BD. In March 2023, opening hours were 9am to midday, Monday to Friday, during term time, and the preschool provided funded early education for two- and three-year-olds.

The school-site address needs a clear distinction: attending the preschool does not guarantee a Reception place.

• Support during play. The March 2023 improvement points concerned missed opportunities to extend learning and insufficient thinking time. On a visit, ask how practitioners now identify children needing extra interaction and give them space to solve problems.
• Consistent independence. In March 2023, plate-clearing expectations differed between children. Ask how staff now build shared expectations into snack routines.
• Term-time attendance. The March 2023 opening pattern was confined to weekday mornings in term time. What attendance pattern and hours would apply to your child's place now?

Little Cherubs suits families who value practical play, growing independence and communication about learning at home. Its March 2023 account offers concrete examples of all three, balanced by clear weaknesses in questioning and consistent expectations. Preschool attendance does not guarantee a Reception place.