Christ Church Creekmoor Little Oaks Preschool

Confidence and everyday independence give this Poole preschool its character: putting on shoes, managing coats and taking responsibility for tidying were part of children's learning in May and June 2025. Small tasks had a clear purpose, helping children prepare for greater independence at school.

Christ Church Creekmoor Little Oaks Preschool has 30 places in total and accepts children aged two to five, at Community Centre, Northmead Drive, Poole BH17 7XZ. At the May and June 2025 inspection, Ofsted judged the provision Good, found that children progressed well and assessed safeguarding as effective; subsequent regulatory findings also matter to the decision.

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children's learning, development and care, connecting education with everyday wellbeing. In May and June 2025, the curriculum emphasised confidence and independence, with stories, conversation and practical play giving children opportunities to develop these skills.

Story sessions invited children to discuss events and anticipate what might happen next. Water play introduced pipettes and new vocabulary, while shaping dough exercised the hand muscles used for writing. These were concrete ways to connect language and physical development with play.

The garden provided space for climbing, balancing and running. Community outings included watching ducks, visiting a park and exploring shops and businesses, bringing encounters with different people into children's experience. However, indoor noise sometimes interrupted listening, and staff questions did not consistently stretch children's thinking. Both were improvement priorities in May and June 2025.

In May and June 2025, staff knew their key children and used their interests to shape activities. They shared developmental information with parents and worked with families and other professionals when children needed additional help. Visual aids supported communication for children who were not yet speaking.

Cooperative play received practical support: sufficient resources reduced disputes, and staff helped children work through disagreements. Conversations about feelings connected behaviour with its effect on others.

Following visits in October and November 2025, Ofsted recorded shortcomings involving injury procedures, safeguarding, risk assessment and recording, with corrective action taken; its January 2026 outcome confirmed that the required staff-supervision support and training had been implemented. These repeated welfare-related findings deserve attention alongside the earlier Good judgement.

The preschool operates during term time and closes for school holidays. Opening hours are 9.15am to 12.45pm on Mondays and Fridays, and 9.15am to 2.45pm from Tuesday to Thursday. This makes the school-holiday calendar a practical consideration for working families.

In May and June 2025, the provision offered government-funded places. That is an inspection-time position, rather than a promise of a funded place today.

• Listening and challenge. Noise and insufficiently demanding questions were improvement priorities in May and June 2025. During a visit, ask how staff now protect quieter learning and extend children's ideas.
• Welfare practice. The October and November 2025 regulatory visits identified repeated welfare-related shortcomings, followed by corrective action and a January 2026 supervision outcome. Ask how injury reporting, risk assessment and staff support work day to day.
• Term-time timetable. Monday and Friday opening ends at 12.45pm, with later closing on the other weekdays. Families needing holiday childcare will need to plan around the school-holiday closure.

This preschool suits families seeking term-time care for children aged two to five, whose childcare needs fit the shorter Monday and Friday opening hours. The 2025 account gives useful substance to its emphasis on independence, books and outdoor movement. The decision also needs to weigh the learning improvements and subsequent welfare findings, including the recorded corrective action.