Tiny Explorers Pre-School

A hedgehog teddy travelling home with children and food scraps becoming compost give Tiny Explorers Pre-School a recognisable character: learning connected to home life and small, practical responsibilities. These were features of its May 2024 provision, alongside an emphasis on communication and understanding feelings.

At its May 2024 inspection, Ofsted rated the pre-school Good and judged safeguarding effective. Based at Scout Hall in Canford Heath, Poole, it accepts children aged two to four and has 60 places in total.

The early years foundation stage sets the framework for learning and care, covering children's development through experiences such as play, conversation and physical activity. In May 2024, stories, songs and rhymes supported language, while staff used signing and picture cues to help children express their needs.

Younger children spent time apart from older children, exploring objects through their senses with their key person. Adults talked about what children were doing, giving words to their experiences. A memory game encouraged children to notice missing objects, take turns and then lead the activity themselves.

Practical learning extended outdoors. In May 2024, children collected snack leftovers for compost, used it to grow fruit and vegetables, and ate the produce at snack time. Choosing snacks and washing their crockery also gave them manageable everyday responsibilities.

At the May 2024 inspection, Ofsted found that key persons understood children's individual needs and that children with special educational needs or disabilities received achievable targets to support progress. This links personal relationships with specific next steps in learning.

In May 2024, an emotions board let children connect their name with a feeling, and stories continued that discussion during the day. Individual plans guided adults' responses when children needed help managing emotions, making consistency part of the support.

Home learning had tangible materials: backpacks contained books and puppets, while the hedgehog teddy prompted conversations about children's experiences away from the setting. Parents also contributed to staff appraisals, giving families a route to influence staff development.

The address is Scout Hall, Canford Heath, Sherborn Crescent, Poole, BH17 8AP. Opening hours are 8.30am to 3pm, Monday to Friday, during term time; the pre-school closes for school holidays. This timetable makes the holiday calendar a material part of arranging childcare.

In May 2024, the pre-school received early education funding for children aged two, three and four. That dated participation is separate from any individual family's entitlement.

• Safety during play. In May 2024, adults did not consistently guide children using dolls' buggies indoors to avoid collisions. Ask how staff now teach safe movement during active play.
• Lunchtime waiting. In May 2024, taking children together for toileting and handwashing left some waiting long enough for behaviour to worsen. Ask how the lunchtime routine now keeps children occupied.
• Term-time timetable. The pre-school closes during school holidays and finishes at 3pm. Families need a childcare arrangement that fits those boundaries.

Tiny Explorers suits families seeking term-time preschool care for children aged two to four. Its May 2024 provision combined communication support with practical independence, home learning and growing food. The main points to explore are concrete: safer indoor play and a smoother lunchtime routine.