St. Margaret's Pre School

A balloon arch becoming a lesson in shapes captures the play-led character of St. Margaret's Pre School. In July 2024, children connected their activities with what they already knew, while staff used everyday objects to explore materials and sounds. Conversation and practical discovery helped children connect new ideas with familiar objects.

Ofsted rated the pre-school Good at its 18 July 2024 inspection. Its base is St. Margaret's Catholic Church Hall in Doddinghurst, and it has capacity for 30 children. Children can attend from age two until they start school, making this a setting for toddlers and preschool children rather than babies.

Attendance is during term time, with flexible hours offered across Monday to Friday. That calendar is a central part of the choice for families.

Learning and Activities

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) provides the framework for children's learning and development: here, children's interests and play help shape activities that build their skills. It is the educational foundation, while the particular activities give the day its character.

In July 2024, staff planned around children's interests and the next steps in their learning. An underwater activity prompted a child to recognise an angler fish; elsewhere, children explored the sounds made by knocking on objects to identify materials. These examples connect vocabulary, observation and physical experience. They also give adults something concrete to discuss with children, rather than relying only on questions with an expected answer.

Books, songs and a daily gathering gave children opportunities to listen and contribute their ideas in July 2024. Staff also joined children's games and used play to explain boundaries. When some children wanted a chasing game to stop, adults helped their peers understand that choice. Binoculars and magnifying glasses then offered another direction for their play.

There was a clear teaching point to address. In July 2024, questioning sometimes continued long enough for children to disengage, reducing their chance to experiment and solve problems themselves. The improvement action was to give children more scope to try ideas, make mistakes and work out what to do next. For parents, the useful distinction is between an adult extending play and an adult taking over its direction.

Outdoor and Community Life

Indoor and outdoor spaces both supported activities in July 2024. Outdoor preparation also became a practical independence task: children applied sun cream and put on hats themselves, with encouragement from staff. The emphasis was on learning to manage personal routines alongside play.

School preparation included practising dressing for PE in July 2024. That is a concrete example of preparing children for everyday expectations at school, rather than treating readiness only as knowledge of letters or numbers.

Relationships and Communication

The Key Person System gives a practitioner particular responsibility for a small group of children, providing a familiar relationship for each child and a clear point of contact for parents. Children also form relationships with other staff, so their connections extend beyond one adult.

In July 2024, settling arrangements were adapted to individual children and families. Regular discussions about development linked learning at the setting with what parents could do at home. This gives families a role beyond receiving updates: conversations can help them understand the next step their child is working towards.

At the July 2024 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective, rapid development in children's speech and language, and significant progress for children with SEND through prompt identification of learning gaps and additional support.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

Support can involve professionals visiting the setting and, where needed, the Essex County Council Early Years Support team. Parental consent is obtained before that contact, and parents are included in decisions and meetings. This provides a specific mechanism for coordinating help around a child.

In July 2024, staff gave children manageable responsibilities, including distributing milk at snack time. These small jobs created opportunities to contribute to the group, including for children who were less confident. Hygiene routines and conversations about healthy eating were also part of the day, with staff working with parents on habits at home.

Sessions and Attendance

The address is St. Margaret's Catholic Church Hall, Doddinghurst Road, Doddinghurst, Brentwood, CM15 0QH. The pre-school operates on weekdays during term time and offers flexible hours. Its term-time calendar matters for families arranging care around working weeks and school holidays.

In July 2024, session hours were 9.15am to 3.15pm on Monday and Wednesday, 9.15am to 1.30pm on Tuesday and Friday, and 9.15am to 12.15pm on Thursday. These are the session hours at that visit, rather than a promise of today's booking pattern. The different finishing times are relevant when considering how attendance fits a family's day.

Applications can be requested by emailing info@tendertotschildcare.co.uk. This provides a direct route to beginning the application process.

Funding and Paid Extras

The pre-school offers 3 to 4 year Early Educational Entitlement funding and funding for eligible two-year-olds. Parents using grant funding complete a Parent Declaration Form; the offer of funding should be kept separate from whether an individual child qualifies.

Fees are paid half-termly, with invoices issued at the start of each term. Current prices come in the nursery's written quotation. The admissions and fees page sets out the payment arrangements alongside the funding information.

• Term-time attendance. The pre-school operates Monday to Friday during term time. Families needing holiday care should factor that calendar into their plans.
• Learning through experimentation. The July 2024 improvement action concerned opportunities for trial and error. During a visit, ask how staff now allow children to pursue an idea before stepping in with questions.
• Planning flexible attendance. Flexible hours are offered. At a visit, discuss a proposed weekly pattern and how meals and everyday consumables would be handled within it.

St. Margaret's Pre School suits families seeking term-time attendance with flexible hours for a child aged two or older. The July 2024 examples give it a recognisable character: everyday materials became learning resources, practical independence was rehearsed, and children had responsibilities within the group.

The key-person arrangement and parental involvement in additional support give families concrete ways to stay connected. The teaching improvement point also deserves attention: children need room to test their own ideas, as well as adults who can extend them.