Orchard Pre School

Guinea pigs, garden digging and books used to answer questions give Orchard Pre School a recognisable character in its July 2022 account of daily life. This Brighton setting has 19 places in total. Small capacity is a useful starting point for families, although it does not establish the size of the group attending on any particular day.

At its July 2022 inspection, Ofsted rated the provision Good, finding that children sustained their interest in activities and cooperated well. The children attending at that visit were aged four to five; that is a dated description of the group.

In July 2022, children could choose between indoor and outdoor play. A garden dinosaur hunt brought together digging tools, imaginative stories and remembered vocabulary about animals. Building structures to escape imaginary lava added movement to the game. These were activities with several purposes, rather than isolated exercises.

The early years foundation stage is the framework for children's learning, development and care: play, language and practical skills belong together within it. In July 2022, children explored unfamiliar words through books about snakes and followed a recipe to make play dough. Reading had a practical purpose as well as offering stories.

Regular yoga and walks to the park for forest school activities featured in July 2022, adding movement and outdoor exploration. Caring for guinea pigs introduced responsibility for living things, while smelling mint brought sensory exploration into that experience. Library visits gave children the chance to change their books.

At the July 2022 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and judged that children with special educational needs and/or disabilities made very good progress, supported by work with families and professionals, additional staffing or specialist resources.

In July 2022, information flowed between staff and parents to connect care at home and preschool. Children practised everyday independence by using the toilet, washing their hands and pouring drinks. Kindness and consistent encouragement shaped how staff responded to behaviour, and preparation for moving on to school included these practical self-care skills.

The address is St. Lukes Vicarage, Queens Park Terrace, Brighton, BN2 9YA.

In July 2022, opening hours were 8am to 6pm on weekdays throughout the year. The setting also received early-education funding for three- and four-year-olds at that time. These are historical operating details.

• Time to answer. In July 2022, staff sometimes moved through questions too quickly. Giving children space to think before responding was an improvement priority.
• Knowing when to teach. The July 2022 findings called for better recognition of moments requiring direct instruction, including forming letters. Child-led play needs timely adult input too.
• Choosing an attendance pattern. The July 2022 account describes year-round weekday opening. At a visit, which ages and booking patterns does Orchard now accommodate?

Orchard suits families who value outdoor exploration, books and opportunities for children to manage everyday tasks. Its July 2022 account combines those experiences with clear teaching priorities: slower questioning and more timely instruction. The 19-place capacity gives useful context, while the dated findings provide a starting point for assessing whether its approach fits your child.