Lulu's Pre-School

Sharing flags in the garden and turning snack scraps into compost gave Lulu's Pre-School a practical, sociable character in June 2022. Children chose activities that interested them, while staff used those interests to plan their next learning steps.

Ofsted rated the pre-school Good on 23 June 2022. Children attending in June 2022 were aged two to seven. Its address is Elm Drive, Cheshunt, EN8 0RX, on the Brookland Infant & Nursery School site in Waltham Cross.

The early years foundation stage sets requirements for children's learning, development and care: here, the June 2022 examples included learning through play, conversation and practical activities. Children sorted materials for recycling, then took leftover snack into the garden's compost bin. That connected an activity indoors with something they could do outside.

During June 2022, staff shared stories and factual books, using questions to encourage children to think. Play with telephones introduced the idea of an echo. Vocabulary teaching needed greater consistency across staff, however, and some activities needed more stretch for children already working confidently.

Sharing was another strength of daily life in June 2022. When flags were insufficient for everyone, children worked out how to use them together. Familiar routines helped them understand what would happen next.

At the June 2022 inspection, Ofsted found effective safeguarding arrangements and staff able to recognise additional needs early, working with families and other professionals to support children's progress.

In June 2022, children needing longer to settle sought their key person for play, giving them a familiar adult to turn to. Displays of children's creations helped them take pride in their work, while parents received updates about activities and development.

School preparation also had a practical shape in June 2022. Staff shared development information with schools and offered preparation activities that parents could continue at home. This supported continuity between the pre-school day and the next stage of learning.

In June 2022, morning sessions ran from 8.50am to 11.50am, and afternoon sessions from 12.30pm to 3.30pm. Breakfast club operated from 7.45am to 8.45am, with after-school club from 3.30pm to 6pm; an optional lunch club was also offered in June 2022.

Funded early education for children aged two, three and four formed part of the June 2022 provision. Staff provided healthy snacks, made water accessible throughout the day and gave families guidance on healthy packed lunches.

The address is on a school site. Attending the pre-school does not guarantee a Reception place.

• Language and challenge. The June 2022 improvement priorities concerned consistent vocabulary teaching and greater challenge for the most able children. At a visit, ask how staff now build these into play.
• Attendance arrangements. Morning and afternoon sessions, lunch club and wraparound care formed the June 2022 pattern. Ask which of these arrangements would fit your child's intended attendance now.

Lulu's suits families interested in the morning or afternoon preschool sessions and breakfast or after-school care documented in June 2022. Its strongest inspection-era details were familiar key-person relationships, cooperative play and practical preparation for school. Consistency in language teaching and sufficient challenge remain the central points to explore.