Mill Lane Pre-School Association

Parent-led childcare in a church hall gives Mill Lane Pre-School Association a clear identity: a charitable pre-school in Broxbourne, welcoming children aged two to four. It has capacity for 34 children in total. The emphasis is on play, relationships and helping children take their first steps towards independence.

At its January 2024 inspection, Ofsted rated the pre-school Good, judged safeguarding effective and found that children formed close relationships with their key person, including those new to the setting. That gives families a dated assessment of both the education and the care, rather than a promise based on the setting's character alone.

Attendance is term-time, with morning sessions and Wednesday and Thursday afternoons offered on request.

Play combines children's own choices with activities guided by adults. The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for learning, development and care: here, that means opportunities to build language, movement and social skills through play and shared activities. Child-led exploration and adult guidance both have a place in the session.

In January 2024, dough work and drawing on large sheets of paper helped children practise movements needed for writing. Balancing and jumping between blocks developed coordination, while soft-play equipment gave children opportunities to crawl, climb and roll. These activities developed coordination and the physical skills needed for writing.

Stories, singing and rhymes with actions also featured in January 2024. Animal activities drew on children's interest in visits they made to a wildlife park; children brought their own knowledge into conversation. This was learning connected to experiences outside pre-school, rather than evidence of organised trips from the setting.

There were limits to some adult-guided activities at that visit. Staff sometimes spoke over children, leaving quieter children too little time to understand and answer. Some activities also suffered from insufficient individual materials or staff being unfamiliar with the book they were using. The improvement priorities were precise: allow children more thinking time and prepare resources more carefully.

Toilet training is part of the care, rather than a condition of entry. Children can attend while wearing nappies, and staff help with changing and potty training. For a family whose child is still learning, that removes a practical barrier to starting pre-school.

A key person role and a deputy leader with SENCo responsibilities form part of the team structure. At the January 2024 inspection, Ofsted found that staff assessed children's development carefully and involved relevant professionals when additional intervention was needed. This gives a concrete account of how support worked at that point, rather than a general assurance about inclusion.

In January 2024, staff also made time to understand experiences that might affect a child's day and helped children recognise and manage their feelings. Clear expectations supported considerate behaviour, including checking whether another child was hurt after a bump. The emphasis was on understanding the effect of an action, alongside learning what to do next.

At that visit, five childcare staff worked at the setting. Team planning helped practitioners understand children beyond their own key-person group, making care less dependent on a single adult's knowledge.

Sessions and Attendance

The address is United Reformed Church Hall, Mill Lane, Broxbourne, EN10 7BQ. Opening hours are 9am to midday, Monday to Friday, during term time; morning sessions are offered, with afternoon sessions on Wednesday and Thursday by request. That combination serves families seeking a morning routine as well as those wanting afternoon attendance on those days.

Enquiries can be made by telephone on 07597 439799, by email at milllanepreschool.toddlers@gmail.com or through the contact form. Private session fees are invoiced by email and paid ahead of each half-term, with payment due when attendance begins. Current prices come in the pre-school's written quotation.

Funding and Paid Extras

Both self-funded and government-funded attendance are accepted. The pre-school accepts 15 or 30 hours of childcare support for eligible working parents from age two, delivered through its term-time offer; Tax-Free Childcare and childcare vouchers are also accepted. There are no extra fees.

Families supply a healthy snack and a labelled water bottle; staff prepare the snack. Parents also provide nappies, wipes and nappy sacks for children who need them, so funded attendance does not remove those packing responsibilities.

• Thinking time and activity preparation. The January 2024 improvement priorities concerned children's opportunity to respond and the preparation of learning materials. During a visit, ask how staff now make room for quieter voices and organise adult-guided activities.
• A session your child can try. Visits can take place during a session, with children joining activities and families discussing routines and meeting their key adult. Use that opportunity to see how your child responds to the group.
• Term-time attendance. Morning sessions sit alongside requested Wednesday and Thursday afternoons. Families needing care through school holidays will need an arrangement that covers the breaks.

Mill Lane suits families seeking morning pre-school sessions or requested afternoon attendance, with a term-time rhythm and support for children still learning to use the toilet. Its parent-led charitable structure gives it a clear identity. The January 2024 assessment provides a positive foundation, balanced by specific work needed on conversational space and activity preparation. Those are useful priorities to explore when choosing care.