Thurmaston Village Pre-School

In September 2023, dinosaur play and vegetables from a community allotment gave Thurmaston Village Pre-School a recognisable character: everyday experiences became opportunities to talk, investigate and practise practical skills. At its September 2023 inspection, Ofsted judged the provision Good and safeguarding effective, while identifying inconsistencies in teaching and staff support.

Based at Memorial Hall on Melton Road in Thurmaston, the pre-school has 26 places in total. Children attending in September 2023 were aged 2 to 4; that age range belongs to the inspection period.

The early years foundation stage covers children's learning, development and care, with play and everyday routines providing opportunities to build skills. In September 2023, dinosaur activities prompted conversations about long necks, volcanoes and lava, while pushing construction blocks together exercised children's hands. There was substance behind the play.

Community experiences added another dimension that September. Children investigated corn grown at the community allotment, peeling back its leaves and asking questions about what they discovered. On walks, they talked about nature and practised safety routines around dogs. These examples connected learning with things children could handle and observe.

Some teaching opportunities were missed in September 2023 because staff concentrated too narrowly on an activity's planned purpose. The improvement needed was to recognise useful learning as it arose, rather than stopping at the original intention.

At the September 2023 inspection, Ofsted found that staff used observations to identify children's next learning needs, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those learning English as an additional language. Repeating useful words was one practical form of language support.

Relationships supported daily care in September 2023. Children formed close connections with staff, and communication with parents covered care and learning. Dressing dolls helped children practise skills relevant to using the bathroom independently; collecting their own water bottles and washing plates gave them manageable responsibilities.

Expectations were less consistent that September. A clapping signal confused children who had recently joined, illustrating why routines need clear explanations. Coaching also needed to respond more closely to individual staff development needs so that interactions and teaching became more consistent.

The address is Memorial Hall, Melton Road, Thurmaston, Leicester, LE4 8BD.

In September 2023, opening hours were 9.15am to 12.15pm on Monday and 9.15am to 3pm from Tuesday to Thursday, during term time. These were opening hours at that date, rather than a description of bookable session types. Funded early education was provided for two-, three- and four-year-olds at that time.

• Teaching beyond the plan. In September 2023, staff sometimes missed learning opportunities outside an activity's intended purpose. Families should weigh this alongside the concrete examples of language and practical learning.
• Clear routines and staff support. Expectations and individually targeted coaching both needed attention in September 2023. Consistency matters when children are learning how the day works.
• Attendance arrangements. What are the current opening hours and funded attendance options? The September 2023 pattern was term-time provision with a shorter Monday.

The provision observed at Thurmaston Village Pre-School in September 2023 would suit families who value practical play, conversation and community experiences. Its September 2023 provision combined these strengths with areas requiring more consistent teaching and clearer routines. For families considering a term-time pre-school, the dated opening pattern provides a useful starting point for the attendance question above.