Skips

At its December 2023 inspection, garden cycling, card games and home learning bags gave Skips a practical, play-led character. This Kidlington preschool has capacity for 30 children and occupies a site at West Kidlington School, Oxford Road.

At its December 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated Skips Good, judged safeguarding effective and found that children with special educational needs and/or disabilities received helpful support and made good progress. Children attending then were aged two to four. These are dated findings, rather than a description of today's groups.

The early years foundation stage sets the framework for children's learning, development and care: here, the December 2023 activities show how play brought language, number and physical skills into the day. Planning followed children's interests and learning needs.

In December 2023, play dough worms prompted conversations about size, while singing helped children learning English acquire vocabulary. Staff also collected familiar words from home languages. This connected learning with language children already knew.

The garden supported cycling, scooter riding and football. A card game gave older children practice in waiting for a turn; making sandcastles offered another opportunity to share an achievement with staff. A visit from the local fire brigade introduced children to firefighters' work through direct contact.

In December 2023, everyday independence included putting on coats, using nose-wiping stations and helping clear away toys. Encouragement from staff accompanied these small steps towards managing personal tasks.

Parents received updates about children's experiences and development, and home learning bags extended activities beyond preschool. For children needing additional support, staff worked with outside agencies and communicated with families to maintain consistency. Staff themselves had supervision meetings and opportunities for further training.

There were limits to the social support. Some children who found interaction difficult needed more encouragement to join others. Online safety also needed attention: children were learning about road safety and taking part in fire drills, but understanding risks around digital technology required further development.

The address is West Kidlington School, Oxford Road, Kidlington, OX5 1EA. In December 2023, Skips operated on weekdays during term time, opening from 8.45am to 3.30pm. That opening window describes the arrangement at that date.

Funded early education for children aged two, three and four was provided in December 2023. Families weighing this option should distinguish that dated funding offer from an entitlement decision for their own child.

The preschool occupies grounds belonging to West Kidlington Primary School. Attendance at Skips does not guarantee a Reception place.

• Social confidence. In December 2023, children who struggled to socialise sometimes needed more help to interact. At a visit, ask how practitioners support a child who hangs back from group play.
• Digital safety. Developing children's understanding of online risks was a December 2023 improvement priority. Ask how this now fits into age-appropriate learning.
• Term-time planning. The December 2023 opening pattern followed school terms. What attendance arrangements would fit your family's current routine?

The December 2023 picture suits families looking for practical independence, outdoor movement and language-rich play in a preschool day. The December 2023 picture combines useful home links with concrete learning experiences. Families should weigh that alongside the identified need for stronger support with social interaction and online safety, and the dated term-time operating pattern.