The Beeches Pre-school

In September 2023, paint mixing on a wall tarpaulin and toy-car races turned into measuring activities showed how The Beeches Pre-school used children's interests as opportunities to explore. This Colchester setting has 14 places in total.

At its September 2023 inspection, Ofsted judged the provision Good and found safeguarding effective. Children attending then were aged two to four. The account below describes that period, including morning and afternoon sessions rather than a single attendance pattern.

In September 2023, children moved between indoor and outdoor play, choosing activities for themselves. Their decisions also shaped shared story time: staff offered two books and children voted for the first one to be read. That gave them a concrete way to influence the day.

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children's learning, development and care; here, the September 2023 examples show learning through play and adult guidance. Children racing toy cars marked their stopping points and looked for measuring tools to compare the distances. An interest in insects led to retrieving plastic insects from soil and leaves with tweezers, then discussing their characteristics and measuring them with rulers.

Colour exploration had a physical canvas. In September 2023, children painted a rainbow on a large wall tarpaulin and experimented with white paint to make colours lighter. These activities connected conversation, practical handling and early mathematical ideas.

In September 2023, staff helped children manage disagreements over resources by working through sharing and taking turns. Children sought adult help when play became difficult. Support was tied to situations they actually encountered.

Conversations with parents allowed information from home to reach staff, while children's language learning included new vocabulary linked to familiar experiences, such as a vehicle travelling backwards. At the September 2023 inspection, Ofsted also identified two priorities: helping staff draw out children's ideas and deepen their thinking, and developing support for people newly taking on management responsibilities. These are useful distinctions between introducing vocabulary and extending a child's reasoning.

The address is 136 St. Andrews Avenue, Colchester, CO4 3AQ.

In September 2023, the pre-school operated Monday to Friday for 42 weeks each year. Morning sessions ran from 9.15am to midday, afternoon sessions from 1pm to 3.30pm, and a lunch club connected them from midday to 1pm. Care could also run from 8am to 5.30pm as required. These were the arrangements at that date.

Funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-olds was provided in September 2023.

• Attendance fit. The September 2023 arrangements included separate morning and afternoon sessions, a lunch club and additional care as required. At a visit, ask how today's booking options, funding and meal arrangements fit your intended week.
• Conversation and leadership. The September 2023 improvement priorities concerned children's thinking and support for new managers. Ask how staff now extend children's answers and how managers receive professional development.

The September 2023 picture suits families seeking morning or afternoon attendance with learning built around children's interests. Measuring toy-car journeys, experimenting with paint and voting for stories made participation tangible. The Good judgement sits alongside clear development priorities in questioning and leadership support, which deserve attention when choosing this pre-school.