St Oswald's Pre-School

An art studio, a sensory room and books to borrow gave St Oswald's Pre-School a character extending well beyond its play activities in January 2023. Based in St. Oswalds Park, Wren Close, Newton Aycliffe, DL5 4BG, it has 52 places in total.

At its January 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated the pre-school Outstanding, finding rapid developmental progress, including for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), and effective safeguarding arrangements. Children attending then were aged two to four. These are dated findings, rather than a description of today's daily provision.

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children's learning, development and care. In January 2023, that learning took concrete forms: older children worked out which keys opened padlocks, while toddlers experimented with melting ice to uncover objects. Both activities gave children problems to investigate for themselves.

Creative work had its own space. In January 2023, children used the art studio to experiment with materials, discuss their pictures and discover what happened when colours mixed. Weekly sports sessions provided opportunities for physical activity, and a visiting sports coach involved children and parents in games.

Responsibility featured alongside play. In January 2023, being helper of the day involved wearing a high-visibility waistcoat and helping with the guinea pig. Taking turns on the climbing wall also connected physical activity with practical lessons about keeping one another safe.

At the January 2023 inspection, Ofsted found that SEND interventions drew on staff observations, with small-group speech work demonstrating progress, while safeguarding practice included identifying families needing early support and working with other services. Additional funding had helped create a sensory room, giving the setting a further space for support.

Home learning was practical in January 2023. Staff taught parents the signs and symbols used to support children's communication, and a reading library let families borrow books. Children also made soup and took its recipe home, linking a cooking activity with family participation.

Community support had tangible forms that month: a food bank, access to a translator and pre-loved jumble sales. These arrangements connected the pre-school's work with families' lives beyond its sessions.

In January 2023, the pre-school ran Monday to Friday during term time, with sessions beginning at 8.45am and ending at 3.30pm. That daytime pattern matters for families arranging work around the school calendar.

Funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-olds formed part of the offer in January 2023. Families considering that model should distinguish the dated attendance pattern from the current arrangements they need.

• The daytime pattern. January 2023 sessions ran during term time and finished at 3.30pm. How would today's session and funding arrangements fit your working week?
• Communication support. January 2023 practice included signs, symbols and small-group speech activities. On a visit, explore how staff would apply those approaches to your child's communication needs.
• Creative and sensory spaces. The art studio and sensory room featured in January 2023. A visit can explore how children now use these spaces within their day.

The January 2023 picture suits families seeking term-time preschool sessions with practical creativity, communication activities and links between home and nursery learning. The strongest examples are concrete: making art, solving padlock puzzles and borrowing books. The Outstanding judgement gives that historical picture weight; the attendance pattern is the practical starting point for a family deciding whether it fits.