Happy Hours Pre-School Crawley

A large community-centre hall, an outdoor area on one level and a parent committee give Happy Hours Pre-School Crawley its character. Families help shape preschool life, while each child's key person follows their development.

At its September 2024 inspection, Ofsted rated the provision Good and found safeguarding effective, with children engaged in learning and staff supporting their language development. The improvement point was specific: staff needed clearer guidance about moving to another task when the activity they were supervising had no children taking part. That is a useful distinction between the overall judgement and the detail families should explore.

There are 30 places in total, and the current preschool offer caters for children between two and five. Morning, afternoon and full-day attendance are offered during term time.

Learning and Activities

The Early Years Foundation Stage provides the common framework for children's learning and care: here, play, conversation, stories and physical activity contribute to children's language, social development and growing independence. It is the foundation all early-years settings must work from. Happy Hours translates it into a session outline that combines time for children to choose activities with adult-led learning, group discussion, songs and stories.

Activities and events can change the session outline.

In September 2024, physical and mathematical learning came together in everyday activities. Children practised balance on low beams and counted as they climbed jumping blocks; cereal served another purpose when children counted spoonfuls into their bowls. These are concrete examples of learning through action rather than a separate lesson detached from play.

In September 2024, outdoor conversation helped children build vocabulary. Staff introduced weather vocabulary and responded when children wanted to talk about falling leaves. The practical value is straightforward: a child's own interest becomes a reason to speak, listen and learn new words. Group activities included reminders about paying attention, while children joined in with tidying when asked.

Outdoor and Community Life

The hall accommodates physical equipment alongside water and sand activities. Outside, the play space connects directly to the main room and has a wet-pour surface, with both areas on one level. Children can also choose toys and activities inside. The arrangement matters for families looking at mobility needs because participation depends partly on how easily a child can move between activities.

Outings consent covers supervised play and exploration at possible destinations including the Sensory Room at Broadfield Family Centre, the local library, parks and nearby nature areas.

In September 2024, children visited a library and met visitors who talked about their occupations. Staff also used the climbing frame to discuss hazards with children. Both examples widen the learning: children encounter people beyond preschool and begin to think about safety for themselves.

Relationships and Communication

Each child has a key person responsible for following their needs and keeping developmental records. An All About Me page gathers information about interests, family life, health and dietary needs before staff begin planning for the child. It gives the settling process a personal starting point, rather than treating every new starter as having the same needs.

The Learning Journal brings together photographs, observations, assessments and plans, with contributions from home welcomed. Termly discussions with the key person cover development and next steps. Parents can also speak to the SENCO, arrange an appointment or make contact by telephone or email. Communication therefore has both scheduled opportunities and routes for concerns that arise between meetings.

School transition is practical. Happy Hours invites receiving staff to spend time with children in preschool and discuss their strengths and support needs. Learning records are shared through the transition process, allowing the next setting to prepare. Where other agencies are involved, the arrangements can continue into the child's first term at school.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

Additional support starts with observation and discussion with families. The key person works with the SENCO and, where needed, external professionals to develop an individual play plan at least once a term. Early Years Individual Support Plans allow those involved to follow a child's progress.

Speech and Language Therapy, Portage, educational psychology and physiotherapy support can be accessed through the childcare adviser. Membership of the Local Lending Library provides access to sensory toys when needed. Additional support funding can pay for training or individual help.

The ground-floor building is wheelchair accessible, with space between tables and floor activities. Aided language boards, visual prompts worn by staff and multilingual resources support communication and daily routines. Activities can be adapted to individual needs.

Health arrangements include personal-care planning with parents and written permission for administering medication. A qualified first aider attends each session. Parents and staff work together on toilet independence, with families supplying a child's changing items. Changing takes place on a unit in the ladies' toilets, a practical detail relevant to families whose children need regular personal care.

Sessions and Attendance

Happy Hours operates at The Youth and Community Centre, Broadfield Barton, Broadfield, Crawley, RH11 9BA. It opens Monday to Friday during term time, from 8.30am to 2.30pm. That timetable suits a different working pattern from childcare extending into the early evening or across school holidays.

The morning session runs from 8.30am to 11.30am; afternoons run from noon to 2.30pm. A full day runs from 8.30am to 2.30pm and includes Lunch Club, the supervised lunchtime arrangement that links sessions or extends attendance. Lunch Club runs from 11.30am to noon and requires advance booking. Shorter session lengths are also offered, including a three-and-a-half-hour option.

Applications can be completed online or on paper. Submitting one adds a child to the waiting list and does not guarantee a place; the preschool contacts families when a suitable place arises.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded early education is offered alongside paid attendance, with delivery during term time. The arrangements include up to 15 funded hours from the term after a child's third birthday, funding for eligible two-year-olds and a 30-hour offer subject to eligibility, capped at 10 children per session. Hours beyond a child's funded entitlement are paid for separately. Current prices come in the preschool's written quotation, and the session and fees information sets out the attendance options.

Children attending Lunch Club bring a packed lunch, while families are asked to contribute fruit for shared snacks; milk and water are offered at snack time. Happy Hours has a published nut-free food policy covering lunchboxes and snack contributions.

For personal changing, parents supply nappies, pull-ups and wipes; sun cream must also come from home, labelled for the child. These arrangements apply to families using funded hours too. Lunch Club has a separate charge, although it may form part of a child's funded hours. Paid fees remain due during sickness and holidays, and repeated late collection can attract a charge.

The preschool is run by a parent committee, whose responsibilities include employing staff and helping manage the setting. Families are encouraged to contribute through committee membership or smaller practical roles. This is part of the participation expected here, as well as an opportunity to influence decisions.

• Term-time timetable. Morning and afternoon sessions offer shorter attendance, while the full day finishes at 2.30pm. Consider how those patterns fit work commitments and holiday childcare.
• Staff deployment. The September 2024 improvement point concerned what staff do when their supervised activity is empty. During a visit, ask how practitioners now move between activities and respond to children's needs.
• Settling and personal care. Two initial visits and taster sessions are offered, with parents present or absent according to the child's needs. Use those visits to discuss the settling plan, changing arrangements and any adaptations your child requires.
• Lunchboxes and allergies. Families supply lunch and personal consumables, and the food policy excludes nuts. Allergy-affected families should confirm current practice for checking food and managing their child's requirements.

Happy Hours suits families seeking morning or afternoon preschool sessions, as well as those wanting a continuous day ending at 2.30pm. Its community-centre setting provides room for active play, while key-person planning and accessible spaces make it a useful option to explore for children needing individual adjustments.

The parent committee expects involvement, and term-time attendance needs to fit wider childcare arrangements. The September 2024 Good judgement supports the overall picture; the staff-deployment improvement point deserves a direct conversation.