Fingerprints Pre-School

Piano-accompanied songs, pretend dentistry and construction with foam bricks give Fingerprints Pre-School a recognisable character in its February 2023 account of daily life. Based at Adeyfield Free Church Centre in Hemel Hempstead, it has capacity for 24 children.

At its 6 February 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated the provision Good and found safeguarding effective. Children attending then were aged 2 to 4. The strongest practical thread was independence: staff helped children handle personal care, take responsibility and understand familiar routines.

In February 2023, children explored dental care through imaginative play, with adults drawing conversation towards toothbrushing at home. Music involved controlling the speed and volume of instruments while a staff member accompanied songs on the piano. These were concrete ways to connect play with language, health and listening.

The early years foundation stage sets requirements for children's learning, development and care; here, its inspection-era expression included play, conversation, movement and practice with everyday tasks. In February 2023, staff organised learning in stages and used information about children's existing knowledge to plan their next steps.

Outside that February, foam bricks and wooden planks supplied construction materials, while watching builders introduced children to an occupation. Children also danced and experimented with movement. Equipment took up too much space, however, reducing children's room to develop physical skills.

Home visits were offered in February 2023, helping staff plan experiences and build early relationships. Parents shared what their children could already do, giving practitioners a starting point for planning. A lending library allowed families to borrow books and resources, extending learning beyond the setting.

At the February 2023 inspection, Ofsted found that children with special educational needs and/or disabilities received effective support through work with parents and external agencies, but support for children learning English did not consistently include their home languages. That distinction matters for families whose child needs language support.

During that month, everyday activities included talking about emotions and the effect of behaviour on others. Healthy snacks and conversations about food complemented work on dental and physical health. Safeguarding arrangements included staff training, procedures for reporting concerns and controls over who could collect children.

The address is Adeyfield Free Church Centre, Maylands Avenue, Hemel Hempstead, HP2 4GZ.

In February 2023, opening hours were 8.30am to 3pm, Monday to Friday, during term time. These are historical opening hours rather than a description of current booking patterns. At that date, the pre-school provided funded early education for children aged two, three and four.

• Home-language support. In February 2023, children learning English did not consistently get opportunities to use their home languages. For a multilingual family, this is an important part of assessing the child's experience.
• Space for movement. Outdoor equipment restricted physical activity in February 2023. Ask how the outdoor layout now gives children room to move and build physical skills.
• Attendance planning. The February 2023 timetable was term-time, with a mid-afternoon finish. Which current attendance arrangements would fit your family's working day?

Fingerprints suits families who value practical independence, imaginative play and a connection between learning at home and in the setting. Its February 2023 picture combines musical activity, everyday health learning and family involvement. The dated concerns about home-language support and outdoor space deserve weight alongside those strengths.