All Saints Blackwell Pre-School

Waterproofs for outdoor play and the main hall give All Saints Blackwell Pre-School a straightforward, practical character. Based at All Saints Millennium Centre in Darlington, it has capacity for 26 children. The emphasis is on play, conversation and growing independence.

Ofsted rated the pre-school Outstanding on 13 May 2022. That is a dated judgement: the strongest examples of teaching and relationships below belong to May 2022, while the session arrangements and everyday equipment describe the current offer.

Morning and afternoon sessions run during term time. This is a setting to consider for families building childcare around shorter sessions, with outdoor clothing supplied and parents taking responsibility for packed lunches and some everyday supplies.

Learning and Activities

The Early Years Foundation Stage shapes learning through play, covering language, physical development, relationships, early mathematical thinking and creativity. It is the framework for the day, rather than an extra programme. Play inside and outside sits alongside group activities, a snack and a quieter period, giving children changes of pace within a session.

Children use the main hall and an outdoor play area. Wellies and waterproof clothing are supplied, making outdoor activity part of the practical routine rather than something dependent on families packing another set of clothes. The arrangement is worth weighing for a child who enjoys moving between active play and quieter activities.

In May 2022, children examined caterpillars with magnifiers, followed their transformation into butterflies, and grew potatoes before cooking them. These were concrete experiences with things to observe, discuss and do. A fire-service visit also gave children an opportunity to handle a hose, bringing an unfamiliar piece of equipment into their learning.

Conversation mattered within that play. In May 2022, adults clarified words and introduced vocabulary, while their questions encouraged children to consider problems and possible answers. The detail is more useful than a broad promise about school preparation: it describes adults helping children put thoughts into words and extend an idea.

Outdoor and Community Life

Outdoor play had both imaginative and physical elements in May 2022. Children's outdoor adventures included visits to a pretend train station, while an obstacle course gave them challenges to attempt with adult encouragement. These examples show different uses of the outdoor space, from shared make-believe to practising persistence.

The current routine retains indoor and outdoor play throughout sessions, with waterproof clothing supporting outdoor use across the year. That is a meaningful practical feature for families who want outdoor activity to sit within an ordinary pre-school day.

At its May 2022 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective, strong emotional support and prompt help for children with additional needs, including shared support plans and referrals for speech and language therapy. Those findings concern practice at that time; they should be read alongside the current arrangements rather than treated as a fresh assessment.

Relationships had a tangible role in May 2022. Adults comforted children who were uncertain and encouraged them when an activity proved difficult. Clear expectations also helped children act independently: getting ready for painting, for example, became something they could do for themselves. Care and learning worked together in these small routines.

Communication with home was another part of the May 2022 picture. Staff gathered parents' knowledge of what children could already do when they started, then shared developmental updates and ideas for activities at home. This gave families a role beyond supplying belongings: their knowledge helped shape the starting point for learning.

Current arrangements include a designated safeguarding lead, staff DBS checks and paediatric first-aid training for every staff member. These are concrete arrangements, rather than a substitute for the dated safeguarding judgement. The quieter part of the daily routine also provides a change from active play and group activity.

Sessions and Attendance

The address is All Saints Millennium Centre, Ravensdale Road, Darlington, DL3 8DT. Morning sessions run from 8.45am to 11.45am, with afternoon sessions from 11.45am to 2.45pm. Attendance is sessional and term-time only, and an early drop-off option starts at 8.30am for a separate charge.

The two session windows matter when fitting pre-school around work or other care. A morning booking ends before midday, while an afternoon booking ends at 2.45pm; families should plan around those actual finishing times. Visit arrangements are handled by call, text or email to the pre-school.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded childcare and privately paid sessions form part of the offer. In May 2022, funded early education covered children aged two, three and four. Private session charges distinguish two-year-olds, until the term after their third birthday, from children in the older charging band; current prices come in the nursery's written quotation.

Parents supply a packed lunch when a child stays for lunch, or a healthy snack for a morning-only session; milk and water are provided. This makes food preparation a task for home rather than a catered meal arrangement.

Families also bring spare clothes, plus nappies and wipes for children who are not yet toilet trained. There are no additional consumables charges, and wellies and waterproofs are supplied. The absence of an extra consumables charge does not change the practical requirement to pack nappies and wipes.

• Term-time session times. Morning care ends at 11.45am and afternoon care at 2.45pm. Consider how those finishing times and the term-time calendar fit your household's childcare needs.
• Main-hall experience. Children use the main hall alongside outdoor play. During a visit, ask how activities and the quieter period are organised within the hall for a child who finds busy group play tiring.
• Food and personal supplies. Lunches, morning-only snacks, nappies and wipes involve preparation at home. Families managing allergies should confirm current food-handling practice, including arrangements around shared fruit.

All Saints Blackwell Pre-School suits families seeking either morning or afternoon term-time sessions, especially those who value indoor and outdoor play within a simple daily routine. Supplied waterproof clothing and clear expectations about food and personal supplies make the practical offer easy to understand.

The May 2022 judgement gives the setting a strong quality reference, supported by specific examples of observation, imaginative play and responsive adult help. The decision turns on whether the main-hall arrangement and session timings fit the child and the family.