Little Angels Playschool C.I.C

Two gardens and a shared, open-plan space give Little Angels Playschool C.I.C its character: children can learn alongside one another indoors, with further space for exploration outside. Its home is Osmaston Park Community Centre in Derby. This is a playschool with a practical emphasis on independence, social confidence and curiosity.

At the 26 June 2024 inspection, Ofsted judged the provision Good and found safeguarding effective. The strongest examples concerned everyday experiences: sharing stories with adults, choosing construction resources and learning to manage ordinary tasks for themselves. There were also clear weaknesses in how planned activities extended learning and how effectively group sessions held children's attention.

There is capacity for 36 children in total. Funded and privately paid sessions operate during term time, within opening hours of 9am to 3pm, Monday to Friday.

Rooms and Ages

The open-plan arrangement brings children aged 2-5 together to play and learn. Its appeal is the opportunity for children to socialise across ages. The two gardens extend that shared environment outdoors.

Choice was a visible part of the day in June 2024. Children selected activities and added materials to their pretend building area, using safety hats as part of their play. That example gives substance to the playschool's emphasis on independence: children had some control over what they did and how their play developed.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage provides the framework for children's learning, development and care. Here, that means learning through practical play, conversation and everyday experiences, alongside activities led by adults. The current curriculum places emphasis on curiosity, social skills and becoming more independent.

In June 2024, water play involved pouring between unusual jugs and teapots, giving children opportunities to explore quantities and practise hand movements. Stories prompted exchanges between children and staff, with younger children pointing at illustrations and responding to adults. These are concrete ways of bringing language into play, rather than treating it only as a group exercise.

Adult-led learning was less consistent. In June 2024, a singing activity introduced vocabulary but did not give children enough opportunity to try the new words themselves. Pictures helped explain the day's plans during group time, yet nearby toys distracted some children. The practical distinction matters: an appealing activity still needs a clear purpose and a way for each child to participate.

Outdoor and Community Life

The gardens offer additional room to explore. In June 2024, children had daily opportunities to play outside, and toddlers practised climbing steps to reach a slide. Staff also discussed care around water and other children during play. Outdoor time therefore included opportunities to exercise, try physical challenges and consider how their actions affected others.

Everyday independence carried through into care routines in June 2024. Children practised spreading butter with knives, serving their own drinks from little jugs and changing clothes after water play. These manageable tasks gave them opportunities to do things for themselves while adults supported them.

Emotional support was similarly practical. In June 2024, staff helped children put feelings into words when sharing became difficult, explaining turn-taking and helping them wait. The emphasis was on understanding what had happened and how to respond, rather than simply stopping an upset.

At the June 2024 inspection, Ofsted found strong communication with parents and described staff training and sensory resources used to support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Development discussions included ideas for play at home, while staff took account of family circumstances when planning care. For parents, this made communication about the child more useful than a simple account of activities completed.

Hot lunches are cooked in-house and served as two-course meals. Food is part of the day's practical routine as well as its care provision.

Sessions and Attendance

The playschool opens from 9am to 3pm on weekdays during term time. Morning and afternoon preferences can be entered on the registration form, giving families a choice of attendance pattern within that opening window. These are separate from the opening hours themselves.

Registration can be completed online or through a downloaded form returned to the setting. The form gathers information about home languages, dietary requirements, health conditions and concerns about learning. It also asks about agencies already supporting the family, creating an opportunity to share relevant information before attendance begins.

Getting There

The address is Osmaston Park Community Centre, Moor Lane, Derby, DE24 9HY. The park setting and the playschool's own gardens are useful parts of its identity for families seeking space for outdoor play.

Funding and Paid Extras

Both 15 and 30 hour funded sessions are offered, alongside privately paid sessions. Attendance is term-time only. Families should obtain a current written quotation for their proposed arrangement.

• Purposeful adult-led learning. In June 2024, planned activities did not consistently extend children's knowledge or let them practise new vocabulary. During a visit, ask how staff now plan the learning intention and follow it through.
• Participation in group time. Toys distracted some children during group activities in June 2024. Ask how the shared space is organised so that children with different interests can take part.
• Term-time attendance. Opening hours are 9am to 3pm on weekdays, with attendance limited to term time. Families needing care through school holidays will need an arrangement that covers those periods.

Little Angels suits families seeking morning or afternoon attendance in a term-time playschool, with an open-plan environment and two gardens. Its strongest character lies in practical independence: children choosing play, managing small tasks and learning to share space with others.

The June 2024 findings give parents a balanced basis for choosing it. Everyday interactions and family communication were strengths; purposeful adult-led learning and engagement during group time deserved closer attention. A visit should concentrate on how those activities work within the shared environment.