Barnby Dun Pre School

Outdoor movement and practical number play give Barnby Dun Pre School its character in the May 2022 account: children climbed, rode wheeled toys and caught numbered ducks in nets. These were hands-on ways to practise coordination and counting.

Ofsted judged the setting Good on 23 May 2022 and found safeguarding effective, with staff maintaining supervision and recognising when to raise concerns. Based at Parish Hall in Barnby Dun, the pre-school has 40 places in total; those attending in May 2022 were aged two to four.

The early years foundation stage sets the framework for children's learning, development and care, bringing play and everyday skills into their education. In May 2022, staff put particular emphasis on communication, social interaction and physical development. Adults joined play, introduced vocabulary and asked questions, helping children extend conversations rather than simply complete an activity.

Outside, the May 2022 provision included space for climbing and wheeled toys alongside quieter construction and imaginative play. Water and brushes encouraged mark-making on surfaces, while a blackboard offered another way to practise hand control. Planting and tending fruit and vegetables connected changes in living things with healthy eating.

Number activities had a useful adjustment: in May 2022, children who could not recognise a duck's numeral counted its dots instead. Older children's group activities held their attention more successfully than those for younger children, where differing abilities were less effectively accommodated. Some younger children stayed with the activity but participated less fully.

At its May 2022 inspection, Ofsted found that children were comfortable with staff, but identified inconsistent support for independence and uneven use of personalised SEND targets throughout sessions. Those qualifications matter alongside the positive overall judgement.

In May 2022, staff worked with parents on potty training and encouraged independent toilet use. Other routines offered less opportunity to practise: adults sometimes wiped noses children could manage themselves, and beakers gave children less experience of handling an open cup.

Communication and school preparation also featured in May 2022. Parents received information to help support learning at home. Children visited a local school, and its teaching staff visited the pre-school, giving children opportunities to become familiar with future surroundings and adults.

The address is Parish Hall, Top Road, Barnby Dun, Doncaster, DN3 1DA.

In May 2022, opening hours were 8.30am to 3.30pm on Monday, Tuesday and Friday, and 8.30am to 12.30pm on Wednesday, during term time. These are opening hours rather than named booking sessions. At that time, the pre-school provided funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-olds.

• Younger children's group learning. In May 2022, activities engaged older children more consistently than younger ones. Ask how group activities now accommodate different attention spans and abilities.
• Independence and individual support. The May 2022 concerns involved everyday self-care and consistent use of SEND targets. A visit is an opportunity to discuss how staff put both into practice throughout a session.
• Term-time attendance. The May 2022 schedule combined longer opening days with a shorter Wednesday. Does the current attendance pattern fit your working week and holiday arrangements?

Barnby Dun Pre School's May 2022 strengths were concrete: practical counting, outdoor movement and conversation woven into play. Its inspection-era offer would suit families seeking term-time early education with an emphasis on those experiences. The balance rests on how consistently younger children receive engaging group activities, opportunities for independence and individual support.