Greenfield Pre-School

Ramp experiments, hatching chicks and a feelings shop give Greenfield Pre-School's March 2025 provision a recognisable character: practical learning alongside help with independence and emotions. Small everyday tasks mattered too, from choosing a drink to looking after plants.

At its 17 March 2025 inspection, Ofsted rated the pre-school Outstanding, judged safeguarding effective and found that children made significant progress. Greenfield has capacity for 37 children; those attending at the March 2025 visit were aged three to four.

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children's learning, development and care, with play providing opportunities to develop language, movement and understanding. In March 2025, children explored how objects travelled down ramps, while staff introduced vocabulary to help them explain predictions. Making play dough exercised their hands and fingers.

Mathematics had practical uses. Children measured towers made with foam bricks and paired toy-car quantities with numerals. Staff turned children's interest in balls into catching and throwing practice.

Outdoor experiences brought movement and living things together. In March 2025, children used pedal toys and a slide, made water pictures with brushes, and tended seeds in the garden. Discussions about eggs and newly hatched chicks extended their exploration of life cycles.

The feelings shop helped children put emotions into words in March 2025. Staff demonstrated ways to handle disagreements, giving children an example to draw on when feelings became difficult. Independence also extended to snack time: children made selections and washed their plates afterwards.

Before children started, the March 2025 settling arrangements included visits to their homes. Families could join stay-and-play sessions each term, and newsletters maintained contact. These arrangements connected home and pre-school through both face-to-face time and written updates.

School preparation included listening and attention activities. In March 2025, staff also collaborated with local schools over children's transitions, linking preparation within the setting with the next stage of education.

Greenfield operates at Greenfield Primary School, Hill Street, Stourbridge, DY8 1AL. Attending the pre-school does not guarantee a Reception place.

In March 2025, attendance ran on weekdays during school terms, with session times of 8.40am to 3.15pm. Funded early education for three- and four-year-olds formed part of the provision at that date.

At the same visit, families supplied children's lunch boxes, with staff encouraging healthy choices; children also selected snacks including vegetables and fruit. Choosing food and clearing up afterwards gave them practical responsibilities within the day.

• Term-time rhythm. The March 2025 pattern followed school terms and finished at 3.15pm. How would the attendance arrangement fit your family's working day and school holidays?
• Starting relationships. Home visits and termly stay-and-play sessions were part of the March 2025 arrangements. Consider how those opportunities would help your child become comfortable with staff.
• Reception applications. The pre-school shares Greenfield Primary School's site. Treat choosing the pre-school and applying for Reception as separate decisions.

Greenfield suits families looking for a preschool stage centred on practical play, growing independence and preparation for school. Its March 2025 Outstanding judgement supports that choice, while the term-time attendance pattern recorded then is an important practical consideration. The strongest examples combine learning with something children can do themselves: test a ramp, tend a plant or name a feeling.