Dunkeswell Pre-school CIO

An allotment, children pouring their own milk and experiments with cars on ramps give Dunkeswell Pre-school CIO a practical character in its June 2023 account of daily life. Small acts of independence are the thread running through it.

At its June 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated the provision Good, with children developing confidence in communication and learning through activities planned around their next steps. The setting has capacity for 31 children aged 24 to 60 months, at Unit 6, Culme Way, Dunkeswell, Honiton, EX14 4JP.

The early years foundation stage sets requirements for children's learning, development and care: here, the June 2023 examples connect conversation, physical activity and practical exploration.

In June 2023, children grew vegetables in the allotment and talked about how seeds develop. Outdoors, climbing, balancing and a slide gave them opportunities to practise movement and control. These experiences brought growing things and physical challenges into the day.

Small-group games involved identifying animal sounds, listening to one another's news and taking turns with questions. Books supported conversation, while a family tree prompted discussion about feelings and differences. A car ramp offered a simple experiment: would the car move without a push? The activities gave children something concrete to investigate and discuss.

At the June 2023 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and identified close staff relationships, early support for gaps in learning and cooperation with parents over children's care. These findings matter for families seeking continuity between home and preschool.

In June 2023, staff gathered parents' knowledge of children's starting points and combined it with their observations. Cooperation included potty training. Everyday routines also gave children responsibilities: washing paint equipment, tidying and serving their own cereal and milk at snack time.

There was a clear limitation. Adults sometimes stepped in before children had enough opportunity to work out a solution themselves. Greater patience with children's own attempts was the development priority, especially relevant where independence was otherwise a regular part of the day.

The setting opens during term time, with school holidays closed. Opening hours are 8am to 3pm, Monday to Friday. This makes the attendance calendar an important consideration for families needing childcare beyond school terms.

In June 2023, the setting received funding for early education for children aged two, three and four. That is a dated funding position, rather than a promise of eligibility for an individual family.

• Children solving problems. In June 2023, adults sometimes intervened too quickly. Ask how staff now give children time to try their own solutions.
• Term-time attendance. School holidays are closed. Families needing holiday childcare will need to account for that break in provision.

Dunkeswell's June 2023 picture suits parents who value practical exploration, conversation and growing independence. The allotment and everyday responsibilities give substance to that appeal. Its term-time calendar fits families seeking preschool attendance around school terms; the key development question is how consistently adults now allow children to solve problems for themselves.