Ilketshall St. Lawrence Pre-School

In February 2023, a climbing frame, bicycles and chairs turned into a pretend rocket gave this small pre-school a recognisable character. In February 2023, children combined imaginative play with outdoor movement and practical lessons about managing risk. The pre-school has 16 places in total.

At its February 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated the pre-school Good, found safeguarding effective and judged that children made good progress, with effective support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Children attending then were aged two to four. That is a dated picture of care and learning, rather than a description of today's arrangements.

In February 2023, communication and language were the curriculum's priority. The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children's learning, development and care; here, play and practical activities gave children opportunities to talk, investigate and practise skills.

Making coloured dough brought measurement and change into the same activity: children explored different spoons, watched ingredients combine and discussed steam from hot water. A world map supported conversations about countries, food, clothing and celebrations. These were concrete starting points for learning about differences between people.

Outdoor play had a practical teaching purpose too. In February 2023, staff helped children cross the climbing frame safely when their feet were wet, explaining how their hands could help them balance. Bicycles offered another way to practise movement. Indoors, adults demonstrated pouring with a watering can when children wanted to fill a teapot, turning an everyday task into supported practice.

In February 2023, staff helped children handle disagreements over resources by explaining how to ask before taking something and why sharing mattered. Children also helped one another, including fetching chairs for those who wanted to sit down. Cooperation was part of ordinary play.

Communication with families then combined daily conversations, digital updates and written accounts of learning. Activities sent home gave parents a way to continue that learning together. Parents could contribute their views at committee meetings, while staff worked with families to understand children's individual needs.

The address is Ilketshall St. Lawrence Primary School, Hog Lane, Ilketshall St. Lawrence, Beccles, NR34 8ND.

In February 2023, the pre-school operated on weekdays during school terms, with sessions running from 9am to 3pm. It also provided funded early education for children aged two, three and four. These attendance and funding arrangements belong to that period.

• Time to answer. In February 2023, staff sometimes moved on before children could process a question and reply. Ask how practitioners now give children enough thinking time during conversations.
• Committee oversight. In February 2023, a committee change had weakened the monitoring and support given to the manager. Ask how those responsibilities are handled now.
• Planning attendance. The February 2023 model was term-time sessions from 9am to 3pm. Which current booking pattern would fit your family's working week?

For families seeking a small pre-school, the February 2023 picture offers useful reasons for interest: practical learning, outdoor movement and close communication with parents. Its term-time session model then suited families planning care around school terms. The two improvement priorities, conversational pacing and committee oversight, deserve attention alongside the Good judgement.