Chigwell Day Care & Pre-school

Child-led play is the central question at Chigwell Day Care & Pre-school: children could invent stories together and move materials between activities, but adults sometimes stepped in too readily in November 2022. Ofsted rated the nursery Good at its 30 November 2022 inspection. That gives families a positive dated judgement, alongside specific points to explore about everyday teaching.

The setting has 42 places in total and accepts children aged three months to five years, at Old Loughtonians Hockey Club in Chigwell. It opens Monday to Friday, with closures for bank holidays and a week at Christmas.

The early years foundation stage sets the framework for children's learning, development and care, including learning through play. In November 2022, activities drew on children's interests, with next steps planned around what they could already do.

The sensory area and role-play kitchen provided a concrete connection: children carried dried pasta between them to use in pretend cooking. Farm buildings and animal figures prompted shared stories. These examples show the value of materials children can combine, rather than activities with only one adult-set answer.

In November 2022, songs, rhymes and adults naming sounds and actions supported younger children's language. With older children, some questioning elicited brief answers rather than fuller thinking. Adults also sometimes directed play too closely, limiting children's chances to investigate for themselves. Both points matter when assessing how much room children have to talk and make choices.

At the November 2022 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and described next steps tailored to children's existing knowledge and interests, alongside early help for children who needed additional support. These are dated findings, rather than assurances about present practice.

In November 2022, familiar adults offered comfort when children became tired or upset, while key persons exchanged information with parents. Staff used home languages during activities, giving children opportunities to hear and speak languages familiar to them.

Parents received suggestions for learning at home and information about their child's next steps in November 2022. They could also contribute activities based on their interests or work. This connected nursery experiences with family life.

The address is Old Loughtonians Hockey Club, Roding Sports Centre, Luxborough Lane, Chigwell, IG7 5AB. Opening hours are 7.30am to 6.30pm, Monday to Friday; the nursery operates across the year, closing for bank holidays and one week at Christmas.

In November 2022, funded early education was provided for two-, three- and four-year-olds. That describes participation at the time of the visit.

• Children leading play. Adults sometimes took over activities in November 2022. During a visit, look for opportunities for children to choose materials and develop their own ideas.
• Conversation with older children. Some questioning in November 2022 encouraged short answers. Explore how practitioners now extend children's explanations and thinking.
• Attendance and funding. The opening window spans the working day. Which booking patterns and funded arrangements would fit your child's attendance?

Chigwell suits families seeking care across the year who value play shaped by children's interests and communication between key persons and parents. Its November 2022 examples give that preference substance: shared pretend cooking, home-language use and learning ideas carried into family life. The decision should also give weight to the two teaching priorities: richer conversation and greater independence in play.