Little Lambs

Ducks, seed-growing and a forest garden give Little Lambs a recognisable character: children learn about living things by helping to care for them. These were features of its November 2023 provision, alongside an emphasis on confidence, friendships and choosing activities that interested them.

At its 10 November 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated Little Lambs Good and found safeguarding effective. Based at St Mary's Parish Rooms in Loughton, the setting has 35 places in total; children attending in November 2023 were aged two to four.

The early years foundation stage sets the framework for children's learning, development and care, with play providing opportunities to practise communication, movement and social skills. In November 2023, farm-themed learning included naming animals, while counting activities involved choosing quantities of objects. Scissors, glue and sandcastle-making gave children different ways to practise precise hand movements.

The forest garden brought learning outdoors. In November 2023, children tended ducks and grew plants from seeds, connecting the natural world with tasks they could carry out themselves. Stories, rhymes and songs added another strand to the day, including rehearsals for a Christmas play.

Children also practised sharing space, waiting their turn and joining group conversations. The teaching improvement was specific: adults needed to pause longer after questions so children could formulate their own answers. That matters because participation should include time to think, rather than simply listening to an adult.

At the November 2023 inspection, Ofsted found that the key-person approach helped children settle successfully and that children with special educational needs and/or disabilities received effective support through individual learning plans developed with families and external agencies.

Daily conversations with key people gave parents opportunities to discuss development and ways to support learning at home in November 2023. Predictable routines helped children understand what came next, while staff modelled calm behaviour and encouraged respect for others.

Snack time combined conversation with practical independence: children discussed food shapes, washed their hands and explored healthy choices. Staff also worked with teachers at local schools to support the move into school. These were November 2023 arrangements, rather than a promise of admission to any particular school.

The address is St Mary's Parish Rooms, 201 High Road, Loughton, IG10 1BB.

In November 2023, Little Lambs operated on weekdays during term time, with sessions running from 9.15am to 2.45pm. Funded early education was provided for children aged two, three and four. That attendance pattern offered a daytime session within the school-term calendar.

• Time to answer. The November 2023 improvement concerned adults moving on too quickly after asking questions. Children's thinking and language benefit from space to respond.
• Term-time planning. The November 2023 arrangement combined weekday sessions with school-holiday closures. At a visit, what attendance pattern and funded-hours arrangements would apply to your child now?

Little Lambs suits families drawn to practical outdoor learning and a sessional preschool setting. Its November 2023 provision combined caring for ducks and growing plants with stories, counting and support from a key person. The Good judgement gives a clear inspection position, while the need for longer thinking time identifies a concrete teaching point to weigh alongside those strengths.