Jack and Jill Playgroup

Bug investigations, a mud pit and wooden necklaces give Jack and Jill Playgroup a practical, outdoors-led character in its October 2023 account. Children used magnifying glasses and binoculars to examine insects, then tackled tools and materials themselves. These were experiences that gave children something concrete to investigate.

Ofsted rated the playgroup Good at its 13 October 2023 inspection. It has capacity for 20 children; those attending at the inspection were aged two to four.

The early years foundation stage sets the framework for children's learning, development and care: everyday play supports learning alongside growing independence. In October 2023, mathematics entered ordinary routines through counting the children and adults present, with numbers written on a whiteboard for children to recognise.

Forest-school sessions brought exercise and exploration together. During that October 2023 visit, children searched for bugs and learnt to handle insects carefully. The mud pit also gave them opportunities to practise consideration: children brushed dirt off friends after their digging scattered it.

Making necklaces involved using a hand drill to pierce wooden discs, following safety instructions and persisting with a demanding task. Hide and seek encouraged turn-taking and decisions about where to hide. Both examples put children in an active role.

At the October 2023 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and described targeted support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, with learning gaps beginning to narrow. The special educational needs coordinator and manager worked with families and external agencies, planning teaching strategies and monitoring their effect.

In October 2023, staff comforted unsettled children and held regular development meetings with parents. Children practised everyday independence by peeling fruit, helping themselves to water and managing toileting; songs and conversations introduced dental care. Staff undertook safeguarding training, understood reporting procedures and had completed paediatric first-aid training.

The address is Friday Bridge Primary School, Maltmas Drove, Friday Bridge, Wisbech, PE14 0HW. The playgroup occupies a building on the site of Friday Bridge Community Primary School. Attendance does not guarantee a Reception place.

In October 2023, opening hours were 8.45am to 2.45pm Monday to Thursday and 8.45am to 11.45am Friday, during term time. At that time, the playgroup received early-education funding for two-, three- and four-year-olds.

• Learning intentions. In October 2023, planning sometimes prioritised the activity over what each child needed to learn next. The improvement required was more precise planning, a useful distinction for families weighing purposeful teaching alongside practical play.
• Conversation and inclusion. In October 2023, staff sometimes gave children too little opportunity to share their thoughts and extend their thinking. Improving support for children learning English as an additional language was also a management priority. These points matter alongside the opportunities for independent exploration.
• Attendance fit. The October 2023 timetable combined longer openings earlier in the week with a shorter Friday and term-time operation. What attendance arrangements would suit your child now?

Jack and Jill Playgroup suits families drawn to hands-on exploration and growing everyday independence. Its October 2023 picture combines outdoor investigation, practical tasks and sensitive care, with clear improvements needed in planning and extending children's thinking. The term-time timetable described then would suit families seeking daytime provision around the school calendar.