Blakeney Under Fives

Fruit counting, garden worms and bridges built from sticks give Blakeney Under Fives a practical character. In April 2024, these everyday experiences brought numbers, nature and stories into children's play. The setting has 24 places in total, at The Lodge on High Street in Blakeney (C/O Blakeney School), GL15 4EB.

At its April 2024 inspection, Ofsted rated the provision Good and judged safeguarding effective. Children attending then were aged two to four. The strongest practical thread was learning through things children could handle, grow and discuss.

The early years foundation stage sets expectations for children's learning, development and care: here, its inspection-era examples included conversation, counting, drawing and imaginative play.

In April 2024, older children built stick bridges and retold The Three Billy Goats Gruff, connecting construction with storytelling. Younger children explored creative activities. At snack time, number cards guided children as they counted fruit into bowls, giving numbers a purpose beyond a separate maths activity.

Drawing also prompted conversation: children shared ideas about their pictures. Books featured throughout the day, although group storytelling sometimes took place amid distractions that made listening and responding harder for some children.

The garden added another strand. In April 2024, children grew produce and tasted it, while searching for worms encouraged curiosity about living things. A link with an early-years setting in northern England introduced children to a community beyond their own. These were concrete ways to extend their experiences beyond familiar routines.

At the April 2024 inspection, Ofsted found that children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), and those receiving additional funding, were supported well and made good progress; parents were kept informed about learning.

In April 2024, key people offered comfort to children who were new or struggling to settle. SEND plans incorporated therapists' advice, while signs and visual prompts helped children understand routines and choose activities. This gave support a practical form in the daily timetable.

Staff modelled expected behaviour, repeated reminders about rules and celebrated achievements. Conversation time encouraged children to take turns and talk about their lives. Breakfast was provided to all children, alongside opportunities to be physically active.

Staff also had access to professional development. Parents and staff contributed views to the setting's self-evaluation, providing routes for feedback to influence its work.

In April 2024, opening hours were 8.15am to 3pm, Monday to Friday, during school terms. That timetable placed care within the school-term calendar rather than across the whole year.

At that time, the setting received funding for early education for two-, three- and four-year-olds. This establishes its participation at that date, rather than an individual child's entitlement.

• Storytelling space. In April 2024, distractions during group stories made participation harder for some children. On a visit, look at how the space supports listening together.
• Support during younger children's play. In April 2024, adult interaction did not consistently move two-year-olds' learning forward during free play. Ask how practitioners now extend their ideas and introduce something new.
• Term-time planning. The April 2024 timetable ran during school terms, ending at 3pm. How would the current attendance arrangements fit your working day and holiday needs?

Blakeney Under Fives suits families drawn to practical preschool learning: stories become constructions, snacks become counting opportunities and growing food leads to tasting it. Its April 2024 term-time timetable would suit families seeking care within the school day. The two improvement priorities deserve attention, especially for parents weighing support for a younger child.