Badgers Pre-School

Personal possessions in chatter boxes and achievements displayed on a proud cloud give Badgers Pre-School a recognisable character in its November 2022 account: children had things of their own to talk about and successes to share. Small steps towards independence mattered too, from fetching coats to asking friends for help.

Ofsted rated the setting Good on 8 November 2022. Based at Holbrook Primary School on Wych Lane in Gosport, it has capacity for 32 children aged 24 to 60 months. Its current opening pattern is term-time only.

In November 2022, children practised controlled pen movements and connected their marks with fireworks and their experiences of Bonfire night. Stories introduced new vocabulary, while helping a friend dress a doll gave children a practical reason to cooperate. These examples connect conversation, physical skills and social learning rather than treating them as separate exercises.

The early years foundation stage is the framework for children's learning, development and care. Here, the November 2022 examples included drawing, stories and pretend play, with children practising skills through everyday activities.

The proud cloud displayed children's achievements alongside certificates. Chatter boxes were decorated shoe boxes holding personal objects brought from home, giving children something familiar to discuss with adults and friends. Staff had also trained in Makaton signing to support communication.

There were limits to the teaching in November 2022. Some adults missed chances to develop children's questions and comments during play, including a question about thunder. At other times, adults did jobs children could have attempted themselves, such as clearing up after food. Extending conversation and allowing greater independence were both improvement priorities.

At the November 2022 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and support for speech delays very effective, with the special educational needs coordinator bringing parents and staff into targeted work. That gives the dated judgement practical substance: support involved shared action around individual children's communication.

In November 2022, staff and parents worked together on toilet training and giving up dummies. A trip to the local post office let children send their dummies away as part of a farewell ceremony, giving them an active part in the change. Toothbrushing and healthy-eating resources also helped children learn about caring for their bodies.

A governance requirement remained part of that November 2022 judgement: information about some committee members had to be submitted so their suitability could be checked. They had completed DBS checks, had no contact with children and took no part in safeguarding or recruitment decisions. Those qualifications matter when interpreting the concern.

The address is Holbrook Primary School, Wych Lane, Gosport, PO13 0JN. Opening hours are 8.30am to 3pm Monday to Thursday and 8.30am to 12.30pm on Friday, during term time; the setting closes for school holidays.

In November 2022, Badgers received funding for early education for children aged two, three and four, plus additional support for some children facing educational disadvantage.

The pre-school operates on primary-school premises. Attending does not guarantee a Reception place.

• School-holiday cover. Badgers closes during school holidays, and Friday finishes earlier than the other weekdays. Families need arrangements that fit both features of the timetable.
• Independence and conversation. The November 2022 priorities concerned adults extending children's ideas and allowing them to attempt more tasks. At a visit, ask how practitioners now put those priorities into practice, including the committee-information requirement.

Badgers suits families seeking term-time care with a shorter Friday, especially those who value practical independence and communication-rich play. The November 2022 account offers concrete examples of both, alongside clear teaching and governance improvements to weigh. Its school-site address should be understood separately from Reception admissions.