Scallywags Pre-School

In February 2024, a climbing frame in the hall, outdoor bikes and scooters, and play that built conversation shaped the day at Scallywags Pre-School. This is the Hall Road setting at Northfleet Sports And Youth Centre in Gravesend, known as Scallywags 1, with capacity for 30 children. Active play and close attention to children's communication were strengths at that time.

At its February 2024 inspection, Ofsted rated the pre-school Good, judged safeguarding effective and found that staff made language development a priority. Children practised listening, taking turns in conversation and finding words for what they were making. These are useful foundations for joining in with other children as well as expressing needs to adults.

Attendance is through weekday morning sessions during term time. The practical offer is compact; activities in February 2024 were varied.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children's learning, development and care: here, play provides opportunities to practise language, movement and social skills. In February 2024, staff used animal sounds to encourage careful listening. Children waited before answering, giving a simple game a second purpose: learning how a conversation works.

Construction play also became a chance to develop vocabulary. Adults introduced different words for size as children discussed their models. Signs, pictures and prompts supported children who were not yet communicating verbally, as well as children speaking English as an additional language. The emphasis was on making communication possible through several routes rather than relying only on spoken answers.

Children had time to choose their own activities that February, including investigating ice with small-world sea creatures. There was a clear limitation, however: some activities needed more scope for the oldest children to pursue an idea, investigate it further and stretch their thinking. Families with an inquisitive older child should weigh that alongside the strengths in adult-supported language learning.

Outdoor and Community Life

Physical play had room to expand in February 2024. Hall equipment included a climbing frame and slide, with children practising the steps before sliding down. Yoga added another form of movement, while sports skills sessions gave children opportunities to practise physical skills.

Outside, bikes and scooters supported energetic play. The combination of hall equipment and outdoor riding gave children different ways to move, rather than making physical development depend on one activity. These are inspection-time examples of the nursery day, separate from the current attendance arrangements.

Relationships matter here as much as activities. In February 2024, children formed close connections with their key person and settled into play after leaving their parents. Staff supported sharing through games and encouraged children to consider one another when using the space.

Children who preferred not to join a group could receive individual attention in a quieter area. That offered an alternative to expecting everyone to take part in the same way. At the same visit, parents received updates on learning, alongside books, games and other resources that helped them continue literacy and mathematics activities at home.

At its February 2024 inspection, Ofsted found that staff recognised additional needs promptly, worked with parents and other professionals to arrange support, and that children with special educational needs and/or disabilities made good progress. The useful detail is the sequence: recognising a difficulty, discussing it with the family and involving further help.

Eight staff worked at the pre-school in February 2024, all with early years qualifications at level 2 or above. Training and professional development were taking place, but staff needed greater confidence in explaining some aspects of practice, and procedures needed to become more firmly established. Qualifications and ongoing training therefore sit alongside a specific improvement priority, rather than settling the question of day-to-day practice by themselves.

Sessions and Attendance

Scallywags 1 operates at Northfleet Sports And Youth Centre, Hall Road, Gravesend, DA11 8AJ. Morning sessions run from 9am to 12pm, Monday to Friday, over 38 term-time weeks. This is a morning-only pattern for this setting; families need to plan the rest of the day and school holidays around it.

The pre-school operates a rolling intake. Enquiries can be made through its contact form, by email at scallywagspreschool@hotmail.co.uk or on the Scallywags 1 number, 01474 537194. Children attending in February 2024 were aged two to four.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded early education is accepted for eligible two-, three- and four-year-olds, with up to 15 hours per week over 38 weeks. This follows the term-time attendance pattern. Eligibility is a condition of using that funding, rather than an entitlement promised to every family.

Private sessions are also charged. Session charges remain payable when a child is absent, and payments are due at the beginning of the week by cash or online. Families should use the nursery's current written quotation when budgeting, including the effect of paying for an agreed session even when it is missed.

• Morning-only attendance. Hall Road sessions finish at 12pm and run during term time. This suits a family seeking a regular morning arrangement, but requires separate plans for afternoons and holidays.
• Challenge for older children. In February 2024, self-chosen activities did not consistently stretch the oldest children far enough. During a visit, ask how children can develop an investigation beyond the activity's starting point.
• Training in practice. Greater staff confidence and more firmly established procedures were improvement priorities in February 2024. Ask how subsequent training has changed everyday practice.
• The complete session cost. Charges apply even when a booked session is missed. Request a written breakdown covering funded hours, any private hours, food and non-food consumables before agreeing the booking.

Scallywags suits families looking for weekday preschool mornings during term time, with an inspection record that gives concrete examples of language learning, physical play and individual support. The hall climbing frame and outdoor riding equipment add substance to that picture.

The balance is clear: adult-supported communication was a strength in February 2024, while older children's independent enquiry and the embedding of staff practice needed attention. For a family whose schedule fits the morning pattern, those are the most useful points to explore when choosing this pre-school.