Ullesthorpe Pre-School

Ice experiments, a waterwheel and books borrowed for home give Ullesthorpe Pre-School a practical, playful character in its January 2024 account. Children investigated how ice melts while adults helped them test ideas. Small discoveries supplied the learning.

At its January 2024 inspection, Ofsted rated the provision Good and judged safeguarding effective. The pre-school has 24 places in total, on Main Street in Ullesthorpe, Lutterworth.

In January 2024, the early years foundation stage framed the provision: children's learning, development and care were brought together through play and everyday activities. Ice provided an example, with children trying tools and warm water, discussing changes and persisting with their experiments. Outdoor exploration gave them something concrete to investigate.

Language threaded through the day. In January 2024, adults expanded children's sentences, discussed story characters and pictures, and used questions to encourage conversation. Daily singing included gestures and signing, giving children several ways to understand words. A lending library extended book-sharing into family life.

At its January 2024 inspection, Ofsted found that staff recognised children needing additional help, including those with SEND, and developed support plans with families and other professionals to help their learning progress.

In January 2024, relationships with families were a central part of care, and parents received information about development and ideas for learning at home. Snack and meal routines also offered practice in independence: children handled tongs and poured drinks while sharing the table with friends and adults.

Behaviour support needed more consistency. In January 2024, adults redirected indoor ball play into a safer rolling game, but did not consistently help children explain their feelings or work through difficult emotions. The improvement priority was to strengthen that support.

The address is Main Street, Ullesthorpe, Lutterworth, LE17 5DH. In January 2024, children attending ranged from 2 to 11 years old; that age span included the wider provision.

In January 2024, the pre-school operated on weekdays during term time, with sessions running from 9am to 3pm. Before-school club ran from 7.30am to 9am, and after-school club from 3pm to 6pm. Funded early education for children aged two, three and four formed part of the offer then.

• Helping children through difficult feelings. January 2024's improvement priority concerned staff support for managing behaviour. At a visit, ask how adults now help children recognise emotions and respond when play becomes difficult.
• Term-time routines and school-age care. The January 2024 model combined daytime pre-school sessions with before- and after-school clubs. How would the current attendance arrangements fit your child's age and your family's working week?

Ullesthorpe's January 2024 picture suits families drawn to practical investigation, conversation and shared books. Its attendance model then served both daytime pre-school sessions and before- or after-school care, rather than a single pattern. The Good judgement provides a useful quality reference; the behaviour-support priority is the clearest point to explore when choosing.