Little Fishes Pre-School

Sunflowers grown at home and counting woven into play give Little Fishes Pre-School a recognisable character in its June 2022 account: learning that children could recall and talk about. At its 10 June 2022 inspection, Ofsted rated the setting Good and found that practitioners knew individual children well and supported their progress.

Based at St Mary's Church Centre in Old Harlow, the pre-school has 26 places in total. Children attending in June 2022 were aged two to four; that age range describes the setting at that time.

The early years foundation stage is the framework for children's learning, development and care. Here, its June 2022 expression included planned opportunities to develop language, number skills, movement and relationships.

In June 2022, children counted objects, recognised numerals around them and used mathematical vocabulary; older children also practised writing numerals. Number work had practical applications rather than being confined to a single activity. Children remembered songs and retold a caterpillar story, discussing its changing size, food and life cycle. These gave them concrete subjects to explain in their own words.

Children also remembered planting sunflowers at pre-school and growing them at home. This linked an activity at the setting with something they could continue discussing afterwards.

There was a clear limitation in June 2022: adults prepared and directed activities, and children could not independently choose extra resources to develop their play. Enjoyment and engagement did not translate into enough control over what to do next.

At the June 2022 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective, with staff able to recognise concerns, report them and challenge concerns involving leaders. Training was refreshed and recruitment checks formed part of the arrangements.

In June 2022, key people could explain each child's development and next learning steps. Staff responded when children needed help, while children understood routines and treated one another respectfully. Familiar expectations gave the day a predictable shape.

Parents interviewed in June 2022 spoke positively about their children's development, especially their language and communication. Staff practice was also monitored through supervision, providing a mechanism for reviewing how adults worked with children.

The address is St Mary's Church Centre, Churchgate Street, Old Harlow, CM17 0JR.

In June 2022, opening hours were 9.15am to 12.15pm, Monday to Friday, during term time. A lunch club followed from 12.15pm to 1.15pm. The setting also provided funded early education for children aged two, three and four at that time.

• Children's choices. In June 2022, adult-directed activities restricted children's freedom to choose resources and shape their play. During a visit, look at how children now select materials and develop their own ideas.
• Term-time timetable. The June 2022 arrangement combined morning opening hours with a lunch club. What attendance patterns and funded arrangements now apply to the days your family needs?

Little Fishes merits consideration for families who value planned number and language activities alongside close knowledge of individual children. Its June 2022 timetable suited morning attendance or a morning extended through lunch club. The balance between adult planning and children's own decisions is the key point to explore: it was the specific improvement needed beneath the Good judgement.