In2play St Leonards Pre-School

A tyre swing, child-built obstacle courses and beach visits give In2play St Leonards Pre-School's June 2024 picture a practical, exploratory character. This St Leonards-On-Sea setting has capacity for 28 children. At its 4 June 2024 inspection, Ofsted rated it Good overall and judged safeguarding effective.

Children attending that June were aged two to four. The strongest thread through their activities was choice: books, construction and creative materials gave children different ways to take part, with adults joining their play to extend ideas.

In June 2024, children could choose between the group room and outdoor learning, where a recently added tyre swing supplied another physical challenge. Building obstacle courses also gave them opportunities to negotiate with one another, rather than simply follow an adult's instructions.

The early years foundation stage sets the framework for learning, development and care: here, the June 2024 activities connected play with language, number, creativity and exploration. Stories and songs introduced vocabulary; comparing sizes and investigating shapes brought mathematics into activities. Children experimented with art techniques after adults demonstrated them.

Woodwork, gardening, fire-building and beach visits extended that exploration into practical experiences of the natural world. Activities also reflected children's cultures and backgrounds. These were experiences documented in June 2024, rather than a timetable of recurring sessions.

At the June 2024 inspection, Ofsted identified support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities as a strength, with the coordinator, key person, parents and relevant professionals working together on targeted help.

During that month, children struggling to settle received additional comfort and reassurance. Adults helped children include others in games and respond constructively to one another, making social learning part of play.

Daily conversations with parents were supplemented by online progress updates and individual suggestions for activities at home. That linked the child's next learning steps with something families could do themselves. Handwashing before food and conversations during shared meals also made everyday routines opportunities to practise self-care and discuss healthy choices.

The address is 35 Sydney Close, St. Leonards-On-Sea, TN38 9DD.

In June 2024, attendance operated during school terms, Monday to Friday, with sessions running from 8.30am to 3.30pm. At that time, the pre-school provided funded early education for children aged two, three and four. Those arrangements describe the inspection-period offer.

• Adapting activities. In June 2024, some spontaneous activities were too easy or too difficult for participating children, who then moved elsewhere. Improving those adaptations was the required next step, an important consideration for children with different starting points.
• Term-time attendance. The June 2024 pattern followed school terms. How do today's session choices and funded arrangements fit your family's working week?

In2play suits families drawn to practical play, outdoor exploration and close links between home and children's learning. Its June 2024 picture combined creative freedom with adult involvement, while targeted inclusion support was an inspection strength. The term-time session pattern described then gives families a useful starting point, alongside the need for activities that engage children across different ages and abilities.