Phoenix Pre-School

Speaking, listening and growing independence give Phoenix Pre-School its clearest character. At its November 2024 inspection, Ofsted rated it Good, found safeguarding effective and identified benefits from additional support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Those findings give families a useful starting point, alongside two specific areas for further work: more precise teaching and better exchanges with parents about learning.

Phoenix has capacity for 50 children. In November 2024, the children attending were aged two to four, and the setting occupied a purpose-built building on the Riders Infant School site.

The early years foundation stage sets requirements for children's learning, development and care: play and everyday routines have an educational purpose alongside looking after children.

In November 2024, speaking and listening shaped activities. A guessing game involving a hidden object gave children practice in waiting, listening and contributing ideas. During songs, older children helped younger children participate. These examples put social learning into recognisable moments rather than treating it as a separate lesson.

Dressing-up play also involved practical skills. Children practised fastening clothes and used bandages while pretending to care for patients. At lunch, opening food packets and handling cutlery gave them opportunities to do things for themselves, with relevance to their eventual move to school.

In November 2024, new children formed relationships with their allocated key person, and staff involved other professionals when children needed help with communication. That combination connected familiar adults with more specialist input.

Daily conversations and online platforms carried updates to families. At the November 2024 inspection, Ofsted identified that teaching did not consistently address each child's next learning step and that exchanges with parents needed to become more reciprocal to support learning at home. For parents, the distinction matters: receiving an update is useful, but sharing observations and agreeing what to practise gives it a clearer purpose.

The address is Riders Infant School, Kingsclere Avenue, Havant, PO9 4RY.

In November 2024, opening hours were 8am to 3pm on weekdays during term time. The pre-school also received government funding for early education for children aged two, three and four. These are dated arrangements, rather than a current booking offer.

Attending a nursery on a school site does not guarantee a Reception place.

• Learning next steps. The November 2024 findings identified a need for teaching to respond more precisely to individual children. Ask how planned activities now connect to your child's next steps.
• Communication at home. Updates were shared through conversations and online platforms in November 2024, but reciprocal exchanges needed further work. Discuss how your observations will contribute to planning.
• Term-time planning. The November 2024 opening pattern followed school terms. What attendance arrangements and funded-hour options would fit your family's week now?

Phoenix suits families seeking preschool experiences built around communication, social participation and practical independence. Its November 2024 examples make that emphasis tangible. The main decision points are how individual learning is planned and how parents contribute to it; both deserve attention alongside the Good judgement.