St Clare's Pre-School

Singing, early writing and an active garden shaped the day at St Clare's Pre-School in July 2021, with children rehearsing songs for a graduation celebration and exploring rhythms with musical instruments. At its July 2021 inspection, Ofsted rated the pre-school Good overall.

Based at The Cabin in Havant, the setting has 30 places in total. Children attending in July 2021 were aged two to four. That dated picture combines attention to language and confidence with practical independence, while also identifying teaching for mixed ages as an area needing work.

The early years foundation stage is the required framework: in July 2021, children’s learning included making marks towards writing, discussing stories and exploring colours through play. These examples give parents a concrete picture of the learning behind the framework’s name.

In July 2021, staff connected learning goals with children’s interests. Musical instruments offered opportunities to copy rhythms and change their speed; story discussions encouraged children to predict events and contribute ideas. Singing also gave children a shared activity in which they remembered actions and words, then celebrated their efforts together.

Outdoor activity had a physical emphasis. In July 2021, the garden provided opportunities for climbing and bicycle riding, giving children practice in coordination and balance. Older children also took responsibility for clearing up after snacks and washing their hands, bringing independence into ordinary routines.

At the July 2021 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective, praised support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, and highlighted work with speech and language therapists to help children with delayed speech.

In July 2021, staff sought advice from inclusion services when needed and put professional guidance into practice. Their interactions included comforting younger children and helping them share, while consistent expectations supported friendships and considerate behaviour. These details matter for families seeking both emotional reassurance and individual support.

Team development also featured in July 2021: staff discussed children’s learning and wellbeing in meetings and had completed training on supporting children with autism spectrum disorder. However, support intended to strengthen staff practice needed to become more consistently established.

The address is The Cabin, Baddesley Gardens, Havant, PO9 4HN.

In July 2021, opening hours were 8am to 4pm on weekdays during term time. At that date, the pre-school received funding for free early education for children aged two, three and four. Those details describe its operation at that time.

• Teaching across ages. In July 2021, younger children occasionally received too little individual help during activities shared with older children. This is a useful point to explore when considering how mixed-age learning would work for your child.
• Consistency of staff support. In July 2021, further work was needed to establish improvements in staff practice. The issue concerned consistency, including support for the youngest children.
• Your attendance pattern. How would the current opening hours and booking arrangements accommodate your family’s week?

For families who value language development, shared music and active outdoor play, the July 2021 picture offers concrete reasons to consider St Clare's Pre-School. Its individual support arrangements were a strength of that inspection. The balancing consideration is equally specific: younger children needed more consistent help when learning alongside older children.