Flutterbies Preschool

Children building houses to fit their toy figures capture Flutterbies Preschool's character in June 2022: play driven by children's interests, with practical problems to solve along the way. Based at Hinckley Methodist Church in Hinckley, the preschool has 35 places in total.

At its 20 June 2022 inspection, Ofsted rated Flutterbies Good overall and judged its safeguarding arrangements effective. Children attending then were aged two to four. The strongest examples concerned independent play and everyday tasks, alongside two clear improvements needed in adult conversation and group activities.

In June 2022, children could select books and play materials from low shelves and storage units. They also moved resources between activities, adding vehicles and figures to play dough or using construction bricks to build homes for miniature characters. This gave them choices about how their play developed.

The early years foundation stage sets requirements for children's learning, development and care; here, the June 2022 examples included learning through play, conversation and practical routines. Messy play introduced different textures, while walks to a local green space included running around and feeding ducks at a pond. These experiences extended the day beyond indoor activities.

Stories, songs and rhymes featured in group time in June 2022. However, some activities did not match every child's needs, and some children disengaged or chose not to participate.

In June 2022, children approached staff when they needed reassurance. Staff used reminders about kindness and sharing, and children helped put toys away. Training had introduced yoga and breathing techniques as ways to help children begin managing emotions.

Daily communication with families covered what children had been doing in June 2022. Preparation for school included serving their own snacks, pouring drinks and finding their names to mark attendance: small tasks that gave children practice in doing things for themselves.

Safety measures in June 2022 included locked main doors and alarms on internal doors. Staff refreshed their safeguarding training and checked for hazards during supervision.

Flutterbies Preschool's address is Hinckley Methodist Church, Albert Road, Hinckley, LE10 1PL.

In June 2022, attendance followed a term-time pattern on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Sessions ran from 8.30am to 3pm on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, with a shorter Thursday session from 8.30am to midday. Funded early education was provided for two-, three- and four-year-olds at that time.

• Time to answer. In June 2022, staff sometimes moved through questions too quickly for children to formulate a response. Giving children space to speak was a specific improvement required.
• Group activities. The June 2022 improvement priorities included matching shared activities more closely to individual needs. This matters for children who lose interest when an activity is pitched beyond or below them.
• Attendance planning. The June 2022 timetable combined longer sessions with a shorter Thursday. At a visit, ask which current attendance pattern would fit your family's week.

Flutterbies suits consideration by families interested in child-led play and practical preparation for school. Its June 2022 offer accommodated both longer term-time days and a shorter morning. The dated examples give the preschool a recognisable character, while the conversation and group-time improvement points deserve equal weight in a family's decision.