Richmond Playgroup

Vegetables retrieved from a mud pit became soup, while a bouncing-ball game turned counting into shared play: Richmond Playgroup's May 2022 experience combined practical independence with learning through play. This Hinckley setting has capacity for 26 children and occupies a site at Richmond Primary School.

At its 4 May 2022 inspection, Ofsted rated the playgroup Good overall. Children attending then were aged three to four. That age range describes the children at that visit, rather than a current admissions promise.

In May 2022, children's interests and existing knowledge shaped the curriculum. The early years foundation stage is the framework for children's learning, development and care; here, its everyday expression included play, conversation and opportunities to practise physical skills.

The garden allowed children to move between indoor and outdoor play. Climbing equipment, wheeled toys and digging gave them different ways to exercise larger muscles. Indoors, hands and paintbrushes explored mixtures of flour and paint, providing practice in making marks and controlling smaller movements.

Storytelling involved movement, with children acting out parts of a familiar book. At the water tray, containers and sea animals became an aquarium. These examples show the breadth of the inspection-era day: language, imaginative play and physical exploration met in ordinary activities, rather than sitting in separate lessons.

In May 2022, children practised independence by preparing fruit and vegetables for snacks and putting on their coats. Parents valued their child's key person and the updates about learning and daily experiences. Visual prompts and targeted activities supported children learning English as an additional language; additional funding also helped expand opportunities to use technology.

Ofsted judged safeguarding effective in May 2022, with staff training, risk assessment and supervision supporting children's safety. A committee member nevertheless lacked the required Ofsted suitability checks, despite having a Disclosure and Barring Service check; that person had no contact with children and took no part in safeguarding or decisions. This was a specific governance concern, distinct from the judgement on daily safeguarding practice.

School preparation also had a practical shape in May 2022. Staff worked with colleagues at the school on site, while books, photographs and regular visits helped children become familiar with its surroundings before moving on.

The address is Richmond Primary School, Towers Drive, Hinckley, LE10 0ZD. Being on a school site does not guarantee a Reception place.

In May 2022, opening hours were 8.40am to 3.15pm, Monday to Friday, during term time. Funded education was provided for three- and four-year-olds at that date. These are historical operating arrangements, rather than a statement of today's booking options.

• Time to answer. In May 2022, staff sometimes supplied answers to their own questions before children could respond. More consistent questioning was the improvement priority, because children need space to process language and form an answer.
• Committee checks. The May 2022 suitability-check concern involved a committee member whose role excluded contact with children, safeguarding and decision-making. Families should understand this qualification alongside the effective safeguarding judgement.
• Planning attendance. For a family considering this school-site playgroup, the useful joining question is: what current age range, attendance patterns and funded-hours arrangements would apply to your child?

Richmond Playgroup merits consideration by families seeking preschool learning with outdoor play and practical preparation for school. Its May 2022 experience gave children opportunities to count, create, move and become more independent. The Good judgement sits alongside two points that deserve attention: questioning practice and committee suitability checks. The term-time operating pattern belongs to that same dated picture.