Windsor Playgroup

Picture bingo, pretend cooking and acting out stories gave Windsor Playgroup a practical, playful character in October 2024. Based at Congregational Church in Hinckley, it has capacity for 26 children. That is a whole-setting figure, rather than the size of a daily group.

Ofsted rated the playgroup Good on 3 October 2024. Children attending then were aged two to four. The strongest detail from that visit concerns language, books and indoor play; outdoor learning and opportunities for children to do things independently needed attention.

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children's learning, development and care. Here, the October 2024 examples show how play brought language, movement and early mathematics into children's day.

Children handled toy insects with tweezers, building control in their hands, and explored the differences between spiders and insects through conversation. Picture bingo gave them practice in taking turns. A keyboard accompanied singing, while story sessions used character voices and acting to extend children's engagement with books.

Counting had a physical element: children sent cars through a drainpipe, compared a tower's height with their own and explored shapes through puzzles. These were concrete ways to connect words and numbers with objects. Outdoor activities were less carefully planned in October 2024, leaving children who preferred being outside less absorbed in their play.

At the October 2024 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and children making progress from their individual starting points. Children sought help confidently, and staff responded to behaviour by explaining why an action was unacceptable.

During that month, key people kept parents informed about their child's development, and staff exchanged information with other settings children attended. Leaders arranged training to address gaps in staff knowledge. These arrangements connected day-to-day care with adults' understanding of each child.

Self-care was developing: children managed shoes and coats, and older children used the toilet independently. However, staff sometimes took over snack tasks, including opening lunchboxes and peeling fruit, before children could attempt them. This limited useful practice for managing everyday tasks before school.

The address is Congregational Church, 10a, Church Street, Hinckley, LE10 2DD.

In October 2024, opening hours were 9am to 3pm on weekdays, during term time. At that date, the playgroup provided funded early education for children aged two, three and four. These are dated operating arrangements, useful for understanding the setting at that visit.

• Outdoor learning. Planning outside needed attention in October 2024, especially for children who preferred learning there. At a visit, ask how outdoor activities now hold children's interest.
• Everyday independence. In October 2024, adults sometimes completed snack tasks children could attempt themselves. Ask how children now practise opening containers and preparing their snacks.

Windsor Playgroup suits parents who value learning through conversation, stories and hands-on play. The October 2024 picture is strongest indoors, with approachable staff and regular key-person communication. Its term-time daytime operation at that visit also makes the calendar an important consideration for families. Outdoor engagement and everyday independence are the two practical points to explore.