St. Mary's Pre-School

Saws, bicycles and a forest school area gave physical learning a practical shape at St. Mary's Pre-School in September 2024. This Horsham setting has capacity for 32 children; those attending at that inspection were aged two to four.

At its September 2024 inspection, Ofsted judged the provision Good, found safeguarding effective and reported good progress for children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). The strengths came with two clear priorities: teaching needed closer links to each child's next learning step, and communication with parents needed to work more consistently in both directions.

In September 2024, children used the garden and forest school area regularly and explored the surrounding community. Outdoor learning included learning to ride bicycles and using saws to cut wood, with staff explaining the movements involved. These were practical opportunities to develop coordination, rather than physical activity confined to a single part of the day.

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children's learning, development and care. Here, the September 2024 experiences included shared play, physical challenges and learning about the cultures represented among families. Children brought traditional clothing, flags and foods into that learning, giving cultural differences a personal connection.

Staff planned around children's interests. Racing toy cars, for example, prompted children to predict whose would be quickest and listen to one another. However, activities were not consistently connected closely enough to what individual children needed to learn next. An engaging activity and precise teaching were not always the same thing.

In September 2024, settling arrangements were adapted for new children, including those who were younger or less confident. A key person gave each child a familiar adult to build a relationship with. This made settling a process centred on the individual child's needs.

Additional funding supported individual needs, including one-to-one help where needed. Staff used that time to address priorities in learning and care. Relationships with families also supported discussion of children's progress, although information did not consistently travel both ways. That matters because staff need the family's perspective as well as their own observations.

The address is 20 Denne Road, Horsham, RH12 1JF.

In September 2024, opening hours were 8.30am to 3.30pm from Monday to Thursday and 8.30am to 12.30pm on Friday, during term time. The shorter Friday made the weekly timetable uneven, an important consideration for families organising care around work.

At that time, the pre-school received funding for free early education for children aged two, three and four. This is an inspection-era description of its funding participation.

• Individual learning. September 2024 findings identified a need to connect activities more precisely to each child's next steps. Ask how your child's priorities shape the activities staff choose.
• Two-way communication. Information exchange with parents was inconsistent in September 2024. Discuss how observations from home become part of planning, and how staff help families continue learning between visits.
• Term-time timetable. The September 2024 opening pattern included a shorter Friday. What attendance arrangement would fit your family's working week now?

St. Mary's suits families drawn to practical outdoor learning and care built around a familiar key person. Its September 2024 picture combines hands-on experiences with individual support. The decision should also weigh the two improvement priorities: how precisely teaching addresses each child, and how reliably parents contribute to that process.