Stretton Pre-school CIO Foundation, Main Street

Vegetable gardening, water experiments and learning to manage personal care give this Yaxley pre-school a practical character. In June 2026, children explored how to control water flowing through guttering and practised balancing outdoors: everyday play with problems to solve.

At its 19 June 2026 inspection, Ofsted judged welfare and wellbeing and inclusion to be Strong standard, with achievement, behaviour and routines, curriculum and teaching, and leadership and governance at Expected standard. Stretton Pre-school CIO Foundation, Main Street has 32 places in total; those attending in June 2026 were aged two to four.

In June 2026, children chose activities across indoor and outdoor spaces, balanced on beams and jumped from tree stumps. Adults offered help when children were hesitant, giving them a way to attempt physical challenges with support nearby.

The early years foundation stage sets requirements for children's learning, development and care. Here, the June 2026 day included stories, rhymes and conversations during exploratory play, connecting language with what children were doing. Pipettes and melting ice gave children opportunities to practise hand control while investigating change.

Outdoor experiences extended beyond exercise. In June 2026, children tended a vegetable garden, observed insects and made habitats; regular forest school sessions took place in local school grounds, combining outdoor activity with learning about their surroundings.

Mathematics needed more attention. In June 2026, adults introduced ideas about weight and size during play, but opportunities to develop mathematical understanding needed strengthening. Support to help practitioners stretch children's learning further was also not yet established.

At the June 2026 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding standards met, responsive care and effective support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, with assessment-led plans, quieter spaces, smaller-group support and cooperation with families and external agencies.

Daily routines made care tangible. In June 2026, children practised washing hands, brushing teeth and using the toilet, alongside serving snacks, pouring drinks and cleaning their dishes. A tooth-friendly snack menu complemented those habits. Picture timelines helped children anticipate changes in the day, while key people used children's interests to plan their next learning steps.

Parents had opportunities to discuss progress in June 2026, alongside advice on toilet training, online safety and healthy eating. Contact with school staff supported information sharing as children prepared to move on. These were practical links for continuity of care and learning.

The address is Yaxley Amenity Centre, 48 Main Street, Yaxley, Peterborough, PE7 3LU. In June 2026, opening hours were 9am to 3pm, Monday to Friday. That is a dated operating window for families weighing the setting against their daily schedule.

• Mathematical learning. The June 2026 improvement priorities included strengthening mathematics teaching. At a visit, ask how number, size and measurement now feature in children's play.
• Consistency of teaching. In June 2026, leaders needed to assess more consistently whether staff training changed everyday practice. Ask what support now helps practitioners extend children's ideas.
• Planning attendance. The June 2026 opening window was 9am to 3pm on weekdays. What attendance patterns and funding arrangements would apply to your child's place?

This setting suits families who value practical independence, outdoor exploration and individual support. Its June 2026 character was clear: children experimented, cared for living things and learnt to handle everyday tasks themselves. The balance for parents is equally clear. Mathematics and the consistency of teaching remained improvement priorities, so those are useful subjects for a visit alongside the appeal of its hands-on day.