Ventnor Community Early Years Centre

Individual support gives Ventnor Community Early Years Centre its clearest character. At its January 2026 inspection, Ofsted judged inclusion and leadership Exceptional, assessed the other four areas at Strong standard and confirmed that safeguarding standards were met.

The centre has 53 places in total. Children attending in January 2026 were aged 1 to 4; that is the age range at that visit.

In January 2026, books, dough and practical tasks supplied much of the learning detail. Babies recognised familiar story characters and explored books by turning their pages. Older children discussed measurements and quantities during play, while making dough animals gave them opportunities to develop stories and vocabulary. These were activities with several purposes, rather than isolated exercises.

The early years foundation stage brings learning, development and care together. Here, the January 2026 examples included songs with numbers for babies and cooperative play for older children. Children could choose activities, practise sharing and help one another with everyday tasks.

Physical learning extended outdoors. In January 2026, woodland play formed part of the children's experiences, alongside daily physical activity. Indoors, hand puppets helped children put words to feelings, connecting play with conversations about their own emotions.

At the January 2026 inspection, Ofsted found that staff identified additional needs promptly, adjusted support as development changed and pursued extra funding, with children facing learning barriers making substantial progress.

In January 2026, staff observed babies' play to understand their preferences and plan subsequent activities. Feeding, sleep and weaning routines were adapted to individual needs, making care routines opportunities for close attention as well as practical support.

Relationships also shaped everyday independence. In January 2026, staff encouraged children attempting to pour a drink and helped them practise managing coats. Adults used calm interactions and consistent boundaries, giving children a predictable structure while allowing them to attempt things themselves.

The address is St. Francis Catholic & C Of E Primary Academy, Newport Road, Ventnor, PO38 1BQ. Opening hours in January 2026 were 8am to 4pm, Monday to Friday.

Preparation for the next learning stage was practical. In January 2026, children practised persistence during activities and taking responsibility for their own care. Those habits matter when moving towards school: managing a task and trying again are useful alongside early language and mathematical learning.

• Individual support. January 2026 practice included reviewing children's development and changing support promptly. This is a relevant consideration for families whose children need tailored help rather than a fixed approach.
• Attendance planning. The January 2026 opening window was 8am to 4pm on weekdays. Which current booking patterns would fit your family's working day?
• Growing independence. January 2026 activities included pouring drinks and managing coats. Families seeking preparation for school can weigh this practical emphasis alongside the centre's play-based learning.

Ventnor Community Early Years Centre suits families who value individual attention and practical independence. Its January 2026 assessment gives particular weight to inclusion and leadership, while the daily examples show how learning and care were connected. The strongest decision value lies in that combination: tailored support alongside opportunities for children to do more for themselves.