Emmanuel Baptist Church Preschool

In September 2024, a caterpillar climbing frame, animated storytelling and time to solve train-track puzzles characterised children's experience at Emmanuel Baptist Church Preschool. This Horsforth setting has capacity for 30 children aged 2 to 3, a narrow age range that makes its provision especially relevant to families choosing a first preschool experience.

Ofsted rated the preschool Outstanding on 19 September 2024. The strongest practical detail is the attention given to children's individual development, from purposeful play to communication with home.

In September 2024, learning involved trying ideas rather than simply following instructions. Children estimated the blocks a vehicle could carry and experimented with a conveyor belt; staff allowed time for children to work out how train-track pieces joined. These examples show how familiar toys became opportunities to predict, persevere and solve problems.

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children's learning, development and care, bringing play and development together in the day. In September 2024, stories invited children to anticipate events and join in familiar passages, while visual timetables helped them understand routines.

Movement also threaded through learning that month. The Wheels on the Bus accompanied drawing movements, and the caterpillar climbing frame became a vehicle for imaginative travel. Bear-like crawling and moving backwards gave children different ways to test their coordination.

During September 2024, staff also changed songs to incorporate children's favourite superheroes. Children took turns contributing ideas about which character should come next. This gave a familiar activity a personal connection and a reason to listen to one another. The drawing activity connected movement on paper with the song's changing pace, making physical activity part of learning rather than a separate break from it.

Adult timing mattered in the train-track play that month. Staff judged when help was needed and when children should have longer to attempt a solution. For a parent, the useful distinction is between an adult completing the task and a child having space to work it out. The conveyor-belt activity similarly gave children something concrete to investigate: their predictions concerned both the load and the turns needed to move it.

At the September 2024 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective, SEND support highly effective and children's progress excellent, with developmental assessment and prompt outside support helping staff respond to individual needs.

In September 2024, the key person was a familiar contact for both child and parent. Development plans were shared each term, giving families specific next steps to support at home. Quiet spaces allowed children to pause when emotions became overwhelming, while signs let them indicate that they wanted their play left undisturbed.

In September 2024, family contact included settling sessions, coffee gatherings each term, evening meetings, an annual meal for parents and termly celebrations, offering several ways to build relationships. Staff wellbeing also received attention through team discussions, supervision and days away together.

The termly plans gave those relationships a practical purpose that month: parents had specific developmental steps to work on with their child at home. Coffee mornings, evenings and celebrations added recurring occasions for contact, rather than leaving the relationship confined to a child's initial settling period.

Respect also shaped everyday routines in September 2024. Adults modelled courteous conversation with children and with each other. Children understood both the expectation to walk indoors and the reason for it, avoiding trips and injuries. Alongside the quiet areas and uninterrupted-play signs, these examples show the different ways routines addressed safety, feelings and children's wish to continue an activity.

The preschool is at Emmanuel Baptist Church, Hall Lane, Leeds, LS18 5JE. It opens from 9am to 3pm, Monday to Thursday, during term time and closes for school holidays. This timetable suits families whose childcare needs follow the school calendar.

In September 2024, the preschool provided government-funded childcare. That dated position is useful context when discussing a child's attendance.

• Term-time timetable. Opening is Monday to Thursday, with school holidays excluded. Families needing Friday or holiday care should weigh that timetable carefully.
• Settling and individual support. September 2024 practice included settling sessions and termly development plans. How would these arrangements work for your child's first weeks?

Emmanuel Baptist Church Preschool suits families seeking term-time preschool for a child aged 2 to 3. In September 2024, patient problem-solving, imaginative movement and individual developmental support formed a coherent picture of children's experience. The four-day opening week is the key practical consideration.