Malabar Road Pre-School

Home languages, garden discoveries and neighbourhood walks shaped the September 2025 picture of Malabar Road Pre-School. Based at St. Matthews Centre in Leicester, it has 15 places in total. At its September 2025 inspection, Ofsted rated it Good, found safeguarding effective and judged that children made good progress from their starting points.

The children attending in September 2025 were aged two to four. Communication was a clear priority: familiar languages and visual prompts helped children participate in the day. The practical model then was term-time morning sessions.

In September 2025, the curriculum followed the early years foundation stage, the framework for children's learning, development and care. Activities linked language, movement and everyday tasks: children practised kicking balls, climbed steps to a slide and exercised their fingers by peeling oranges at snack time.

The garden gave children something to investigate together. An insect discovery led to sharing magnifying glasses and taking turns, bringing observation and social skills into the same activity. Visual cards helped explain expectations, while simple words accompanied physical play.

Regular neighbourhood walks extended learning beyond the setting in September 2025. Children discussed familiar places such as the laundrette, and staff drew attention to numbers along the way. Everyday surroundings became material for conversation and counting.

In September 2025, children sought reassurance from their key person and brought that adult into their play. Staff used children's home languages to help those who were less confident settle. These were concrete ways of making communication easier while relationships developed.

Stay-and-play sessions gave parents who struggled with English opportunities to observe activities and discuss their child's development. In September 2025, staff also shared ideas for learning at home, healthy eating and preparation for school.

Health education ran through ordinary routines at that visit. Children practised handwashing, explored different fruits and vegetables, and learnt about toothbrushing. Leaders arranged training and assistance for staff to support curriculum delivery.

The address is St. Matthews Centre, 10 Malabar Road, Leicester LE1 2PD.

In September 2025, sessions ran from 9.15am to 12.15pm, Monday to Friday, during term time. This was a morning-session arrangement rather than an all-day attendance pattern. At that time, the pre-school provided funded early education for children aged two, three and four.

• Time to answer. In September 2025, staff sometimes answered their own questions before children could respond. Giving children longer to think was an improvement priority, relevant to families weighing the language support here.
• Independence for older children. In September 2025, adults sometimes helped too quickly. Older children needed more chances to attempt tasks themselves, an important consideration as they prepared for school.
• Morning attendance. The September 2025 pattern was term-time mornings. At a visit, ask whether that pattern and the funded-hours arrangements match the attendance you need now.

Malabar Road Pre-School suits families considering term-time morning preschool, with the September 2025 picture centred on language, key-person relationships and learning through everyday experiences. Garden exploration and neighbourhood walks gave children practical subjects to discuss. The balance is clear: useful support for communication, alongside a need to give children more thinking time and greater freedom to try tasks independently.