Childville Preschool, Catterall Hall

Childville Preschool, Catterall Hall earned a Good Ofsted judgement in November 2024, with education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management all judged Good. The strongest thread is purposeful learning through ordinary play: stories, songs, conversation and mathematics are woven through the day rather than treated as isolated exercises.

Children made good progress and settled quickly with kind staff, while safeguarding arrangements were effective.

The Early Years Foundation Stage supplies the areas of learning and developmental goals; at this preschool, the broad curriculum translated children's interests and next developmental steps into purposeful activities through play. Children joined familiar words and actions in stories, sang songs and used new vocabulary in play. A what-is-in-the-bag game gave language practice a concrete purpose.

Mathematics was equally practical. Children built block towers, compared tall and short, matched objects with numerals and discussed addition. Staff assessed progress and addressed gaps, although staff did not always allow enough thinking time after questions or shape group activities closely enough around younger children's attention spans.

Settling was a clear strength in November 2024. Kind interactions, clear expectations and frequent praise helped children become calm, confident and independent; younger children practised pouring their own drinks, while a visual timetable supported smooth changes between activities.

Stories about feelings helped children manage emotions. Children with special educational needs and disabilities received targeted help through inclusive practice and work with external agencies. Parent partnerships were strong, and the inspection described an open safeguarding culture that put children's interests first.

The preschool is at 1st Chadwell Heath Scouts, Catterall Hall, Cecil Road, Romford, RM6 6LB. Families should request the nursery's current written quotation when considering costs.

• Group-time pacing. Some lengthy group activities exceeded younger children's attention spans in November 2024. Families with younger children may want to discuss how activities are now adapted by age and ability.
• Questioning practice. Children were not always given enough time to think before answering. Ask how coaching has changed this aspect of staff practice since the inspection.
• Attendance fit. Discuss the available attendance patterns and exact hours before deciding whether this sessional preschool fits the family's weekly routine.

This is a Good preschool with an inspection account rich in recognisable practice: vocabulary games, block-based mathematics, feelings stories and independence in daily routines. It should suit families who value a sessional setting where learning is embedded in play and where SEND support and parent partnership were inspected positively. The two improvement points matter, especially for younger children, so the best fit is a family prepared to discuss how group times and questioning have developed since November 2024.