Sandringham Pre-school

Sandringham Pre-school is a term-time, sessional setting at St Marys Church Hall in Welling for children aged two to four. It has capacity for 60 children. Ofsted judged it Good in December 2024, with effective safeguarding and Good judgements across education, behaviour, personal development and leadership.

The strongest feature is choice within a clearly planned day. Across much of the inspected day, children decided whether to play inside or outdoors. Magnetic tiles, sand and dough then gave them scope to build, count, imagine and cooperate.

The Early Years Foundation Stage sets the areas of learning and development that shape provision. The curriculum was strengthened and ambitious: staff used songs, conversations and targeted activities to build communication, then extended play by naming shapes and encouraging counting.

Children chose where to play and used imaginative-play props alongside construction materials. This made learning active rather than worksheet-led. Books were accessible and adults read to focused groups, although leaders needed to give every child richer opportunities to explore and enjoy stories.

Leaders had strengthened both the curriculum and staff understanding of how children learn since earlier practice was reviewed. Daily core activities remained adaptable: sand and dough could be approached in different ways, while staff joined play to introduce vocabulary and number ideas. That combination gives children freedom to follow an interest while retaining adult guidance.

Communication and language received deliberate attention through songs, conversation and targeted support. Focused reading groups added another route into language, but the recommendation on books shows that access alone was not enough. Leaders needed to make stories a richer experience for every child, not only those already joining adult-led reading.

Relationships were a clear strength in December 2024. Warm relationships with staff helped children settle confidently, and parents described the team as caring and supportive. Families whose children needed extra help had a joined-up pathway: staff used assessment to shape support, involved parents in that planning and brought in specialists where appropriate. Additional-needs provision enabled children to participate confidently and build their skills.

Healthy eating and hygiene were also part of the observed curriculum. These everyday routines matter because personal development at this age is built through repeated practice, not a separate lesson. Parents also valued the breadth of activities, adding a useful family perspective to the account of daily life.

Safeguarding was effective at the graded inspection. A later welfare requirements notice concerned responses to safety concerns, supervision, accidents and injuries. The monitoring visit on 20 April 2026 closed that episode: Ofsted was satisfied with the setting's response to the notice, recorded that its safeguarding and welfare requirements had been fulfilled, and registration continued.

One practice point remains useful for families to explore. Ofsted asked adults to make rules and boundaries more predictable after a ball game indoors revealed that staff did not share the same expectation about children running after the ball.

The pre-school operates during term time and closes for school holidays. Its recorded hours are 9.30am to 3.30pm on Monday and Tuesday, and 9.30am to 12.30pm from Wednesday to Friday. This is sessional provision rather than full-day childcare across the working week.

Current nursery-specific prices, funded-place arrangements and any charges should be obtained in a written quotation from the setting.

• Weekly fit. Monday and Tuesday have longer opening windows, while Wednesday to Friday finish at lunchtime. Families should establish which attendance patterns can actually be booked within those hours.
• Books and stories. Ofsted asked the setting to widen children's opportunities to explore and enjoy books. Ask how leaders have developed this since December 2024.
• Rules and boundaries. Inspectors wanted a more consistent staff approach. A visit is the right time to discuss how expectations are now communicated during energetic indoor play.
• Practical costs. Ask for the current position on funded hours, meals, snacks and non-food consumables before comparing the overall cost.

Sandringham Pre-school suits families seeking term-time early years provision, especially those able to use longer Monday or Tuesday attendance or morning-only sessions later in the week. The 2024 Good judgement, flexible indoor-outdoor play and effective support for children with SEND are meaningful positives. The resolved 2026 regulatory action deserves transparent consideration, while Ofsted's confirmation that all actions were met provides the necessary current context.