Toddleswood Pre-School

Toddleswood Pre-School is a sessional early-years setting at Willow Bank Primary School in Thamesmead. Its May 2026 Ofsted report card found a strong standard for children's welfare and wellbeing, with expected standards across achievement, behaviour and routines, curriculum and teaching, inclusion, and leadership and governance. Safeguarding standards were met.

The outdoor provision is the clearest distinguishing feature. Its varied physical challenges let children test their capabilities while adults support appropriate risk-taking. This gives physical development unusual prominence and builds judgement alongside confidence.

In May 2026, inspectors found a well-sequenced curriculum shaped around children's interests and the local community. The Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum used play and adult-guided experiences to build communication, physical, social and early academic skills together. Vocabulary, early mathematics, literacy and sensory experiences were woven through activities.

Daily detail is purposeful. Children showed growing confidence in early literacy, mark-making and number during familiar play. They also grew fruit and vegetables, then practised cutting and tasting the produce. Physical activity and gardening therefore gave them practical routes into language, independence and experimentation.

Relationships appeared warm and attentive in May 2026. Staff knew children well, encouraged back-and-forth conversation and helped them discuss personal experiences. Older children helped younger ones after falls, while children formed friendships and played collaboratively.

Inclusion is planned through displayed next steps and regularly reviewed individual education plans. Staff coordinated assessment and tailored support with families and relevant outside agencies. Leaders also adapted routines for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and other barriers to learning.

The report card identified two practice gaps parents should understand. Staff did not always notice when the youngest children needed extra help to engage, and behaviour expectations were not applied consistently at mealtimes. Leaders were also asked to align professional development more closely with improvement priorities.

The pre-school operates from Willow Bank Primary School, Thamesmead, SE2 9XB. The official record describes it as sessional day care. Current session times, age range, booking requirements, funded-entitlement arrangements, meals, consumables, fees and travel guidance remain unconfirmed. The current written offer is therefore essential for comparison with a working week and budget.

• Support for younger children. The May 2026 report found that staff did not consistently recognise when the youngest children needed more help to engage. The response since then is an important point to establish.
• Routines and expectations. Mealtime rules were not applied consistently during the inspection. How leaders now check consistent expectations across the team matters.
• The practical offer. Session times, accepted ages, funding, food and consumable arrangements remain unconfirmed. These details need to be established in writing before deciding whether the setting fits.

Toddleswood Pre-School is best suited to families who value extensive outdoor movement, practical self-care and inclusive planning in a sessional setting. The strong welfare and wellbeing evaluation is meaningful, but so are the improvement points around the youngest children's engagement, mealtime consistency and staff development. Its unpublished timetable prevents a responsible judgement about which morning, afternoon or longer patterns it currently serves, so the written session offer is an essential next step.