Lottie's Pre-School

Lottie’s Pre-School is a term-time, sessional setting for children aged two to five at 38 Letchworth Drive, Bromley. Ofsted judged it Good in April 2023, with Good judgements across education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management.

The strongest picture is of children learning through purposeful play. Inspectors saw younger children persist with glitter, sand, paint and containers, while older children counted, compared quantities and explored shape sorters. The setting has 40 places in total.

Children’s early mathematics stands out. During the 2023 inspection, they counted spontaneously and used ideas such as quarter-full and half while pouring sand into jugs. Outdoors, younger children experimented with sound on a music wall and older children channelled water through pipes on a water wall. These are practical ways to build vocabulary, coordination and early scientific thinking.

The Early Years Foundation Stage shapes learning for this age group. In plain terms, play and adult interaction develop communication, physical skills, relationships, literacy and mathematics while staff observe each child’s progress. Here, self-registration on a photo tree also gave children a visible sense of belonging.

Daily routines added substance to that learning. Children responded to listening and tidying signals, shared resources, took turns and managed feelings. Younger children filled containers with determination and enjoyed stories close to trusted adults; older children collaborated over shape sorters and quantities. This blend matters because it connects formal early goals with the social habits children need in a group. The outdoor observations add another dimension: sound, water and sand let children test cause and effect with their hands rather than only hear an adult explain it.

Independence appears in small, repeatable acts. Finding a name on the photo tree marks the start of a session; putting on a coat, fetching water and helping with tidying allow children to contribute. For a child preparing for school, those routines build confidence alongside early knowledge.

Warm relationships were a clear strength in April 2023. Children settled quickly, sought staff closeness during stories and learned independence through toileting, putting on coats and reaching their own water bottles. Parents were exceptionally positive about care, progress communication and the book-lending library.

Ofsted found safeguarding arrangements effective at that inspection. Staff knowledge and checks of the premises supported that judgement. The team worked with parents of children with SEND and had designated an experienced practitioner to develop SEND expertise across the setting. Recent training also helped staff build vocabulary with children learning English as an additional language. Inspectors nevertheless asked staff to engage quieter, less-confident children more consistently.

Behaviour was generally good. Children followed expectations, shared, took turns and expressed themselves, while staff used consistent signals to organise the group. Being chosen as a superstar helper gave children responsibility and pride. A cohesive team had members who felt valued and could access professional development.

The pre-school is at 38 Letchworth Drive, Bromley BR2 9BE and is registered for ages two to five. The setting operates on weekdays during term time and closes for school holidays. Current bookable session patterns and minimum attendance need confirmation with the provider.

Funding participation, meals, consumables and provider-specific charges need confirmation. A written quotation should separate funded hours, private hours, food, non-food consumables, optional activities, deposits and notice terms.

• Quieter children. Ofsted’s April 2023 improvement point concerned inconsistent interaction with quieter, less-confident children. Ask how staff now notice and draw these children into play.
• Healthy eating. Inspectors also wanted everyday routines used more effectively to teach why healthy food matters. Families may want to discuss the present approach and see a current menu.
• Attendance and costs. Session patterns and charge categories need provider confirmation. These details materially affect comparisons with alternatives.

Lottie’s Pre-School suits families seeking term-time, sessional provision from age two, with playful early mathematics, outdoor investigation and independence woven into daily routines. The 2023 Good judgement and effective safeguarding finding are reassuring, while the two improvement points give parents focused questions for a visit. Its term-time format may work best for households whose care needs follow the school calendar; the precise daily attendance patterns should form part of the joining conversation.