Butterflies Pre-School

Butterflies Pre-School is a sessional day-care setting at 12th Caterham Scout Hut HQ, Parsons Pightle, Coulsdon Road, Old Coulsdon. Ofsted judged it Good in February 2023, finding effective safeguarding and consistently good education, behaviour, personal development and leadership.

The inspection captured a preschool where children settled confidently, behaved with care towards one another and became increasingly independent. Its strongest details were practical and child-led: a dinosaur world outdoors, lavender-scented play dough and cress-growing all became routes into language, mathematics and scientific thinking.

The Early Years Foundation Stage is the educational framework: in parent terms, learning develops through play and planned activities across communication, physical development, relationships, literacy, mathematics and understanding the world. At the 2023 inspection, staff built from what children already knew and what interested them next.

In February 2023, staff planned around children's interests. Children learned dinosaur vocabulary through a newly created outdoor dinosaur world, used mathematical language while shaping warm play dough, and explained that cress needed sunlight and careful watering. Books also carried real weight: children listened closely, then retold stories to friends with expression and story language.

Relationships were a clear strength at the 2023 inspection. Children separated confidently from parents, while staff maintained positive family partnerships and shared progress and next steps. A colour-monster story helped children identify emotions, and children responded sensitively when friends were hurt or unhappy.

Safeguarding was effective at that inspection. Staff understood child-protection concerns and reporting routes, while risk assessment and recruitment arrangements were secure. Inspectors also found that support was arranged for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. The improvement point was to deepen children's understanding of cultures and diversity so it better reflected those attending.

The setting is based at 12th Caterham Scout Hut HQ, Parsons Pightle, Coulsdon Road, Old Coulsdon, CR5 1EE. It operates as sessional day care.

• Attendance pattern. Ask which sessional patterns and clock times are currently offered at the Scout Hut, and whether a minimum weekly commitment applies. This determines whether the timetable fits work and family routines.
• Everyday costs and care. Ask how funded hours, meals, snacks and non-food consumables are handled for this setting. The answer will show the full practical commitment beyond attendance itself.
• Culture and diversity. Ofsted's February 2023 improvement point was to broaden children's understanding of cultures and diversity. Families may want to discuss how this is now represented in books, activities and celebrations.

Butterflies Pre-School's 2023 inspection gives a persuasive picture of thoughtful, interest-led learning: dinosaurs developed vocabulary, growing cress prompted scientific recall and stories fed both language and emotional understanding. Independence and considerate behaviour were equally visible.

This will suit families seeking sessional preschool care, especially those who value school-readiness built through practical play. The precise current timetable is the key question before deciding.