Pembury Pre-School

Making play dough, recycling paper and taking trips beyond the classroom gave Pembury Pre-School a practical character in September 2024. Based at 16 Atkins Square, Dalston Lane, London E8 1FA, it has 42 places in total. At its September 2024 inspection, Ofsted rated the provision Good, with a well-ordered curriculum and positive attitudes to learning.

Children attending then were aged two to four. The emphasis was on learning through familiar experiences, from stories and songs to exploring measurement while making play dough, with activities shaped around individual interests.

The early years foundation stage is the framework for children's learning, development and care: here, its September 2024 expression included language, movement and early mathematics through play. Staff observed children's development and used those observations to plan what came next.

Stories, familiar songs and small-group conversations gave children opportunities to speak, including those learning English as an additional language. Making play dough introduced vocabulary about measurement. A rocking horse and ball games supplied practical opportunities to work on core muscle development and coordination.

September 2024 outings included a local farm and the seaside, connecting experiences beyond the nursery with learning about transport and the wider world. Paper recycling during tidying made environmental responsibility part of an ordinary routine.

There were two important weaknesses: classroom noise sometimes interrupted quieter activities, and staff questioning did not consistently extend children's thinking. These matter alongside the breadth of experiences.

At the September 2024 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and children needing additional learning support well supported, with targeted language resources funded through early years pupil premium helping disadvantaged children meet their targets.

During that period, staff helped children recognise and manage emotions, explained behavioural expectations and handled nappy changes gently. Conversation and singing accompanied care routines, giving everyday interactions a personal quality.

Parents received daily updates and information through an online app. Staff also had opportunities for further training. Together, these arrangements connected children's nursery experiences with home and supported practitioners' development.

In September 2024, opening hours were 8am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday, during term time. Both part-time and full-time sessions operated, making attendance pattern an important part of the choice for families.

The setting received funding for early education for two-, three- and four-year-olds at that time. This is a dated account of its provision, so it should be read alongside the September 2024 attendance model.

• Quiet learning. In September 2024, noise sometimes distracted children from quieter activities. During a visit, how are stories and small-group activities protected from surrounding noise?
• Extending conversation. Staff questioning was inconsistent in September 2024. Look for how practitioners help children explain an idea and take it further.
• Attendance fit. The September 2024 model combined term-time opening with part-time and full-time sessions. What current session pattern would fit your family's week?

Pembury's strongest September 2024 features were practical learning, attentive everyday interactions and communication with parents. Its term-time model suited families seeking either part-time attendance or full-time sessions. Noise during quieter learning and the consistency of staff questioning remain the clearest points to explore when weighing those strengths.