Charis Preschool

Charis Preschool is a sessional early-years setting on Jutsums Lane in Romford, with 30 places in total for children aged from nine months to five years. Ofsted rated it Good in July 2022, when children were described as happy, absorbed in play and closely connected to their key people.

The strongest picture from that visit is of purposeful play rather than formal lessons. Practitioners worked counting, number recognition and simple addition into children's chosen activities, while the indoor and outdoor offer included oats and containers, dressing up, wet sand, water, trikes and climbing. That gave children scope to investigate an idea and stay with it.

The setting follows the Early Years Foundation Stage, meaning children's play is used to build communication, physical development, early literacy, mathematics and wider understanding rather than splitting the day into formal subjects. In July 2022, practitioners narrated children's actions and introduced new words, then moved to open questions as children's language developed.

Mathematics was equally practical. Children connected four plus four with an octopus's eight tentacles, recognised less familiar shapes including rhombuses and heptagons, and tested whether a cotton reel or pom-pom would roll faster. These examples matter because they show adults extending curiosity inside play, not simply placing activities in front of children.

Outdoor movement included pedalling trikes, riding cars, travelling through tunnels, jumping in tyres and climbing. Regular trips to the local park widened that physical experience beyond the premises. Cultural learning also had concrete anchors: children made Diya lamps for Diwali, cards for Eid and explored the Year of the Tiger as part of Chinese celebrations.

Warm relationships were a clear strength at the 2022 visit. Children separated from parents happily, had close bonds with their key people and played cooperatively, inviting friends to the see-saw and tool station. Practitioners also supported school readiness through independence, name recognition, pencil control and early phonics rather than treating readiness as worksheets alone.

Safeguarding arrangements were effective in July 2022. Staff knew the signs of abuse and reporting routes, kept the premises secure, tracked children's whereabouts and completed daily safety checks. Online safety formed part of circle time, with supervised internet use and parental controls. This combination matters: physical checks covered the setting and equipment, while discussion and controls addressed children's first encounters with the internet.

The same visit identified a specific communication gap: younger children who spoke English as an additional language did not get enough opportunity to use their home language in play and learning. A second improvement point called for more opportunities to engage with technology.

The address is 73 Jutsums Lane, Romford, RM7 9HJ. The current provider record describes Charis as term-time sessional day care and gives an age range of nine months to five years. Capacity is 30 children in total.

In July 2022, the setting received funding for free early education for two-, three- and four-year-olds. Families should request today's funded-hours pattern and a written quotation covering any paid hours, meals and consumables.

• Current timetable. In July 2022, the published pattern was a 9am to midday morning and a midday to 3pm afternoon during term time. The current provider record carries a different opening window, so establish which session menu applies now.
• Home-language support. In July 2022, the setting was asked to give younger children with English as an additional language more chances to use their home language. Discuss the current approach and the practical resources used.
• Technology. More opportunities for children to engage with technology were also requested in 2022. Look for examples of how this has developed while preserving the strong hands-on play seen on that visit.

Charis Preschool's clearest strength is the way practitioners turned ordinary play into sustained language, mathematics and problem-solving in July 2022. Park trips, physical challenge and festival activities added range, while warm key-person bonds helped children settle and collaborate. Its small total capacity also gives parents a useful basis for asking how children are grouped across the session.

This is best suited to families seeking term-time morning or afternoon sessions, an emphasis on active play and practical school readiness. The decisive follow-up is whether the July 2022 session pattern still applies, alongside progress on home-language opportunities and technology.