Fairy Tales Playgroup

Fairy Tales Playgroup is a 28-place, term-time sessional setting in Rainham with an unusually vivid inspection picture: pets to care for, an allotment to tend and weekly nature visits. Ofsted rated it Outstanding in January 2023, with Outstanding judgements across education, behaviour, personal development and leadership.

The setting has 28 places in total. At the 2023 inspection, children were aged two to four and the setting received funded early education for children of those ages.

In January 2023, staff planned the Early Years Foundation Stage across indoor and outdoor learning. In practical terms, they assessed what each child could already do, chose the next step and made room for children to direct their own play. Teaching was consistently ambitious and children made very strong progress.

Language and literacy had real substance. Practitioners extended vocabulary through conversation, children listened closely to favourite stories and made regular use of the adjoining library. Outdoors carried equal weight: weekly visits to Rainham Hall Gardens introduced nature and wildlife, while children and their families grew produce at the playgroup allotment.

Animal care gave the day memorable character. Children looked after playgroup pets and helped bathe the tortoise. A sand timer offered another concrete lesson, helping children manage turns with a bike and hand it calmly to a friend.

Warm, respectful interactions helped children form strong relationships with practitioners in January 2023. Staff adapted teaching and care around individual needs, and inspectors found support for children with special educational needs and disabilities exceptionally effective. Close work with parents and other professionals helped practitioners identify where extra help was needed.

Safeguarding arrangements were effective. Staff understood how to respond to concerns, including concerns about a colleague, and leaders used recruitment, induction, supervision and training to maintain oversight. A high staff-to-child ratio and consistently close supervision formed part of the same dated picture, rather than a current staffing promise.

The playgroup is at 6 Celtic Farm Road, Rainham, RM13 9GP. Its current registration allows 28 places.

The recorded term-time pattern ran from 9am to 3pm Monday to Thursday and 9am to midday on Friday. Six staff were recorded at that point, five qualified to level 3 and the manager qualified to level 4. Both the hours and staffing are dated context.

The setting then received funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-olds.

• Attendance pattern. The January 2023 hours describe when the playgroup operated, not which sessions families could book. Ask which current term-time patterns can be combined across the week.
• Current age intake. Children were aged two to four in January 2023. Confirm the present starting age and how places are organised for different ages.
• Healthy snacks. In January 2023, healthy snacks sat alongside learning about oral hygiene. Ask how that approach works in the current routine.

Fairy Tales Playgroup's strongest case is a purposeful, child-led experience grounded in language, outdoor discovery and close relationships. That January 2023 picture captured a team that turned ordinary moments, from sharing a bike to caring for a tortoise, into thoughtful learning.

It best suits families seeking Monday-to-Thursday term-time days or a Friday morning, alongside strong outdoor and community experiences. The decisive next step is to match the current session offer to the family's weekly pattern.