Lawns Pre-school

A garden bug hunt can become a story, a movement game and a piece of artwork at Lawns Pre-school. That was the pattern in May 2024: staff took an interest children already had and extended it into language, physical activity and creative play. It gives this Romford pre-school a recognisable character: learning starts with something children want to explore.

At its May 2024 inspection, Ofsted rated the provision Good and judged safeguarding effective. Lawns welcomes children from two up to five at Havering Road Methodist Church Hall on Moray Way. Full and half sessions serve families seeking different lengths of attendance.

Learning and Activities

EYFS provides the framework for children's learning and care, with play and age-appropriate activities helping them develop their skills. The outdoor area gives children another setting for exploration, rather than keeping their experiences entirely indoors.

In May 2024, insects discovered outdoors prompted songs and stories, caterpillar movements and pictures of snails and butterflies. These were connected experiences: children could revisit the same subject through words, movement and making things. An interest in bugs became a starting point for several kinds of learning.

Construction play offered another example that month. When children chose magnetic tiles, staff introduced challenges involving a tower and a toy-car garage. The adult contribution was a new problem to solve within an activity the children had already chosen. That distinction matters for parents who want purposeful play rather than a day organised solely around adult instructions.

Speaking and listening received attention across activities in May 2024, with additional group work for children needing more help with language. Communication was part of everyday play, alongside specific opportunities to practise it.

Outdoor and Community Life

Local outings and celebrations of different cultures featured in May 2024. Activities drew on the backgrounds of children attending, making differences and shared experiences something children could explore together. These experiences sat alongside the garden-based learning, giving the day both outdoor exploration and contact with life beyond the setting.

Relationships mattered to the daily routine in May 2024. Staff got to know children and worked with their parents, connecting care at home with care at pre-school. Children explored activities comfortably and formed friendships through shared play. For a child adjusting to a group setting, that connection between adults is a useful part of settling.

At the May 2024 inspection, Ofsted found that close monitoring, targeted help and effective use of additional funding supported good progress, including for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. The practical mechanism was attention to individual learning needs, followed by support where it was needed.

Health education included supervised toothbrushing after snacks in May 2024. However, teaching about food choices needed further development. Behaviour guidance also needed greater consistency during group activities: at circle time, unclear expectations sometimes allowed interruptions to disrupt other children's learning. These were specific weaknesses within the day's routines, rather than reasons to overlook the broader learning opportunities.

Sessions and Attendance

Full and half sessions are offered. Opening hours are 9am to 2.30pm from Monday to Thursday, with Friday finishing at noon. The shorter Friday is a material consideration when planning a working week. In May 2024, the setting operated during term time.

Getting There

The address is Havering Road Methodist Church Hall, Moray Way, Romford, RM1 4YD. The setting is in Rise Park, opposite the CO-OP store, and serves Collier Row as well as the surrounding area. Enquiries can be made by email, telephone or the contact form.

Funding and Paid Extras

Both funded and fee-paying childcare are offered. Lawns accepts the Government two-year-old offer, EEE funding for three- and four-year-olds, and extended 30-hour funding. Families using private hours should obtain a current written quotation from the nursery.

• Group activities. In May 2024, behaviour expectations were not consistently clear during circle time. On a visit, ask how staff now explain and reinforce those expectations.
• Healthy food choices. The May 2024 improvement priority concerned children's understanding of food choices, alongside an established toothbrushing routine. Ask how food education now features in the day.
• Friday attendance. Friday closes at noon, earlier than the other weekdays. Consider whether that pattern fits your weekly commitments.
• Funded attendance. Several funded entitlements are accepted, alongside private childcare. Before joining, ask how your chosen attendance pattern would divide between funded hours, paid hours and any meals or consumables charges.

Lawns suits families seeking either full or half sessions, with an interest-led approach that connects outdoor discoveries, language and creative activity. The May 2024 examples show adults extending children's play through concrete challenges and linked experiences. The two improvement priorities deserve attention when choosing: clearer guidance during group activities and stronger teaching about food choices. Friday's noon finish also makes the weekly timetable an essential part of the decision.