Parklanes Wykeham Childcare

Parklanes Wykeham Childcare is a term-time, sessional setting at Forest Row Community Centre in Romford, with capacity for 40 children. Ofsted rated it Good in March 2024, with Good judgements across education, behaviour, personal development and leadership. Safeguarding arrangements were effective.

In March 2024, children experienced a warm, purposeful setting where children settled confidently, understood the routine and treated one another kindly. Its strongest character came through in practical play, close relationships and an outdoor offer that included a mud kitchen, climbing, tricycles and a cosy book area in a shed.

The Early Years Foundation Stage shapes the curriculum, meaning play and adult-guided experiences build children's communication, physical, personal and early academic development. In March 2024, children counted scoops of sand, explored patterns by pressing dinosaur feet into dough and connected pretend play with home experiences such as cooking, dressing up and caring for babies.

Mathematics had a clear emphasis. Older children recognised small quantities without counting each item, while group work developed one-to-one counting. Stories, songs and rhymes supported listening and recall, and children chose books from the outdoor shed. Children were curious, focused and able to select resources independently.

Relationships were a strength at the inspection. Children sought staff for reassurance and affection, while consistent expectations helped them behave respectfully. Staff used observations and the progress check for two-year-olds to identify needs, then worked with external agencies and Havering's area special educational needs coordinator where extra support was required.

Parent partnership was also practical. Families received daily updates and ideas for learning at home, alongside advice on sleep and toilet training. Children washed their hands before healthy snacks, practised tooth brushing and used the outdoor area for climbing and riding tricycles.

One point needs attention. Ofsted asked leaders to improve how consistently staff define and sequence learning during every activity, after finding occasions when adult intervention did not extend children's thinking as far as it could.

The setting is at Forest Row Community Centre, Lodge Lane, Romford, RM5 2LD. The current provider record gives a total capacity of 40 children. In March 2024, 29 children aged two to four were on roll; those figures describe that dated visit rather than the current intake.

In March 2024, the setting operated from 9.30am to 2.30pm during term time, Monday to Friday. Families should discuss the current session pattern directly to understand how the term-time day can be booked now. All six childcare staff at that visit held relevant qualifications at level 3 or above, and funded early education was provided for children aged two, three and four.

• Curriculum sequencing. The improvement point concerned how staff order learning within activities. Ask how leaders have strengthened planning and adult responses since that inspection.
• Session fit. This is sessional, term-time childcare. Establish which current days and session patterns match your family's working week.
• Age range. Children attending at the inspection were aged two to four. Confirm the setting's current intake before planning a start date.

Parklanes Wykeham Childcare suits families looking for a smaller-capacity, term-time setting with grounded play and close adult relationships. The mud kitchen, outdoor book shed, songs, stories and early mathematics give the day useful substance, while the dated findings point to warm care and effective inclusion. Its Good judgement is reassuring, though families should ask what changed after the curriculum-sequencing improvement point and make sure the present sessional pattern works for them.