St Thomas' Pre-School

A nature garden, externally taught football and a strong emphasis on language give this 30-place Noak Hill pre-school a clear character. It takes children from age two to five and runs during term time at Marriott Hall. Ofsted rated it Good in May 2024, five months after its previous Inadequate judgement.

In May 2024, children settled confidently, formed close friendships and engaged well with practitioners. Staff shaped activities around children's interests and next learning steps, while daily outdoor access added movement, growing and nature study to the week.

Learning and Named Experiences

The Early Years Foundation Stage provides the educational framework, so play and planned activities cover communication, physical development, personal and social growth, literacy, mathematics, understanding the world and expressive arts. At this setting, practitioners were seen building vocabulary by narrating play, modelling pronunciation and introducing new words during activities.

Physical and natural-world learning have concrete outlets. External teachers ran football sessions to develop movement skills, while children used a nature garden to observe insects and birds, explore natural materials, and grow and care for plants. These experiences make the outdoor offer more purposeful than simple free play.

A feelings board supports conversations about emotions during group time and free play. The May 2024 improvement plan asked the pre-school to give children more consistent opportunities to identify and discuss feelings during minor conflicts, so the tool was in place but its use still needed strengthening.

In May 2024, practitioners established close relationships with children and parents. Children separated from parents with confidence, approached adults readily and developed friendships. Respectful conversations and positive role modelling helped them learn manners and social skills.

Support for communication was practical. Visual cards and displays helped children with SEND and those learning English as an additional language, while the SENDCo worked with practitioners, parents and professionals including speech and language therapists. Daily feedback and a communication app kept parents informed about progress.

Safeguarding arrangements were effective in May 2024. Risk assessments and procedures had been revised after the earlier visit, practitioners understood what was expected, and staff deployment supported children's safety. The other improvement point concerned independence: children chose resources and managed tasks such as handwashing and putting on coats, but opportunities were not consistent across ages and rooms.

Sessions and Attendance

The pre-school opens in term time. Monday to Thursday full sessions run from 9am to 2.30pm, while Friday runs from 9am to midday. The provider also advertises half sessions. Families can ask how this shorter pattern fits within the published opening hours.

Funding and Paid Extras

The setting accepts children from age two and publishes participation in the two-year-old offer, funded early education for three- and four-year-olds, and extended 30-hour funding. Fee-paying care is also offered. Families should request a current written quotation and ask how funded hours fit the full and half-session patterns.

Getting There

St Thomas' Pre-School operates from Marriott Hall, Church Road, Noak Hill, Romford RM4 1LD. It describes its catchment as Noak Hill, Rise Park, Collier Row and surrounding areas.

• Half-session pattern. Half sessions are advertised, but their precise timing is not set out. Families needing a shorter day should ask which days and hours can be booked.
• Emotional coaching. The May 2024 improvement plan asked staff to build more opportunities for children to talk through feelings and the effects of their actions during minor disagreements. Parents can ask how this now works in practice.
• Independence across ages. In May 2024, older children had more consistent opportunities to manage routines for themselves than two- and three-year-olds. A visit can show how younger children are now encouraged to take the lead in everyday tasks.
• Funding and extras. The funded offers are clearly identified, but families need a nursery-specific quotation to understand any charges for meals, consumables or additional hours.

St Thomas' Pre-School combines a small 30-place scale with purposeful outdoor learning and thoughtful communication support. Its swift move from Inadequate in November 2023 to Good in May 2024 is significant, as are the specific changes to risk assessment and staff practice recorded at the later visit.

This is best suited to families seeking term-time care for a child aged two to five, whether through Monday-to-Thursday full sessions, a shorter half session or the Friday morning. The nature garden, football and language work give children varied experiences, while the two improvement points offer sensible questions for a visit rather than reasons to overlook the setting.