The Old School Playgroup

A sharp recovery defines the latest inspection picture at The Old School Playgroup. Ofsted rated the setting Good in September 2024, five months after an Inadequate judgement, and found that leaders had addressed the earlier concerns. Safeguarding arrangements were effective at the later visit.

This is a sessional childcare provider at the Neighbourhood Centre on Gubbins Lane, Romford. The current register records 55 places. Children attending in September 2024 were aged two to four. Current intake ages may have changed since that dated snapshot.

The Early Years Foundation Stage connects care with learning across communication, physical development, relationships, literacy, mathematics, understanding the world and expressive development. At this setting, the curriculum seen in September 2024 placed extra weight on communication and language alongside personal, social and emotional development. That gave the day a clear purpose: helping children express themselves, manage feelings and build confidence as learners.

Daily activity in September 2024 put practical detail behind that plan. Children chose songs from pictures, joined in with rhymes, handled books carefully and explored numbers through counting and tape measures. Staff repeated mispronounced colour words correctly rather than interrupting the flow of conversation. These small interactions made language and early mathematics part of ordinary play.

There was still work to do. Adults sometimes arranged equipment during a car-and-pipe investigation rather than leaving children to test their own ideas. The resulting improvement point was to allow more independent problem-solving and critical thinking. It also asked the setting to make expectations at tidy-up time clearer, after some children continued playing while others cleared away.

Warm relationships were a strength in September 2024. Staff noticed when children were unsettled, offered close reassurance and helped them name their feelings. Children were also encouraged to recognise when a friend was unhappy and think about how to help. That combination supported good behaviour and kindness rather than relying only on adult correction.

In September 2024, children with SEND and children who spoke English as an additional language made good progress. Leaders worked with the local authority, while relationships with the schools children would later attend supported transition. This is dated practice rather than a promise about present staffing or individual support.

Active play and everyday health routines also carried learning value in September 2024. Toddlers practised climbing outdoor equipment and coming down the slide safely, while adults helped children prepare for handwashing before snack. Conversation continued at the table through a healthy snack, including watermelon. This joined physical confidence, self-care and language in familiar parts of the day.

Safeguarding improvement had practical foundations. Staff had completed training, leaders checked their knowledge regularly, and risk assessments supported supervision indoors and outside. That matters after the earlier judgement because the later changes concerned both adult understanding and the organisation of the environment.

Parent communication had several layers at the visit: conversations with a key person, updates through an app, photographs of nursery activities at collection time and ideas for continuing learning at home. Regular family events added another route into the setting's work.

The Old School Playgroup is based at Neighbourhood Centre, Gubbins Lane, Romford RM3 0QA and is recorded as sessional day care. In September 2024, weekday opening ran from 9am to 3pm during term time and funded early education for children aged two, three and four. Those were dated arrangements rather than a current booking menu.

• Independent thinking. In September 2024, staff were asked to step back more often during problem-solving. Families can explore how children are now encouraged to test, adjust and persist with their own ideas.
• Shared responsibility. Tidy-up routines did not consistently involve every child in September 2024. Families can explore what has changed to make expectations clear across the group.
• Current attendance pattern. Term-time weekday opening was recorded in September 2024. The bookable patterns, minimum attendance and exact times need a current check.
• Individual support. Children with SEND and those learning English as an additional language made good progress in September 2024. The support, transition plan and staffing for an individual child need a current discussion.

The September 2024 findings tell a convincing recovery story. Its strongest qualities were warm adult-child relationships, emotion-aware care and learning woven into songs, books, talk and practical mathematics. The two improvement points are meaningful rather than cosmetic: children need consistent responsibility in routines and more room to solve problems for themselves.

This setting may suit families looking for term-time, sessional early years provision with a strong emphasis on communication, confidence and relationships. The practical fit depends on the attendance pattern available today.