Jan Pre-School

Stories, conversation and outdoor play shaped Jan Pre-School's September 2022 inspection picture. At its September 2022 inspection, Ofsted rated the setting Good, praising its communication work and the access to learning provided for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Attentive relationships and everyday learning experiences were central to that inspection picture.

This is the Streatham setting at 11 The Glebe, Prentis Road, London SW16 1QR, accepting children from 6 to 60 months. Direct access to a refurbished garden and the field on the Glebe gives outdoor activity a concrete place in its offer. Weekday opening runs from 8am to 6pm.

The strongest inspection detail concerns how adults helped children talk, explore and feel comfortable. There was also a clear improvement point: some children needed more help understanding the routine and moving between activities. Both sides matter when judging whether the setting fits your child.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage is the framework for learning, development and care here: in parent terms, children's play and interactions support language, movement, relationships and other areas of learning. It sets the foundation for the day rather than marking out a special programme.

In September 2022, children could choose activities inside and outdoors, alongside experiences organised by adults. Staff used questions to extend conversation, while songs, rhymes and stories gave children repeated opportunities to hear and practise language. This made communication part of ordinary play, rather than confining it to a single teaching activity.

Books had a physical home in a cosy corner. Children could look through them independently or listen while an adult read. For a child who enjoys stories, that combination offers both company and space to explore a book at their own pace.

Group activities also brought practice in sharing, waiting for a turn and treating other children kindly. Learning about food, customs and people who help others connected play with the communities around the children. These were everyday ways of developing social understanding, alongside early language.

Outdoor and Community Life

The refurbished garden and the field on the Glebe provide access to outdoor space. That matters for families who want movement and exploration to sit alongside indoor activities.

In September 2022, outdoor experiences included balancing, digging, sand play and a tent to hide in. Staff planned learning outdoors as well as inside, so the garden supported more than physical exercise. Children also sometimes visited nearby parks and green spaces; these outings extended exploration beyond the nursery premises.

In September 2022, children sought comfort from their key person when upset, with a cuddle or a story helping them settle. Adults listened carefully and offered encouragement. The practical value is the relationship itself: a familiar adult gives a child someone to turn to when the day feels difficult.

At the September 2022 inspection, Ofsted judged safeguarding effective, with staff understanding how to recognise concerns and whom to contact, alongside checks on adult suitability and premises safety. That is a dated judgement, rather than an assurance about every aspect of care today.

Communication with families also had a specific role in September 2022. For children learning English alongside another language, staff discussed communication in the home language with parents. These discussions helped identify concerns about communication in the home language and informed assessment and planning.

Food is prepared on the premises, with cooked meals and snacks forming part of the offer. This places food preparation within the setting rather than relying solely on meals brought from elsewhere.

Preparation for the next stage was evident in September 2022 through children's experience of cooperating, sharing and managing small responsibilities, including putting toys away. These habits supported participation in group life and preparation for starting school. They do not amount to an admissions advantage.

Jan Pre-School's address is 11 The Glebe, Prentis Road, London SW16 1QR. The Streatham contact route accepts requests for a visit or registration form, allowing families to begin the joining process with the correct branch.

Opening hours are 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. Attendance runs across the year, with closures for bank holidays, a week at Christmas, a week at Easter and two weeks during summer. Families arranging care around work need to account for those breaks as well as the weekday opening window.

The accepted age range extends from 6 to 60 months. For parents considering the youngest end of that range, the arrangements for everyday care deserve as much attention as the activities described for older children.

• Moving between activities. In September 2022, children less familiar with the routine sometimes struggled to move from independent play to organised activities. During a visit, ask how staff now help a child anticipate those changes and join in.
• Care for the youngest children. Children can start from 6 months. Ask how settling, sleep and the key-person relationship are organised for a baby at this Streatham setting.
• Holiday cover. Christmas, Easter and summer closures sit alongside bank holidays. Those breaks need to fit the family's care arrangements across the year.

Jan Pre-School suits families drawn to a small-setting character, an emphasis on conversation and stories, and access to the garden and the field on the Glebe. Its September 2022 observations give a concrete picture of attentive adult relationships and play extending indoors and outside.

For families whose care needs fit weekday opening from 8am to 6pm and the stated holiday breaks, the practical outline is straightforward. The most useful visit discussion is how the routine works for your child's age and temperament, especially when moving between activities.