Little Hearts Pre School

Sensory exploration, seaside singing and shared construction give Little Hearts Pre School its character in the April 2022 account of daily life. This New Malden setting has 16 places in total. At its April 2022 inspection, Ofsted rated it Good across all areas.

Children attending then were aged two to four. The picture is of preschool learning through practical experiences, with outdoor play alongside activities that develop language and early mathematical understanding.

In April 2022, children explored shaving foam while staff introduced words to describe its texture. The crab song connected singing with a seaside topic: children copied movements and experimented with quieter and louder voices. These activities gave language a practical purpose, through touch, movement and sound.

Construction brought counting and cooperation together. During April 2022, children counted spontaneously, considered where pieces should fit and worked together on a model. They also practised writing and used the outdoor area to develop movement skills.

The early years foundation stage sets expectations for children's learning, development and care. Here, the April 2022 examples show what that meant in practice: play, conversation, writing and counting were linked to what individual children needed to learn next.

At the April 2022 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and SEND support well targeted, with staff coordinating children's care with the school and other professionals. That partnership mattered because support could be planned around individual needs.

In April 2022, children practised sharing, taking turns and handling their feelings, while staff encouraged independence in personal care. Books went home with children, giving families a concrete way to continue enjoying stories together.

Food arrangements then combined nursery-provided nutritious snacks with packed lunches supplied by parents; staff helped families choose healthy lunch contents. Children could help themselves to water, supporting independence as well as hydration.

The address is Sacred Heart RC Primary School, Burlington Road, New Malden, KT3 4ND.

In April 2022, opening hours were 9am to 3pm on weekdays during term time. Provision combined preschool places for the community with wraparound care for children using the school's nursery. Funded early education then covered children aged two, three and four.

The school site should not be confused with an admissions advantage: attending the preschool does not guarantee a Reception place.

• Group activities. In April 2022, some children lost interest during larger gatherings, reducing opportunities to develop communication. Ask how group activities now keep children involved.
• Home languages. In April 2022, staff gathered information about languages spoken at home but made too little use of them in learning. Multilingual families should explore how their child's home language will be included.
• Term-time attendance. The April 2022 pattern centred on weekday, term-time provision and school-nursery wraparound. A visit is the opportunity to discuss how the attendance arrangement would fit your family.

The April 2022 provision suited families seeking community preschool places or wraparound care linked to the school nursery. Its April 2022 account gives tangible examples of learning through sensory play, music and construction. The two communication-related improvement points from April 2022 deserve attention.