Precious Smiles Preschool

Community outings and practical independence stood out at Precious Smiles Preschool during its October 2024 to January 2025 inspection. Based at Goodmayes Community Centre in Ilford, it has 20 places in total for children aged 24 to 60 months. That is whole-setting capacity, rather than the size of a group on any particular day.

Ofsted rated the preschool Good following its October 2024 to January 2025 inspection, finding effective safeguarding and good support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). The important qualification concerned language development: staff needed to strengthen their understanding of how to extend children's communication.

Morning, afternoon and full-day funded patterns are offered, alongside additional afternoon hours. The practical choice is between different lengths of attendance, rather than a single daily booking.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage sets the framework for children's learning, development and care: play and everyday experiences build communication, physical skills and understanding. At Precious Smiles, the inspection-period examples from October 2024 to January 2025 included manipulating play dough, using magnifying glasses to investigate insects in sand, and preparing shopping lists of favourite foods. These gave children different ways to investigate, handle materials and express ideas.

Songs, stories and conversations also featured during that period. The language-development concern was specific: adults sometimes moved on before children had sufficient thinking time to answer a question. For parents, the distinction matters. Having plenty to talk about is useful, but children also need time to formulate an answer and contribute their own ideas.

Outdoor and Community Life

During the same inspection period, children made regular trips to parks nearby, explored the neighbourhood on foot and visited the library. These experiences extended learning beyond the community-centre base, bringing children into contact with places and people around them. The frequency was regular, rather than a fixed weekly schedule.

Everyday independence received attention too. Children managed toileting and handwashing, put on their own coats and worked their zips. Those are modest tasks with real value: they give preschool children opportunities to take responsibility for themselves before moving into their next stage of education.

During October 2024 to January 2025, key persons identified individual gaps in children's development and worked with leaders to set targets and choose strategies. Parents and external agencies contributed to this work. The practical mechanism was a sequence of noticing a need, agreeing an action and involving the people who could help, rather than treating support as a separate activity.

Predictable boundaries shaped relationships during that period. Staff explained why particular behaviour was unacceptable and used timers when children shared equipment or changed activities. A timer gives children a concrete signal about whose turn comes next, making expectations easier to understand.

Communication with families combined conversations each day with meetings once a term. Newsletters supplied suggestions for learning at home. This gave parents both immediate updates and a more deliberate opportunity to discuss development, rather than relying entirely on brief exchanges.

The inspection-period team included five staff, with the manager among them. That is a dated staffing count, separate from the preschool's current capacity; it does not establish how many adults work with a particular group today.

Sessions and Attendance

The address is Goodmayes Community Centre, 616c Green Lane, Ilford IG3 9SE. The preschool operates across the year, with closures for bank holidays and Christmas.

For children using 15 funded hours, the morning option runs from 8am to 11.30am and the afternoon option from 11.30am to 3pm. The 30-hour funded option runs from 8am to 3pm. Parents can also select additional hours from 3pm to 6pm. These are separate attendance choices, so the funded pattern and any extra hours need to be considered together when planning the day.

Registration involves choosing the Green Lane preschool location and providing the child's details, preferred start date and session preference. Enquiries can be made by email to admin@precious-smiles.co.uk or by telephone on 07568 301997.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded and private childcare are offered. Funding choices include 15 hours from the term after a child turns three, two-year-old funding requiring a funding code or FiND email, and 30 hours requiring a code. Selecting an option on the registration form does not establish eligibility. Current prices come in the preschool's written quotation.

During October 2024 to January 2025, families bringing lunches or snacks followed a healthy packed-lunch policy, and staff used snack time to discuss fruit, flavour and texture with children.

• Thinking time. Language development was the improvement priority in October 2024 to January 2025. During a visit, ask how practitioners now allow children time to answer and extend a conversation.
• Your attendance pattern. Morning and afternoon funded sessions sit alongside the 8am to 3pm option and additional hours to 6pm. Discuss which combination fits your child's routine and funded entitlement.
• Food and daily supplies. The inspection-period healthy packed-lunch policy applied to children bringing lunches or snacks. What are the current arrangements and charges for food and non-food consumables on your chosen funded or private pattern?

Precious Smiles suits families seeking morning or afternoon preschool sessions, as well as those considering the 8am to 3pm funded pattern with additional afternoon hours. Its inspection-period strengths were concrete: community outings, opportunities to manage everyday tasks and individual support involving families. The language-development improvement point deserves equal weight. This is a preschool to assess through how adults listen, respond and give children space to contribute.