St Johns Pre School

Community-centre preschool life gives St Johns Pre School its character: play, friendships and growing independence share the emphasis with meeting other local families. Based on the first floor of St Johns Centre, it has 24 places in total. This is a preschool within a shared community building, rather than a separate nursery premises.

At its February 2024 inspection, Ofsted rated the provision Good and found safeguarding effective. Children then attending were aged two to four. The strongest practical detail was the attention to everyday independence: recognising their names, dealing with tissues and helping get lunch tables ready made preparation for school part of ordinary routines.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children's learning, development and care; here, learning through play gives children opportunities to socialise and practise independence. Friendship and confidence are explicit parts of the preschool's approach, with children learning alongside others from different cultural backgrounds.

In February 2024, familiar stories gave children opportunities to anticipate what happened next, while rhythmic clapping of children's names supported speaking during group welcomes. Learning also happened away from the main group: stacking cups offered another way to explore numbers and colours. That alternative mattered for children who stopped engaging with a shared activity. They could continue with something more suited to their attention at that moment.

Home languages had a place in activities too, including counting. This gave children a way to bring their family backgrounds into the preschool day, rather than leaving those languages outside their learning.

Outdoor and Community Life

In February 2024, outdoor experiences included planting, digging in soil or sand, and riding wheeled toys. There was a clear limitation: colder weather reduced the effectiveness of outdoor learning, especially for children needing more movement or learning better outside. More ambitious outdoor experiences across the seasons were an improvement priority.

Community contact went beyond sharing a building. During the same period, children joined a pensioners' group for singing and dancing, giving them direct experience of people with different needs and abilities. Staff also organised longer outings to broaden experiences for children and their families. These were experiences beyond the preschool room, rather than an implied timetable of weekly trips.

Relationships and Communication

In February 2024, children needing reassurance received affectionate attention, and visual prompts helped them understand routines and express what they needed. Key persons gave closer attention to children who struggled to stay engaged in activities. Familiar routines and alternatives to group work provided practical support for different temperaments.

Parents received regular information, while information passed to receiving schools helped school staff understand individual children's learning. Communication with other childcare settings was weaker, however. Strengthening that exchange was the second improvement priority, a relevant distinction for families whose child attends more than one setting.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

At the February 2024 inspection, Ofsted found that assessments helped identify learning gaps, the SENCo understood referral routes, staff worked with families and specialists when difficulties persisted, and preparation for school was effective. The useful mechanism was early identification followed by access to advice and additional support, rather than waiting for a difficulty to become more established.

Everyday self-care also featured in February 2024: children made choices, managed tissues independently and contributed to lunchtime preparation. Small responsibilities gave them repeated opportunities to practise doing things for themselves.

Sessions and Attendance

The preschool opens during term time, Monday to Friday, from 8.45am to 3pm. Its address is 64 Larcom St, London SE17 1NQ. Preschool enquiries go directly to the staff team on 02073583349 or preschool@talktalk.net.

Getting There

The preschool occupies the first floor of St Johns Centre. In February 2024, its location was described as near Elephant and Castle. The first-floor position is a practical consideration for families managing a buggy or a child's mobility needs.

Funding and Paid Extras

In February 2024, the preschool provided funded early education for children aged two, three and four. Funding is therefore part of its inspection-era offer, alongside its term-time operation.

• Outdoor learning across the seasons. In February 2024, colder-month provision restricted some children's outdoor learning. On a visit, ask how planting, digging and active play now continue through winter.
• Sharing care between settings. February 2024 communication with other childcare providers needed strengthening. Ask how learning information is exchanged if your child attends another setting as well.
• Opening times and first-floor access. The term-time opening window is 8.45am to 3pm, while the centre's preschool calendar carries an 8.30am to 4.30pm window. Confirm the hours that apply to your attendance arrangement and discuss access to the first floor.

St Johns Pre School suits families seeking term-time preschool within a community centre, with play, local friendships and everyday independence shaping its character. The February 2024 picture gives concrete substance to that offer: story prediction, home-language counting and small self-care responsibilities all featured. Outdoor learning through colder months and communication between childcare settings are the two practical issues to weigh alongside those strengths.