Fairlands Pre-School

Balance bikes, language games and trips to a veterinary practice give Fairlands Pre-School a practical, outward-looking character in its April 2024 account. Based at Elmcroft Community Centre in Sutton, it has 26 places in total and accepts children aged 24 to 60 months. This is preschool provision rather than baby care.

At its April 2024 inspection, Ofsted judged Fairlands Good overall and found safeguarding effective. The main improvement point concerned mathematics beyond counting: children needed more opportunities to explore measurement, weight and volume.

In April 2024, attention buckets and circle times supported listening and conversation through songs, stories and shared experiences. Creative activities introduced vocabulary connected with frogs. Language learning had concrete subjects to build on.

The early years foundation stage sets expectations for children's learning, development and care; here, the April 2024 examples included physical play, conversation and early writing. Children practised handling scissors, used tongs in a water tray and experimented with marks using writing materials. These activities brought hand control into play rather than treating writing as an isolated task.

Outdoors in April 2024, older children manoeuvred scooters and balance bikes around obstacles, while younger children used slides. Local visits included a veterinary practice and supermarket, and a visiting road-crossing patrol worker discussed safety. Everyday places became subjects for learning about work, food and the wider world.

In April 2024, children formed affectionate relationships with practitioners and newcomers settled readily. Staff modelled behaviour, acknowledged positive choices and revisited expectations during group time. Sharing resources and taking turns gave children opportunities to practise cooperation.

At the April 2024 inspection, Ofsted found effective support for children with SEND or developmental delays, with professional partnerships helping staff identify needs promptly. This matters for families whose child may need coordinated help beyond the preschool itself.

During April 2024, practitioners used observations of their key children to plan suitable challenges and regularly discussed progress with parents. Independence also featured in daily routines: older children managed lunch packaging themselves, with staff helping younger children. Staff received supervision and training, while management reviewed the progress of different groups to guide curriculum changes.

The address is Elmcroft Community Centre, London Road, Sutton, SM3 9AB. Fairlands opens during term time, Monday to Friday, from 9am to 2.25pm, and closes for school holidays.

In April 2024, morning sessions ran from 9am to 12.15pm and afternoon sessions from 12.30pm to 2.45pm; all-day attendance was also offered. These are dated booking arrangements, distinct from the current opening window. Funded early education for children aged two, three and four was offered at that time.

• Mathematical breadth. In April 2024, counting received more attention than weight, volume and measurement. These wider concepts are a useful priority when considering the learning programme.
• Attendance fit. The current term-time opening day ends at 2.25pm, while the April 2024 account included morning, afternoon and all-day attendance. Which session patterns can be booked now?
• Age fit. Children are accepted from 24 months. Families seeking care for a baby will need a different setting.

Fairlands suits families seeking term-time preschool care, with morning and afternoon attendance both part of its April 2024 offer alongside all-day sessions. Its Good judgement is supported by concrete examples of language work, physical play and professional support. Wider mathematical exploration was the improvement priority. The early finish is a central practical consideration.