Sunflowers Pre-school at Amy Johnson Children's Centre

In October 2023, a hill for running, a garden for growing and books to borrow gave Sunflowers a practical, hands-on character. In October 2023, children explored outdoors, encountered animals on outings to local fields and took learning home through borrowed books. These are concrete experiences, with room for movement and conversation.

Sunflowers Pre-school at Amy Johnson Children's Centre has 16 places in total, on Brabazon Avenue in Roundshaw, Wallington. Ofsted rated it Good at its October 2023 inspection. Children attending then were aged two to three; that age range describes the inspection group.

The early years foundation stage sets the framework for children's learning, development and care: learning and everyday care belong together. In October 2023, number language featured in play, while practical experiences helped children explore their surroundings.

Outdoor space had a clear purpose. In October 2023, children ran on a hill to build physical strength, and planting activities involved tending produce in the garden. Outings to local fields gave some children their first experience of seeing animals roaming in nature. The value was direct experience rather than explanation alone.

During group activities that month, props representing weather sounds held children's attention. However, some adult-directed tasks were less successful: planning did not consistently use assessments to choose each child's next learning step, and children sometimes disengaged. That distinction matters when judging how well activities respond to individual development.

At the October 2023 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and SEND support responsive, including work with speech and language therapists that helped children develop spoken communication. Practical help for families also included interpreters and assistance with referral paperwork.

In October 2023, staff used simple signs to help children communicate and encouraged parents to borrow books to support vocabulary at home. Warm relationships included praise and affectionate reassurance. Snack times gave children practice eating together, while self-care activities encouraged independence.

Leadership arrangements that month included staff supervision, support for staff wellbeing and mathematics training. Behaviour teaching needed greater clarity, however: children were not consistently helped to understand how their actions affected themselves or other people, making emotional self-management harder.

The address is Brabazon Avenue, Roundshaw, Wallington, SM6 9ET. In October 2023, opening hours were 9am to 12.45pm, Monday to Thursday, during term time. These describe the arrangement at that date.

In October 2023, the pre-school provided funded early education for children aged two, three and four. This was a funded early-education offer alongside its term-time operation.

• Individual learning. October 2023 planning sometimes failed to connect adult-directed tasks with children's next steps. Look for how an activity is adapted to your child's development.
• Understanding behaviour. In October 2023, explanations about the consequences of children's actions needed strengthening. The practical issue is how staff help a child understand feelings and resolve difficulties.
• Attendance fit. The October 2023 arrangement involved term-time mornings. How would the current attendance and funded-hours arrangements work for your child?

Sunflowers merits consideration for families who value practical outdoor experiences and help with communication. Its October 2023 provision combined garden activities, book borrowing and hands-on family support. The same assessment identified weaknesses in individual planning and behaviour explanations, making those the central points to weigh alongside its Good judgement.