Tilly's Preschool

Water experiments, bird-counting in the park and children choosing their key person’s board: Tilly’s Preschool at Westcroft Leisure Centre has a recognisable account of learning through ordinary experiences. Its capacity is 18 children. The setting sits in Carshalton, with the leisure centre as its base.

At the April 2022 inspection, Ofsted rated the preschool Good, judged safeguarding effective and found that children made good progress from their individual starting points. Children attending then were aged two to four; those observations describe that period rather than today’s daily practice.

The current attendance offer combines full days with morning and afternoon sessions, all during term time. That gives families a choice between a shorter preschool session and a day spanning both parts of the programme.

In April 2022, learning connected hands-on exploration with language and early mathematics. Children investigated floating by putting pretend spiders into water-filled tubes. Walks brought new words into conversation, including names for birds and their young, while comparing birds by size gave counting a purpose beyond a tabletop task.

The early years foundation stage sets the framework for children’s learning, development and care. In parent terms, that means building communication, physical skills and independence through play and everyday experiences. The April 2022 activities illustrate that connection: making marks with pencils and paint developed hand control, while stories and songs gave children opportunities to join in with familiar language.

Physical activity crossed indoor and outdoor spaces in April 2022. Children played outside daily, visited a nearby park and tackled obstacle games indoors. Conversations about changing trees connected movement with an understanding of the natural world. The park was a learning resource, rather than simply somewhere to expend energy.

Diwali was among the events children learnt about in April 2022. Books, dolls and pictures also introduced differences between people. Dressing up as superheroes gave children another way to bring their experiences into shared play, while play dough offered opportunities to shape materials and talk together.

Ofsted’s April 2022 inspection identified two improvements: adult-directed activities needed closer attention to younger children’s next skills, and parents needed more consistent help with children’s self-care, including toilet training. Those points matter alongside the positive examples: an engaging activity still needs to match the child taking part.

A key-person arrangement helped organise children’s day in April 2022. Children recognised their own name and picture cards and placed them beneath their key person’s picture. That combined a familiar relationship with a small task children could complete independently.

In April 2022, adults explained expectations about sharing, listening and waiting for a turn. Practical safety teaching included staying together during community outings and knowing whom to approach for help. Children also learnt how to handle scissors and why running indoors was unsuitable.

Self-care had a visible place in April 2022. Children practised managing coats and dressing, and most used the toilet independently and understood handwashing. Families supplied a packed lunch, with staff encouraging balanced choices. These were opportunities to practise everyday independence within the preschool day.

Communication in April 2022 included updates about activities and a conversation at the end of each session. For parents, that offered a direct account of what their child had been doing, rather than leaving the day’s learning entirely to the child’s retelling.

Sessions and Attendance

The address is The Westcroft Leisure Centre, Westcroft Road, Carshalton, SM5 2TG. Attendance runs Monday to Friday during term time.

Full-day sessions run from 9am to 3pm. The shorter choices are a morning session from 9am to noon or an afternoon session from noon to 3pm, each lasting three hours. The distinction is useful: families can choose one part of the day rather than committing to the full-day pattern.

Funding and Paid Extras

Government-funded childcare is accepted, alongside privately paid sessions. Tax-free childcare and childcare vouchers are also accepted. Current prices come in the nursery’s written quotation; the full-day and shorter-session options give that quotation a clear attendance pattern to price.

Enquiries can go directly to westcroft@tillyspreschool.com or 07850 262 262.

• Younger children’s learning. In April 2022, adult-directed activities did not consistently address the youngest children’s next skills. During a visit, ask how an activity is adapted for children at different stages.
• Toilet-training partnership. Support for parents was inconsistent in April 2022. Ask how staff and families now agree a shared approach to toilet training.
• Term-time timetable. Sessions finish at 3pm and operate during term time. This suits a preschool timetable, but families needing care beyond those boundaries will need a separate arrangement.

Tilly’s suits families seeking term-time preschool attendance, whether a morning or afternoon session or a full day from 9am to 3pm. Its April 2022 account gives concrete examples of play, conversation and practical independence, with the park contributing to both physical activity and learning. The two improvement points provide useful questions for a visit. This is a setting to assess through the fit between its session choices and the child’s stage of development.