St Andrews Pre-School Higham Hill

Toy-animal care, outdoor mark making and Grow Wild outings give St Andrews Pre-School Higham Hill a recognisable character in its July 2023 account of daily life. This Church Road setting has capacity for 40 children; the children attending in July 2023 were aged two to four.

At its July 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated the pre-school Good, judged safeguarding effective and found that its curriculum helped children progress from their individual starting points. The practical strengths were learning through ordinary play and preparation for the move to school. Independence and clearer behaviour expectations needed attention.

In July 2023, children cared for toy animals in role play, using first-aid equipment to act out health checks. Large blocks gave them opportunities to climb and balance. These experiences connected imaginative play with physical practice.

The early years foundation stage is the framework for children's learning, development and care, with play providing opportunities to practise language, movement and early mathematical ideas. In July 2023, children counted fruit at snack time and explored shapes while building. Factual books supported play, while clipboards made mark making possible inside and outdoors.

Animal Boogie combined reading with dancing. Grow Wild sessions took children to a local park to explore nature, with parents able to join community trips. Both added concrete experiences beyond sitting together for a story.

At the July 2023 inspection, Ofsted found that staff understood their key children's interests and development, supported children with special educational needs and/or disabilities through additional activities and professional collaboration, and kept parents well informed. That combination linked individual planning with communication at home.

In July 2023, school preparation included photographs of the schools children would attend, giving them something familiar to discuss before moving on. Staff also encouraged children to recognise feelings and take turns.

Self-care was less consistent. In July 2023, adults sometimes poured drinks or wiped noses when children could have attempted these tasks themselves. The concern was about opportunities to practise, rather than a lack of adult help.

The address is St. Andrews Church, St. Andrews Christian Centre, Church Road, London E17 6AR.

In July 2023, opening hours were 9am to 3.30pm on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, and 9am to midday on Thursday, during term time. This was a school-term timetable with a shorter Thursday. At that time, the pre-school received early education funding for children aged two, three and four.

• Independence. In July 2023, children sometimes received help before trying everyday tasks themselves. Look for opportunities to pour drinks and practise self-care during a visit.
• Behaviour expectations. In July 2023, staff did not consistently explain expectations, including tidying away before changing activities. Clear reminders matter when children are learning shared routines.
• Attendance fit. The July 2023 timetable was term-time only, with Thursday ending at midday. What attendance pattern can your child now book?

St Andrews suits consideration by families who value play rooted in everyday experiences, nature exploration and practical preparation for school. Its July 2023 strengths included individual attention and communication with parents. The same assessment leaves two useful tests for a visit: how much children do independently, and how clearly adults explain shared expectations.