St. Annes Pre-School

Planting bulbs, finding silver in everyday objects and adding ideas to stories: the November 2023 picture of St. Annes Pre-School is built around children taking an active part. At its November 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated the provision Good and judged safeguarding effective.

The pre-school is at 200a Larkshall Road, Chingford, London E4 6NP. Children attending in November 2023 were aged two to four. That inspection offers a useful picture of preschool learning and care, with one specific improvement needed in preparation for planned activities.

In November 2023, learning followed children's interests, with adults adding direction to extend what they already understood. The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children's learning, development and care: here, the inspection-time examples included conversation, stories, cooperation and practical play.

Circle time gave children opportunities to revisit shapes and colours. A discussion about silver drew examples from glitter, zips and grass touched by frost, connecting vocabulary with things children recognised. During stories, children supplied sentence endings, contributed ideas and joined the actions. These were opportunities to participate rather than simply listen.

Outdoor play and bulb planting also featured in November 2023. Children passed materials to one another and practised courteous language, bringing cooperation into an everyday task. The preparation of planned activities was less consistent: sometimes children and the space needed more preparation before an activity started. That is a concrete point for families to explore on a visit.

At the November 2023 inspection, Ofsted found that children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) received effective support to participate alongside others, and that both these children and disadvantaged children progressed well.

In November 2023, key persons used conversations with parents to understand children's interests and existing abilities. Staff discussed feelings with children and used an emotions board to help them express themselves. A panel of reflective mirrors, purchased using targeted funding, supported work on self-awareness and emotional wellbeing.

Communication in November 2023 included daily exchanges, parent meetings and events. Staff also shared information with other professionals to review children's development, while links with local schools supported preparation for the move to school. Team communication, staff wellbeing and continuing professional development were part of the management approach at that time.

The address is 200a Larkshall Road, Chingford, London E4 6NP.

In November 2023, opening hours ran from 9am to 3pm on Monday to Thursday, with Friday opening from 9am to midday; attendance operated during school terms. These are dated opening hours, rather than a description of bookable sessions. The pre-school received funding for children aged two, three and four at that time.

• Activity preparation. In November 2023, some planned activities started before the children and space were sufficiently prepared. On a visit, discuss how preparation now helps children get involved from the outset.
• Attendance and funding. The November 2023 pattern combined term-time opening with a shorter Friday. Which current booking pattern and funded-hours arrangement would fit your family's week?
• Emotional communication. An emotions board and reflective mirrors featured in November 2023. On a visit, explore how staff help a child who finds it difficult to explain their feelings.

St. Annes Pre-School merits consideration from families seeking preschool care with an emphasis on conversation, participation and emotional expression. Its November 2023 examples give substance to that picture: children contributed to stories, cooperated while planting and practised recognising feelings. The activity-preparation concern deserves attention alongside those strengths.