St Peter And St Mary's Pre-school

Books throughout the setting and a garden path for ride-on play give the February 2023 picture of St Peter And St Mary's Pre-school its character. Pretend shops and building games sat alongside stories and practical independence. Everyday play provided plenty to talk about.

At its 8 February 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated the pre-school Good overall. It has 24 places in total at St Mary's Community Centre in Stowmarket; children attending in February 2023 were aged two to four.

In February 2023, mathematics grew out of ordinary play: counting pretend breakfast eggs, building with blocks and exploring position through a pretend train. These examples connected numbers and spatial language to things children were already doing.

The early years foundation stage is the required framework for children's learning, development and care. Here, the February 2023 activities illustrate how play supported language, early mathematics and independence. Stories, songs and rhymes encouraged conversation, while older children experimented with words that rhyme.

Books were within children's reach throughout the pre-school, including factual books about wild animals. A book-lending scheme extended reading into the home. Outdoors, the garden path supported energetic ride-on play. Sand exploration gave younger children opportunities to investigate texture and make marks.

At the February 2023 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and judged that children made good progress, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those learning English as an additional language. Additional funding supported individual needs through extra attendance hours and individual adult support.

In February 2023, children practised managing coats, toileting and handwashing for themselves. At snack time, they spread butter on toast and poured drinks. These were useful opportunities to develop everyday skills, although the organisation of snack time needed attention.

Parents received updates through an online app and conversations each day in February 2023. This connected the activities children experienced at pre-school with information families could use at home.

The address is St Mary's Community Centre, Silverdale Avenue, Stowmarket, IP14 1LS.

In February 2023, attendance followed the school terms, with morning sessions from 9am to noon, Monday to Friday. Tuesday and Wednesday also had sessions running from 9am to 4pm. The combination offered both shorter mornings and longer attendance on particular days.

In February 2023, the pre-school provided funded early education for children aged two, three and four.

• Behavioural explanations. In February 2023, staff did not always explain why actions such as throwing toys were unacceptable. Clear, consistent explanations were an improvement priority, relevant to children learning to manage their actions.
• Snack-time waiting. In February 2023, insufficient seating at the snack table left some children waiting and becoming restless. The routine needed improvement so that practising independence did not bring prolonged waiting.
• Attendance planning. The February 2023 pattern combined weekday mornings with longer Tuesday and Wednesday sessions. What current attendance and funding arrangements would fit your child's week?

The February 2023 picture suits families interested in play-based learning, shared reading and practical independence, with either morning sessions or term-time day sessions on Tuesday and Wednesday. Counting through pretend play and borrowing books give that picture substance. Behavioural explanations and snack-time organisation are the two cautions to weigh alongside it.