Tiger Cubs Pre-School

A castle to climb, tyres to roll downhill and books to borrow give Tiger Cubs Pre-School a recognisable character. In September 2025, these experiences sat alongside cooking and forest school sessions at its Lindfield setting. The emphasis was on children taking part and doing things for themselves.

At its September 2025 inspection, Ofsted rated the provision Good, found safeguarding effective and recognised staff's work to obtain professional help and additional funding for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Tiger Cubs has capacity for 30 children; those attending at the inspection were aged two to four.

The early years foundation stage sets the framework for children's learning, development and care: here, September 2025 examples included cooperative play, practical tasks and activities shaped around children's interests. Favourite characters helped draw children into activities. Cooking and forest school sessions, an outdoor learning approach, added experiences across the week.

The garden offered physical challenges with a social purpose. In September 2025, children climbed a castle used for imaginative play, explored sand and sent tyres downhill. Sharing these spaces gave them opportunities to negotiate turns as well as practise movement.

A book lending library extended reading into the home. During September 2025 activities, books also helped children investigate topics that interested them, connecting reading with finding things out.

Settling was paced with families. In September 2025, staff and parents agreed how quickly each child would settle, using information about interests and emotional needs to guide the process. This made parent communication part of everyday care rather than a separate exercise.

Predictable routines supported independence that month: children put cups away after snacks and used a mirror while cleaning their faces. Staff also discussed food choices and encouraged handwashing before eating. Food brought in for meals was checked for nutritional suitability, with procedures addressing children's dietary needs.

Staff received induction and supervision, but in September 2025 feedback did not consistently help them develop their practice. Opportunities to deepen children's thinking were sometimes missed. This is the clearest qualification to the positive overall judgement.

The address is All Saints Church, 122-122a High Street, Lindfield, Haywards Heath, RH16 2HS.

In September 2025, opening hours were Monday to Friday, 9am to 2.30pm, during term time. At that date, the pre-school provided funded early education for children aged two, three and four. Those arrangements describe its inspection-era operation.

• Staff development. September 2025 feedback arrangements needed strengthening. On a visit, ask how supervision now helps practitioners extend children's ideas during play.
• The attendance fit. September 2025 opening hours followed a term-time, daytime pattern. What attendance arrangements and funding terms would apply to your child now?
• Settling together. In September 2025, parents helped determine the pace of settling. Discuss how that approach would work for your child's routines and interests.

Tiger Cubs merits consideration for families drawn to practical independence, garden play and reading that continues at home. Its September 2025 term-time operation would have suited families seeking preschool attendance during the school day. The Good judgement gives a positive inspection baseline, balanced by a specific need to improve staff feedback and the depth of learning conversations.