The St Mary's Pre-School

Stream exploration and conversations about mole hills give The St Mary's Pre-School's December 2021 experience a recognisable outdoor character. Based at The Parish Room in South Holmwood, Dorking, it accepts children aged two to five and has 38 places in total.

At its December 2021 inspection, Ofsted rated the provision Outstanding, found safeguarding effective and judged children's progress exceptional, including for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). That is a dated assessment of the care and education, rather than a description of today's daily practice.

In December 2021, forest school involved exploring the natural world outdoors: children investigated mole hills, considered which animals they might encounter and collected stream water in containers of different sizes. Those examples brought observation, conversation and practical exploration together.

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children's learning, development and care. In December 2021, staff planned activities around what individual children already knew, then built on that knowledge across the areas of learning. Songs, actions, rhyme and repetition gave children several ways to practise language and remember new ideas. Children also took turns choosing songs, giving them a part in shaping an activity.

Outdoor learning had staff development behind it. In December 2021, practitioners had undertaken forest school training, while managers used coaching, supervision and the views of children and parents to review practice.

At the December 2021 inspection, Ofsted found strong relationships helped newcomers settle quickly, parents received detailed information about their children, and SEND support included professional collaboration, timely intervention and additional funding for individual adult support. For families needing extra help, the concrete mechanism matters: support reached the child through coordinated work and targeted staffing.

In December 2021, children had opportunities for energetic play and quieter rest, alongside support with personal care. Staff received safeguarding updates and understood how to raise concerns. During the pandemic, recorded stories and cooking activities helped children participate from home; doorstep contact and food parcels extended support to families.

The address is The Parish Room, Betchetts Green Road, South Holmwood, Dorking, RH5 4JX. Opening hours are 9am to 3.45pm, Monday to Friday, during term time; the setting closes for school holidays. In December 2021, sessions ran from 9.15am until 3.45pm. That calendar makes holiday childcare a separate planning decision.

In December 2021, the pre-school operated in the grounds of St Mary's Church and provided funded early education for children aged two, three and four. This funding information belongs to that period.

• Term-time calendar. The pre-school closes during school holidays. Families needing care throughout the year will need to plan around those breaks.
• Support in practice. Individual adult support and professional collaboration were features of the December 2021 SEND provision. During a visit, discuss how settling and support would work for your child, alongside the current session and funding arrangements.

The St Mary's Pre-School suits families seeking term-time care for children aged two to five. Its December 2021 assessment gives a strong basis for considering it: outdoor exploration, language activities and individual support were substantial parts of the experience. The practical fit rests on its term-time calendar and afternoon closing time.