Good Shepherd Pre-School

Imaginary monkeys in the trees and a sensory den give Good Shepherd Pre-School its character: playful exploration alongside space for children to manage their feelings. These were features of daily life in July 2025, rather than a promise about today's routine.

At its 16 July 2025 inspection, Ofsted rated the pre-school Good, judged safeguarding effective and highlighted strong progress for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) through targeted daily support. The setting has 28 places in total, at Good Shepherd Church Hall in Holbury.

In July 2025, children made kites and tested them outdoors, explored melting with toy sea creatures frozen into ice, and shared a swing. These examples brought investigation and cooperation into play. Children could choose their activities and resources, giving them opportunities to make decisions for themselves.

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children's learning, development and care: here, the July 2025 examples included conversation, practical exploration and learning to manage everyday tasks. Staff introduced vocabulary while discussing fruit and used clapping to explore the sounds within words. Communication ran through ordinary activities.

Enjoyment did not always translate into sufficiently precise teaching. In July 2025, some activities needed closer adjustment to what individual children already understood; adults also sometimes supplied answers before children had enough thinking time. Those are meaningful distinctions for parents weighing lively play against the depth of learning it produces.

In July 2025, children knew their key adult, and staff used knowledge of their interests to make favourite resources accessible. The sensory den helped children with SEND regulate their emotions, while special time involved identifying gaps in learning so staff could tailor support. Daily interventions followed that assessment.

Everyday independence also featured: children served themselves snacks and cleared up afterwards. Stories helped them recognise feelings and consider other people's emotions. Staff gave warm encouragement, although praise needed to explain more clearly what a child had achieved or could try again. Partnerships with parents and other professionals supported continuity between care and learning.

The address is Good Shepherd Church Hall, Bramble Close, Holbury, Southampton, SO45 2JP.

In July 2025, opening hours were 8.30am to 3pm on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, and 8.30am to 1pm on Tuesday and Friday, during school terms. Children attending at that inspection were aged two to four. The setting provided funded early education at that time.

• Different finishing times. The July 2025 timetable ended earlier on Tuesday and Friday than on the other weekdays. Which current attendance arrangement would fit your working week and school holidays?
• Time to think. In July 2025, adults sometimes answered too quickly and activities did not consistently build on each child's existing knowledge. Ask how staff now adapt an activity and leave room for children to work out their own answers.
• Useful praise. Encouragement in July 2025 did not consistently explain what children had done well. Feedback that names the achievement helps a child understand what to repeat or improve.

Good Shepherd suits families who value hands-on exploration and everyday independence, with its July 2025 practice giving a clear picture of both. For children needing targeted help, special time and the sensory den are important parts of that inspection-era picture. The balance to weigh is between engaging activities and the precision of adult teaching, including questioning and feedback.