Pennington Village Pre-School

In September 2024, Pennington Village Pre-School combined a daily minute mile around a school field with conversation, construction and exploratory play. The setting has 39 places in total, on Priestlands Road in Pennington, Lymington.

At its September 2024 inspection, Ofsted judged the provision Good, found safeguarding effective and reported good progress for children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Children attending then were aged two to four. Those findings give families a dated assessment of both learning and care.

In September 2024, children explored how adding water changed dry sand, built brick towers indoors and used an outdoor climbing frame. These experiences brought physical activity and practical investigation into the day. Towers that toppled became opportunities to change a design and try again.

The early years foundation stage is the framework for children's learning, development and care; here, the September 2024 examples included learning through play, songs, books and conversation. Simple signs gave children another way to communicate while their speech developed.

The minute mile involved a daily walk around the school field in September 2024. Yoga also helped children explore how movement affected their bodies. Trips included strawberry picking, journeys by train and bus, and visits to a local swimming pool, connecting learning with experiences beyond the playrooms.

In September 2024, home visits helped staff learn about children from their parents before using that knowledge to shape activities. Families received feedback on progress and could take resources home to continue learning. Work with parents and other agencies supported an individual response to children's needs.

Healthy routines had practical expression: fruit at snack time and toothbrushing after eating. Staff also encouraged persistence during play, including helping children solve the problem of fitting wooden fruit into a container. The emphasis was on trying, adjusting and succeeding.

The address is Priestlands Road, Pennington, Lymington, SO41 8HX. In September 2024, the pre-school operated within the grounds of Pennington Infant School. Attendance at the pre-school does not guarantee a Reception place; families still apply through the local authority admissions process.

The September 2024 attendance pattern was Monday to Friday in term time, with sessions running from 8.45am to 11.45am and 12.30pm to 3.30pm. Lunchtime provision ran from 11.45am to 12.30pm, and an early bird breakfast session from 8am to 8.45am. This offered shorter sessions alongside provision spanning the gap between them.

In September 2024, the pre-school received early years funding for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

• Time to think. In September 2024, staff sometimes moved on before children had enough time to answer questions. Ask how practitioners now give children space to develop their own responses.
• Term-time planning. The September 2024 pattern combined shorter sessions, lunch and early breakfast provision. How does the current booking arrangement fit your working week and school holidays?
• School-site expectations. The September 2024 setting was in Pennington Infant School's grounds. Choose it for the pre-school experience, while treating Reception admission as a separate application.

Pennington's September 2024 picture suits families weighing shorter morning or afternoon attendance alongside breakfast and lunchtime provision. Its appeal lies in concrete experiences: construction play, signing, daily walking and trips into the community. The questioning improvement point matters too, because children need time to explain ideas as well as take part in activities.