Tilehouse Street Pre-School and Nursery

Ice-cream making, books to borrow and children choosing skills to master gave Tilehouse Street Pre-School and Nursery a practical, playful character in April 2024. Based in Hitchin, it has capacity for 25 children. Small achievements mattered: learning to fasten a zip became a goal worth celebrating.

Ofsted rated the setting Good on 30 April 2024. The strengths were accompanied by two clear development priorities: more precise feedback for staff and activities more closely matched to what each child needed to learn next.

In April 2024, children learnt through stories, songs, construction and cooking. The early years foundation stage provides the framework for children's learning, development and care; here, play and everyday routines supplied opportunities to practise language and mathematical thinking. Building a tower taller than themselves prompted children to estimate the extra bricks they would need.

A lending library let children borrow books, while photo books about their own lives gave them something personal to discuss. These were useful bridges between conversation and reading. Weekly cooking sessions offered practical experiences, and staff introduced scientific ideas through an explanation of salt speeding up reactions.

Outings to local shops and a dentist's visit also featured in April 2024. The visit brought dental health into children's learning through contact with someone doing that work.

At the April 2024 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective, children making good progress and SEND support strengthened by collaboration between the SENCo, parents and other professionals. Weekly team discussions helped staff understand individual children's needs.

Relationships had practical expression in April 2024. Home visits and induction sessions supported families getting to know the setting, development updates maintained communication, and activity packs extended learning into home life. Children discussed emotions and practised resolving disagreements with adult guidance; a timer helped them share turns fairly.

Staff development needed greater precision. In April 2024, leaders observed practice and discussed training, but individual feedback did not consistently give practitioners clear targets for developing their skills.

The address is Tilehouse Street Baptist Church, Upper Tilehouse Street, Hitchin, SG5 2EE.

In April 2024, the setting operated during term time, opening from 9am to 3pm Monday to Thursday and from 9am to midday on Friday. Children attending then were aged two to four, and funded early education was provided for two-, three- and four-year-olds. These are the arrangements at that date.

• Purposeful activities. In April 2024, some activities were insufficiently connected to children's next learning steps. At a visit, ask how practitioners now turn assessments into specific activities for your child.
• Staff feedback. The April 2024 development priorities included clearer individual targets in supervision. Ask how feedback translates into changes in everyday practice.
• Term-time routine. April 2024 opening hours ended at midday on Fridays. How does the current attendance pattern fit your family's working week and holiday needs?

The strongest appeal is practical learning connected to children's own lives: borrowing books, cooking and talking through everyday problems. The April 2024 picture suits families who value those experiences and close communication between home and staff. Its term-time routine was also a defining practical consideration. The balance is straightforward: a Good judgement, with sharper activity planning and staff feedback still required at that inspection.