Little Scallywags Pre-School

At Little Scallywags Pre-School’s September 2024 inspection, pirate play gave learning a practical purpose: children’s interest in treasure maps became a reason to make marks, while questions about anchors stretched their thinking. At its September 2024 inspection, Ofsted rated the provision Good and found safeguarding effective.

Based at the Community Centre in Skellingthorpe, the setting has capacity for 46 children. Children attending in September 2024 were aged one to three; that is a snapshot of attendance rather than a current admissions age range.

The early years foundation stage is the framework for children’s learning, development and care, bringing these together through play and everyday experiences. In September 2024, activities followed children’s interests, with pirate stories connecting imaginative play, conversation and drawing. Children chose resources for themselves and exchanged ideas with friends.

The garden also provided opportunities to learn. In September 2024, staff demonstrated how to run around its hazards safely, linking movement with awareness of the space and other children. This gave outdoor play a practical purpose beyond exercise.

There was an important limit to the teaching. In September 2024, children sometimes faced several unfamiliar ideas together, with insufficient practice before moving on. The improvement priority was to pace new learning so children could consolidate skills before adding more.

Family photographs made personal identity part of the day. In September 2024, children used them to talk about their families and what made them different, including pets. Staff acknowledged children’s emotions when they were upset and offered reassurance. Children also used ways of joining others’ play that staff had taught them, making friendship something they could practise.

Communication began with a substantial conversation about a family’s wishes for their child’s care and education. In September 2024, this continued through regular updates on care and development. Staff also noticed children withdrawing from activities and helped them become involved again. Fresh drinking water was supplied daily, with children encouraged to pour their own drinks.

The address is Community Centre, Lincoln Road, Skellingthorpe, Lincoln, LN6 5UU. In September 2024, attendance ran Monday to Friday during term time, with sessions from 8.30am to 3pm. That timetable describes the inspection-era arrangement.

In September 2024, the setting provided funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-olds. The funded age groups were therefore broader than the ages of children attending on the inspection date.

• Pace of learning. September 2024 teaching sometimes introduced too much before children had practised sufficiently. Look for an explanation of how activities now allow time to repeat and consolidate skills.
• Term-time routine. The September 2024 timetable centred on weekday sessions ending at 3pm. What are the current session choices, accepted ages and funded-hours arrangements?

The September 2024 picture suits families drawn to interest-led play, emotional understanding and practical independence. The September 2024 picture combines imaginative activities with attention to relationships. Its teaching priority is equally clear: give children enough practice to make new learning secure. Families considering a term-time sessional routine have a useful historical timetable to assess alongside that educational picture.