The Ark at Waddington

A village hall with rooms set up daily around children's interests and needs gives The Ark at Waddington its practical character. Based on Mere Road, south of Lincoln and close to the RAF base, the preschool serves families from the base and neighbouring villages. It has 36 places in total.

At its May 2024 inspection, Ofsted rated the provision Good and judged safeguarding effective. Conversation, repeated stories and hands-on experiments featured in the nursery day. The practical offer includes preschool bookings in three-hour blocks within a weekday opening window of 9am to 3pm.

Rooms and Ages

The staff structure includes leaders for the Preschool Room and Nursery Room. Rooms are set up daily around children's interests and needs.

In May 2024, children attending the wider provision were aged 2 to 11. That age range included the setting's out-of-school provision; it should not be read as one preschool group.

Learning and Activities

The EYFS provides the framework for children's learning, development and care. In May 2024, that framework took practical shape through conversations during play, stories, water experiments and shared routines. Alongside it, Child Led Adult Guided is the setting's named philosophy, with activities organised around children's interests and needs. Sports, music and activities exploring different cultures also form part of its approach.

In May 2024, a pipette activity gave children a small but demanding task: drawing up water and releasing it again. Children kept trying as they learned the technique, with staff recognising their success. Water play outdoors also involved transferring water between containers of different sizes, giving an everyday experiment a mathematical purpose.

Books had a regular place in the day at that time. Familiar stories were revisited, while group reading introduced subjects staff wanted children to explore. Children also chose books independently and practised handling them carefully. This combined adult-led reading with opportunities to return to stories for themselves.

Conversation also extended learning in May 2024. Staff used questions during shared play to draw children into discussion, then introduced ideas that carried the conversation further. This gave children practice in contributing their own thoughts and encountering new vocabulary. For younger children starting at that time, teaching emphasised early communication alongside personal, social and emotional development, responding to the needs of that intake.

Outdoor and Community Life

Daily outdoor play featured in May 2024, including organised games for older children that required cooperation and attention to instructions. Sun hats and sun cream were part of preparing for warmer weather. Outdoor time therefore combined movement with learning practical habits, rather than serving only as a break between indoor activities.

A key person gives each child an identified practitioner within the team. The deputy manager also holds the SENCO lead role, while the manager has a safeguarding officer role. All staff hold paediatric first aid qualifications, and ongoing training includes a minimum of four days each year, adjusted pro rata.

At the May 2024 inspection, Ofsted found that staff identified emerging developmental gaps and adapted learning targets, but asked for better ongoing information exchange with parents and other childcare settings, alongside clearer staff understanding of prompt referrals to external services. These are material considerations for families using more than one childcare provider or seeking additional support.

In May 2024, photographs helped children anticipate the next part of the day, and clapping signalled the move from play towards tidying up. Such concrete cues made changes in routine easier to understand. Staff also gathered information about home life when children started, although maintaining that exchange was an improvement priority.

At that time, families supplied lunch boxes, with staff offering ideas for nutritious contents. Children were encouraged to drink water during the day.

Sessions and Attendance

The address is Village Hall, Mere Road, Waddington, Lincoln, LN5 9NX. Preschool opens from 9am to 3pm, Monday to Friday, with sessions booked in three-hour blocks. This is a defined booking unit, rather than an offer of unrestricted flexible hours.

In May 2024, the setting operated during school terms, with preschool sessions running from 9am to 3pm. Its out-of-school club then ran from 7.30am to 9am and from 3pm to 5.30pm. The current overall weekday opening window is 7.30am to 5.30pm; that wider window should be distinguished from preschool hours.

Enquiries can be made through the contact form, by email or by telephone. The preschool and school club have separate email contacts, helping families direct their enquiry to the relevant provision.

Funding and Paid Extras

Early Years Entitlement funding can be used for preschool sessions, alongside privately paid bookings. In May 2024, funded early education covered eligible two-, three- and four-year-olds. Families should obtain current prices in the nursery's written quotation.

• Information across settings. In May 2024, ongoing exchanges with parents and other childcare providers needed improvement. Families combining care arrangements will want a consistent picture of their child's experiences.
• Additional support. Prompt referrals to external services were another May 2024 improvement priority. This matters where a child needs help beyond adjustments to nursery activities.
• Preschool and club hours. Preschool's 9am to 3pm window differs from the wider weekday opening hours. At a visit, ask how the three-hour bookings, school club provision and funded sessions would fit your child's age and weekly routine.

The Ark suits families considering preschool sessions booked in three-hour blocks; in May 2024, it also offered term-time preschool days and morning and afternoon out-of-school club sessions. Rooms are prepared daily around children's interests and needs, while conversation, stories and practical play characterised the May 2024 provision. The Good judgement offers a positive dated assessment; information sharing and staff understanding of prompt external referrals were the two improvement priorities identified in May 2024.