The Village Pre School and Kids Club

Recycled-box inventions, outdoor pretend cooking and visits to farm animals give this Skellingthorpe pre-school a practical, hands-on character in its January 2023 account. Ofsted rated it Good on 31 January 2023. It has capacity for 24 children; those attending at that visit were aged 2 to 11, spanning pre-school and kids-club provision.

The strongest thread is children taking responsibility: choosing resources, helping with snacks and managing familiar routines. The January 2023 picture also carries two clear improvement priorities: more challenge during group activities and quicker recognition of children needing help to participate.

In January 2023, children built models with discarded materials, working out how to join boxes with tape. Computer games introduced technology alongside limits on screen use and learning about safe technology use. These were concrete opportunities to practise solving problems and making choices.

The early years foundation stage is the framework for children's learning, development and care. Here, the January 2023 activities translated that into play, stories, physical movement and practical independence. Children helped select resources, giving their interests a part in shaping activities.

Outdoor play in January 2023 included a pretend kitchen for mud cakes, wheeled toys and hide-and-seek. Forest school sessions offered opportunities to develop practical skills outdoors. Trips took children to shops, farm animals and the neighbouring church, extending their experiences beyond the pre-school.

At the January 2023 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and positive support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, including close key-person relationships and work with other professionals. That combination matters for children who need familiar adults and coordinated help.

In January 2023, children took on small responsibilities such as preparing the snack table, while handwashing surrounded mealtimes. Adults joined pretend doctor games and shared books individually as well as with groups. Regular updates about learning helped connect home and pre-school.

Support was not equally timely in every activity in January 2023. Some children needed help to become involved before staff recognised it, while lengthy group activities sometimes revisited familiar learning rather than stretching children further.

The address is St. Lawrence C of E Primary School, Lower Church Road, Skellingthorpe, Lincoln, LN6 5UZ. Attending the pre-school does not guarantee a Reception place at the school.

In January 2023, the pre-school operated on weekdays during term time, with sessions running from 9am to 3pm. The kids club covered before-school mornings from 7.45am to 9am and afternoons from 3pm to 6pm. Funded early education was offered for children aged two, three and four at that time.

• Group-time challenge. In January 2023, some group activities ran too long and repeated learning children already understood. The balance between shared activities and individual challenge deserves attention.
• Help to join in. The January 2023 improvement priorities included recognising sooner when children needed support to participate. This matters for a child who can become disengaged during play.
• Term-time planning. The January 2023 pattern combined pre-school sessions with before- and after-school care. At a visit, ask which attendance patterns now fit your child's age and your working week.

This setting suits families drawn to practical play, outdoor experiences and everyday independence. Its January 2023 offer served daytime pre-school attendance alongside morning before-school and afternoon after-school sessions. The Good judgement sits alongside specific teaching improvements, making the quality of group activities and timely individual support the key points to weigh.