Worlebury Willows Preschool

Story-making, ladybird pebbles and a mud kitchen gave Worlebury Willows Preschool a recognisable character in July 2021. Children dictated their own stories, performed them with friends and chose outdoor play, bringing language and imagination into the same day.

At its July 2021 inspection, Ofsted rated the preschool Good, found safeguarding effective and recognised good support for children with special educational needs and disabilities. Based at Milton Methodist Church Hall in Weston Super Mare, it has 24 places in total.

In July 2021, the early years foundation stage took practical shape through storytelling, vocabulary-building and independent choices. Children supplied stories for staff to write down, explored alternative descriptions and acted out their ideas with friends. This gave them several ways to contribute, through words, imagination and performance.

Outdoor experiences included climbing, finding ladybird pebbles during hide-and-seek and imaginative play in the mud kitchen. Children also selected a greeting language and voted for a story, giving them a say in shared activities.

Group activities were less consistent that July. Quieter children sometimes struggled to contribute their ideas, while younger children waited without purposeful activity as older children got ready for physical play. Participation depended partly on how staff organised the group.

In July 2021, a key person helped children feel secure. Staff handled disagreements calmly, inviting children to explain what had happened and work towards a solution. A tambourine signalled a pause for listening, making routines easier to recognise.

Handwashing formed part of the day, and children could explain its purpose. Accident monitoring led to changes in the environment and safety rules for the hall's physical activity area. Collection arrangements required familiar, authorised adults.

During the pandemic, families received welfare emails, story links and activities, including interactive scavenger hunts. Staff also worked with other agencies and helped children prepare for starting school, connecting support across changes in their lives.

The address is Milton Methodist Church Hall, 2 Milton Hill, Weston Super Mare, BS22 9RA. The children attending in July 2021 were aged two to four.

In July 2021, opening hours were 9am to 3.30pm on Monday and Wednesday, 9am to 1pm on Tuesday and 9am to 2.30pm on Friday, during term time. These are dated opening hours for families weighing the setting's practical fit.

At that time, the preschool received funding for free early education for two-, three- and four-year-olds.

• Participation in groups. In July 2021, quieter children were not consistently drawn into discussion, and younger children sometimes waited without an activity. During a visit, ask how group times now accommodate both.
• The shape of attendance. The July 2021 timetable ran during term time and finished at different times across the week. What attendance pattern can the preschool now offer your family?

For families seeking imaginative preschool experiences, the July 2021 picture has clear appeal: children created stories, made choices and explored outdoor play. The Good judgement provides a dated assessment of quality, while the group-time concern deserves attention. Families who value these experiences should weigh that educational character alongside the attendance pattern they need.