Heather Pre-School

Preparing their own fruit, building dens and tackling a garden obstacle course gave children practical ways to become more independent at Heather Pre-School in September 2022. The setting has 26 places in total, on Main Street in Heather, Coalville.

At its September 2022 inspection, Ofsted rated the pre-school Good, judged safeguarding effective and found good progress, including for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Children attending then were aged two to four. The strongest thread was learning through doing, with an improvement needed in children's understanding of rules and boundaries and their involvement in shaping them.

The early years foundation stage is the framework for children's learning, development and care: it brings learning and everyday care together rather than treating them as separate parts of the day. In September 2022, activities followed children's interests, including an exercise session exploring how movement affects the heart.

A garden obstacle course let children practise balancing with staff support before managing the structures themselves. Visits to the forest school involved building with natural materials, finding insects and collaborating on dens. These were practical opportunities to move, investigate and work together.

Language and mathematics also grew out of play. During September 2022, staff expanded children's descriptions of play dough, used number songs and explored quantities through pretend ice-cream sales. Children could select resources indoors and outdoors, giving them a part in deciding what to explore.

In September 2022, key persons exchanged feedback with parents, who received updates on learning, progress and next steps. This connected activities at the pre-school with learning at home. The special educational needs coordinator organised targeted activities with parents and other professionals, building on children's existing skills.

Daily independence extended to cutting fruit, pouring drinks, handwashing and toilet training. Staff also helped children discuss feelings and settle disagreements. Some children needed more support with this, making emotional guidance an important consideration alongside the emphasis on independence.

The address is Main Street, Heather, Coalville, LE67 2QP.

In September 2022, the pre-school operated on weekdays during term time. Morning sessions ran from 9am to midday, afternoon sessions from 12.30pm to 3pm, and a lunch club bridged the interval from midday to 12.30pm. That arrangement offered separate morning and afternoon attendance, with a lunchtime link between them.

Funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-olds was part of the September 2022 provision.

• Rules and emotional support. The September 2022 improvement point was to develop children's understanding of rules and boundaries, including involving them in decisions about these. Ask how staff now help children who find disagreements difficult.
• A term-time session pattern. The September 2022 arrangement combined morning and afternoon sessions with a lunch club. Does today's booking pattern fit your family's weekly routine?
• Outdoor learning. The garden obstacle course and forest school visits featured in September 2022. On a visit, ask how these experiences now fit into children's week.

Heather's September 2022 strengths were tangible: children practised self-care, explored outdoors and learnt through conversations woven into play. The dated model suits families interested in morning or afternoon preschool sessions and a term-time rhythm. Its balance of independence and adult support is the central consideration, especially for children who need help managing feelings and disagreements.