Hugglescote Playgroup

A cardboard-tube beanstalk, leaves measured with a tape measure and a garden climbing wall gave Hugglescote Playgroup's March 2022 activities a practical, hands-on character. Children contributed ideas, handled materials and explored size through things they were making.

At its March 2022 inspection, Ofsted rated the playgroup Good and found that children made progress through teaching tailored to their existing knowledge and skills. Hugglescote Playgroup has 26 places in total, on Grange Road in Hugglescote, Coalville.

In March 2022, older children collaborated on the beanstalk, discussing ways to attach its leaves and learning to handle scissors safely. Younger children threaded cereal hoops onto slender sticks, practising concentration and small movements. Mathematics had a practical purpose: measuring leaves and comparing the beanstalk's height with an adult brought numbers and size into play.

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children's learning, development and care. Here, the March 2022 examples connected those requirements with making, talking, counting and physical activity, rather than treating learning as a separate part of the day.

Outdoors in March 2022, children climbed a climbing wall and pushed toy diggers through a large sandpit. Garden dens responded to their interest in hiding. Indoors, younger children combined painting with imaginative descriptions and a song, linking pictures, conversation and movement.

At the March 2022 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and identified effective work with other professionals through support plans for children needing additional help. Staff discussed safeguarding in meetings, assessed donated resources before use and used stair gates to manage physical risks.

In March 2022, everyday routines encouraged independence: children poured drinks, while younger children practised putting on and fastening coats. A bell let children signal that they wanted to use the upstairs playrooms, with staff helping them on the stairs.

Parent meetings and task books connected learning at the setting with home in March 2022. Staff also received feedback and demonstrations following the manager's training, including ways to develop early reading and writing. The improvement priority concerned communication with parents about children's use of digital technology at home.

The address is Grange Road, Hugglescote, Coalville, LE67 2BQ.

In March 2022, opening hours were 8am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, during term time. Children attending at that visit were aged two to four, and the playgroup provided funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-olds. These describe the arrangements at that date.

• Attendance fit. The March 2022 arrangements were term-time opening from 8am to 5pm. At a visit, what attendance arrangements and accepted ages would apply to your child now?
• Technology at home. The March 2022 improvement priority was stronger parent partnership around children's digital technology use. Ask how this now forms part of conversations about learning at home.

For parents who value practical making, outdoor movement and independence, the March 2022 picture offers concrete reasons to consider Hugglescote Playgroup. Its Good judgement sits alongside useful examples of children measuring, collaborating and managing everyday tasks. The attendance arrangements described at that time suited families seeking term-time care; their date matters when weighing the playgroup against present family routines.