Brooklyn Preschool Playgroup

Tyres, wooden planks and pine cones can become a garage, a zoo or an imaginary world at Brooklyn Preschool Playgroup. Open-ended materials and children’s own interests shape the play here, while Makaton signs give families a practical way to join in with communication at home. This is a committee-led charity preschool in Norton, with parents able to contribute to decisions about its running and spending.

At its June 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated the provision Good across all areas. The detail matters as much as the grade: children took turns using a timer, staff developed conversations from discoveries outdoors, and quieter children needed more encouragement to join planned activities.

Based at Ryedale Community Leisure Centre on Bowling Lane, the preschool has capacity for 35 children aged 24 to 60 months. Attendance is term-time, with a choice of shorter sessions and a day running from 9am to 3pm.

Learning and Activities

The Early Years Foundation Stage provides the framework for learning through play, with activities shaped around individual children’s interests. Learning includes communication, physical skills and understanding the world: in June 2023, children discussed feelings, built outdoors and explored a beetle’s food and habitat. Brooklyn uses in the moment planning: adults respond while a child is absorbed in an activity, adding a challenge, language or a suggestion rather than waiting to introduce the next step later. That makes the child’s existing curiosity the starting point for teaching.

Loose parts give this approach something tangible to work with. A tyre or a wooden plank can take on different roles in play, while pine cones offer another material to investigate and rearrange. The preschool is introducing aspects of The Curiosity approach alongside this work, encouraging exploration through authentic objects and children’s interests. The concrete offer is the materials and adult interaction, rather than the approach’s name alone.

Families can donate objects for children to repurpose. Baskets, corks and household pots are among the examples, connecting parent participation with the resources children use. These are objects whose purpose in play can change, giving children scope to make their own decisions about what to build or imagine.

Makaton combines simple signs and facial expressions with spoken English to help children communicate needs and feelings. Weekly videos demonstrate a Sign of the week for families to practise together. This gives parents a specific shared activity, rather than leaving communication support entirely within the setting.

Outdoor and Community Life

In June 2023, outdoor play included a swing and large construction bricks. Children used the bricks to recreate The Three Little Pigs, building a house and acting out its destruction. Physical play and storytelling met in the same activity.

Another June 2023 example began with a beetle on a grass stem. Staff asked about its food and habitat as children watched it move, turning a small discovery into a conversation about the natural world. Indoors, drawing on whiteboards offered opportunities to practise pencil movements. These examples show the kinds of materials and interactions present at that time, rather than a fixed daily timetable.

Relationships and Communication

Each child has a key person, providing a familiar relationship within the staff team. The Getting to know me form helps new key people establish the child’s starting points. This gives families a structured way to share information about their child.

In June 2023, key persons met parents to discuss development and ideas for extending learning at home; staff also shared information about routines and wellbeing. Emotion cards were used in conversations about feeling happy, sad or angry, giving children concrete prompts for talking about feelings.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

At its June 2023 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and children with special educational needs and/or disabilities receiving effective, tailored help, including signing and visual prompts. Those are dated judgements, supported by specific examples of communication assistance.

The current staff structure includes a SENCO and designated safeguarding lead roles. Practitioners have paediatric first aid training, and staff development includes Makaton and Sensory Processing Difficulties.

In June 2023, children washed their hands around food handling and put used plates into a washing bowl. Sun protection routines included hats and cream, with children brought indoors when the UV index was high. Such routines made health and independence part of ordinary activities.

Parents supply a packed lunch for Lunch Club, which runs daily between 12pm and 1pm. Healthy snacks are provided during morning and afternoon sessions.

Sessions and Attendance

Term-time attendance suits families organising childcare around the school calendar; the preschool closes during school holidays. The session choices are 9am to 3pm, 9am to 12pm, 9am to 1pm and 12pm to 3pm. The later morning finish includes the Lunch Club period, while the afternoon option starts at midday.

Enquiries can be made through the contact form, by email or by telephone. The parent agreement requires four weeks’ notice when ending a place, with fees payable throughout that period. Families should include that continuing commitment when planning a change in childcare.

Getting There

The address is Ryedale Community Leisure Centre, Bowling Lane, Norton, YO17 8EG.

Funding and Paid Extras

Brooklyn accepts Universal 15 hour Funding for 2 and 3 year olds and the Extended Entitlement of 30 hour funding. Attendance is term-time; funded and paid places are both enquiry options. Entitlement depends on the child qualifying. For current prices, request a written quotation from the nursery.

Packed lunches come from home, while morning and afternoon snacks are supplied by the setting. Tax Free Childcare payments and Workplace Childcare Vouchers are accepted, and monthly payment plans are offered.

• Quieter children’s participation. In June 2023, staff did not consistently draw quieter children into planned activities. On a show-round, ask how practitioners now include a child who watches rather than volunteers.
• Term-time cover. The preschool closes for school holidays. Families needing childcare throughout the year will need to plan cover for those periods alongside their chosen sessions.
• Lunch and personal supplies. Lunch Club relies on packed lunches from home. When discussing a place, ask what personal care supplies your child should bring as well as how lunch arrangements work for them.
• Ending a place. Four weeks’ notice is required, and fees continue during that notice period. Allow for this when arranging a move or changing childcare plans.

Brooklyn suits families seeking a term-time preschool with morning, afternoon or 9am-to-3pm attendance, and parents who enjoy contributing to a charity setting. Loose parts, responsive planning and weekly Makaton videos give its approach practical substance: children can shape their play, and families have something specific to continue at home.

The June 2023 Good judgement provides a positive inspection position, balanced by a clear point to examine about quieter children’s participation. The strongest fit is for families whose calendar matches term-time care and who value the connection between children’s interests, everyday materials and parent involvement.