Freda's Community Playgroup and Pre-school

A willow den, a water wall and a pirate ship climbing frame give Freda's outdoor provision a clear identity. Based in the former Settle Middle School building, this community playgroup combines separate spaces for younger children with a preschool room geared towards independence. It has 50 places in total and is a charity governed by voluntary trustees.

At its December 2022 inspection, Ofsted judged the provision Good, found safeguarding effective and highlighted strong support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). That is a dated judgement, rather than an assessment of today's practice. The inspection also set two clear improvement priorities: making praise more meaningful and developing staff coaching.

Three named rooms organise the current offer: Bumblebee room, Caterpillar room and Butterfly room. Flexible session bookings have separately charged extensions at either end of the day, giving families scope to build attendance around their needs.

Rooms and Ages

Bumblebee room serves children from six months to two years, combining subdued decoration and comfortable play spaces with treasure baskets and loose parts for exploration; children also eat and sleep here, and have direct access to the youngest children's outdoor area. For parents of babies, that combination makes the relationship between rest, play and outdoor access an important part of choosing this room.

Caterpillar room, for ages two to three, separates eating and messy activities from a second, cosier space used for stories, imaginative play and small-world exploration. This gives different kinds of activity their own setting, rather than asking one space to serve every purpose.

Butterfly room serves preschool children aged three to five, with activities intended to develop independence and confidence ahead of school. Its emphasis is on becoming more capable, rather than simply moving children into an older age group.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage provides the framework for children's learning, development and care: play and everyday experiences support their growing communication, physical skills and understanding of the world. The rooms give that learning different forms, from babies investigating objects to older children using role play and stories.

In December 2022, children investigated ice and hibernation, and made winches to help derailed trains. These were practical opportunities to explore ideas and solve problems. Staff used questions and their knowledge of individual children's development to extend the activity, while observations helped them decide what to introduce next.

Language work was also deliberate in December 2022. Practitioners described babies' actions during dough play, brought energy to storytelling and used instruments and props with nursery rhymes. Age-appropriate sessions addressed gaps in communication. The useful detail is the connection between language and something children were doing, hearing or handling.

Outdoor and Community Life

Three outdoor areas allow different kinds of play. The youngest children's space connects directly to Bumblebee room; an allotment supports growing fruit and vegetables; and the larger play area combines the willow den and water wall with play houses and the pirate ship climbing frame. Grass and tarmac provide further space for movement.

Community activity extended beyond the premises in December 2022. Children borrowed library books, baked with a local baker and visited cafes and a garden centre. They also helped create a community eco-garden, while planned visits involved the fire service and cave rescue team. These experiences connected learning with local people and useful places, rather than keeping it entirely within the playroom.

Relationships and Communication

In December 2022, babies received reassurance when they needed it, and family photographs helped them recognise familiar people within the nursery. Daily exchanges with a child's key person gave parents detailed information about learning. These are practical relationship-building measures: comfort for the child and a clearer picture of the day for the parent.

Home support also had a concrete form in December 2022, when toilet-training bags had been introduced for parents. This linked the development of self-care at nursery with practice at home. It was a small, useful example of communication becoming something families could use.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

The current team includes a SENCO, deputy and assistant SENCO roles, alongside designated safeguarding responsibilities. At the December 2022 inspection, Ofsted found that staff worked effectively with outside professionals to carry out support plans for children with SEND. The role structure and that dated finding answer different questions: who has responsibility now, and how support was working then.

In December 2022, children generally followed the setting's behaviour expectations, but praise sometimes labelled the child rather than explaining the helpful action. Coaching and mentoring plans were also at an early stage. Both findings matter because the quality of adults' everyday responses shapes children's understanding and learning.

Sessions and Attendance

Freda's is in Giggleswick, Settle, BD24 0BU, within the former Settle Middle School building. Enquiries can be made by telephone or email.

Flexible sessions can be booked within the 8am to 5pm window, with separately charged half-hour additions from 7.30am to 8am and from 5pm to 5.30pm. Attending more than one session each week is recommended to help children settle; this is a recommendation, rather than a stated minimum booking requirement.

Funding and Paid Extras

Government funding is accepted for working families from the term after a child turns nine months, alongside two- and three-year-old funding. Tax free childcare payments are also accepted, and paid childcare is offered. Families should obtain current prices in a written quotation; the sessions and fees page explains the charging structure.

Breakfast carries no extra charge for children starting before 8.30am, while snacks at 10am and 3pm are charged separately unless parents supply them. Lunch can come from home or be a separately purchased hot meal prepared by Settle College, with hot lunches ordered monthly in advance.

• Praise and staff development. December 2022 improvement priorities concerned explaining what children had done well and strengthening coaching. Ask how practitioners now put these changes into practice.
• Baby-room routines. Bumblebee room combines eating, sleeping and play, with direct outdoor access. During a visit, ask how rest is organised alongside the room's other activities.
• Funded attendance and supplies. Funding is accepted and food has its own charging structure. What delivery pattern applies to your entitlement?
• Attendance and lunch planning. More than one weekly session is recommended for settling, and hot lunches require monthly advance orders. Consider whether both fit your family's routine.

Freda's suits families looking for flexible sessions within the main daytime window, including those who need paid extensions at either end. Its clearest strengths are tangible: age-specific rooms, direct outdoor access for the youngest children, an allotment and substantial play equipment.

The December 2022 Good judgement provides a positive inspection baseline, with meaningful detail about relationships, community experiences and SEND support. The balance lies in its two development priorities. Families choosing Freda's should give the quality of today's adult interactions as much attention as the appealing physical spaces.