Romanby Pre-School & The Cabin Crew Out of School Club

In September 2024, water play became a counting game, an outdoor tunnel presented a climbing challenge, and children learnt to pour their own drinks. At its September 2024 inspection, Ofsted rated the provision Good.

The setting has capacity for 32 children and is based at Romanby Primary School, The Close, Northallerton, DL7 8BL. In September 2024, children attending were aged 2 to 10, spanning the pre-school and out-of-school provision.

In September 2024, learning followed children's interests. An interest in filling and pouring water became a duck-catching game, bringing counting and coordination into the same activity. Outdoors, climbing onto a tunnel gave children a physical challenge and a concrete achievement to celebrate.

The early years foundation stage provides the framework for children's learning, development and care. Here, the September 2024 examples show how play brought together language, movement and early number skills.

During that month, staff repeated words with clear pronunciation and explained unfamiliar vocabulary. Story time included checking children's understanding and discussing their own experiences. Planning drew on children's interests and the next stages of their development, giving activities a purpose beyond keeping children occupied.

At the September 2024 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and children making good progress, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), with staff reviewing targeted support alongside parents and external agencies.

In September 2024, information gathered from families helped staff choose activities children would enjoy. New starters formed relationships with their key person, while regular conversations kept parents involved in progress and next steps. Staff also helped children settle disagreements together, making social problem-solving part of the day.

Independence had practical expression that month: children used tissues, washed their hands around personal care and food, poured drinks and could use a water fountain. Tidying resources was part of learning to look after shared belongings. Staff training and leaders' reflection on practice supported the work behind these routines.

In September 2024, the pre-school operated Monday to Friday in term time, with sessions running from 9am to midday and from 12.15pm to 3.15pm. The out-of-school provision ran from 7.30am to 8.55am and from 3.25pm to 6pm in term time, and from 7.30am to 6pm during school holidays.

That September, the pre-school provided government-funded childcare for children aged two, three and four. The curriculum also included preparation for moving on to school.

• Different attendance needs. The September 2024 arrangements combined term-time pre-school sessions with before-school, after-school and holiday care. At a visit, ask how today's booking options fit the ages and schedules of your children.
• Learning paperwork. In September 2024, detailed learning journals added little to activity planning and affected staff's work-life balance. The improvement priority was to reduce unnecessary recording, preserving staff time for their work with children.

The attendance arrangements described in September 2024 suit families seeking morning or afternoon pre-school sessions, as well as those needing out-of-school and holiday care. Its strongest examples connect learning with ordinary actions: catching ducks, discussing stories and managing drinks independently. The paperwork concern is a useful counterweight to that positive picture, making staff time an important discussion point.