Selby Community Preschool

A large community-centre room, library visits and close relationships with key people give Selby Community Preschool its character in July 2024. The setting has 28 places in total at The Community Centre on Scott Road, Selby. Children attending in July 2024 were aged two to four; that age range describes the children at that time.

At its July 2024 inspection, Ofsted rated the preschool Good and found safeguarding effective. The practical appeal was a sessional, term-time arrangement, with a lunch club between the morning and afternoon sessions.

In July 2024, activities took place in a large room within Selby's town-centre community centre, with outdoor space used for physical play. Bouncing equipment gave children opportunities to practise movement, while visits to the local library connected learning with places beyond the preschool.

The early years foundation stage is the framework for children's learning, development and care. In July 2024, that meant stories, rhymes, songs, outdoor activity and experiences planned around what staff knew about individual children. During story time, children recalled the next part of a story; mark-making helped them practise controlling a pencil and explore letters in their names when ready.

There were two teaching points to address. In July 2024, adults sometimes moved on before children had enough thinking time to answer questions. Pronunciation of letter sounds also needed greater consistency. These matter because conversation and early literacy depend on both patient exchanges and clear examples.

In July 2024, key people provided comfort and joined children in play. Routines took account of younger and more vulnerable children, and staff helped children recognise their feelings. For families weighing the emotional side of preschool, those everyday interactions are useful details.

At the July 2024 inspection, Ofsted found that assessments, work with the special educational needs and disabilities coordinator (SENDCo), and targeted activities while awaiting outside services supported children's progress. Staff also modelled word pronunciation for children learning English as an additional language.

The team had experienced changes by July 2024, with the manager supporting staff; staff knew which further training they needed.

The address is The Community Centre, Scott Road, Selby, YO8 4BL.

In July 2024, morning sessions ran from 9.15am to 12.15pm and afternoon sessions from 1pm to 4pm. The lunch club occupied the interval, from 12.15pm to 1pm. Opening days were Monday to Friday during term time, and the preschool provided funded early education for children aged two, three and four. This was an arrangement built around preschool sessions and school-term attendance.

• Thinking time and letter sounds. The July 2024 improvement points concerned time to answer and consistent pronunciation. At a visit, ask how practitioners now handle both during conversation and early literacy activities.
• Session planning. The July 2024 pattern combined morning and afternoon sessions with a lunch club. Ask whether that pattern still matches the days and hours your family needs, and request a current written quotation covering funded hours, meals and consumables.

The July 2024 attendance model suited families seeking morning or afternoon preschool sessions during term time. Its July 2024 strengths lay in familiar key-person relationships, individual learning activities and connections with the local community. The balance is clear: a Good judgement, alongside specific work needed on thinking time and early letter sounds.