Riding Mill Preschool

A tractor built from tyres and crates, vegetables growing in an allotment and a tree swing gave Riding Mill Preschool's July 2021 day a practical, outdoor character. Children built, watered vegetables and explored, with everyday materials supplying opportunities to think and experiment.

At its July 2021 inspection, Ofsted judged the preschool Good, found safeguarding effective and recognised effective support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. The preschool has capacity for 15 children; those attending in July 2021 were aged two to five. That age range describes the children at that time.

In July 2021, the early years foundation stage took concrete form through counting, storytelling, construction and growing vegetables. Children counted scoops of mud and compared logs and crates by size, bringing mathematics into activities they had chosen.

Flip and Floppy, the storytelling puppets, encouraged children to listen and join in with animal names and initial sounds. Construction also involved planning: older children drew designs before building with loose parts, while younger children used sticks to make marks in mud. These examples connect early communication and mark-making with things children wanted to do.

The allotment gave children opportunities to water vegetables and recall their names and how to harvest them. A large wooden climbing frame, step ladders and the tree swing added physical challenges. Children also made dough together, taking turns with ingredients. The outdoor space supported both exploration and shared tasks.

In July 2021, introductory visits helped children settle, and staff offered comfort when children needed it. Exchanges with parents covered children's daily activities at preschool, while families shared children's interests from home. This gave communication a practical purpose: linking the child's experiences across both places.

Individual support plans guided additional help, with staff working alongside schools, speech and language services and other agencies. Behaviour routines included encouragement and a sand timer to help children share resources. Children discussed their emotions and began considering how their actions affected others.

Independence had tangible outlets. Children prepared their own fruit and put on outdoor clothing; a triangle signalled that tidy-up time was approaching. Staff supervision and training supported the team, alongside attention to staff wellbeing. These are July 2021 practices, rather than a description of today's arrangements.

The preschool's address is Broomhaugh C of E Aided First School, Church Lane, Riding Mill, NE44 6DR.

In July 2021, opening hours were 8am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, during term time. Funded early education was offered for children aged two, three and four. Those arrangements belong to that date and provide historical context for families considering their childcare pattern.

• Starting points. In July 2021, staff needed fuller information about children's existing knowledge and abilities when they joined. Sharing concrete examples of what your child can already do would address the issue identified then.
• Thinking time. In July 2021, staff sometimes supplied answers too quickly. More patient questioning was needed to give children room to develop and explain their ideas.
• Planning attendance. The July 2021 timetable was term-time only. What current attendance arrangements would fit your family's working week and school holidays?

Riding Mill Preschool suits families drawn to the outdoor exploration, practical construction and everyday independence described at its July 2021 inspection. Its July 2021 experience combined vegetable growing, storytelling and physical challenge. The dated Good judgement provides a positive assessment of that period, balanced by specific improvements needed in initial assessment and questioning.