Friezland Pre School

Growing vegetables and following frogs from frogspawn to adulthood gave learning a concrete shape at Friezland Pre School in July 2024. These were experiences children could investigate, with staff using conversation and questions to extend their thinking.

At its 5 July 2024 inspection, Ofsted judged the provision Good and safeguarding effective. The setting has capacity for 43 children at Christ Church Friezland in Greenfield, Oldham; children attending in July 2024 were aged two to four.

In July 2024, learning followed the early years foundation stage, the framework for children's learning, development and care, with play and everyday routines providing opportunities to practise language, movement and independence. Staff planned learning in sequence, using observations to spot gaps and children's interests to shape activities.

Conversation ran through play. Adults demonstrated pronunciation, introduced vocabulary and used questions to encourage thinking. Children also explored how plants grow and what frogs need to survive, connecting new words with living things.

Physical activity had several forms: dancing, climbing and negotiating obstacle courses, alongside pinching and rolling dough to practise movements useful for writing. Songs signalled tidying time. Finding their names, hanging up belongings and clearing snack tables gave children practical responsibilities ahead of their next stage.

At the July 2024 inspection, Ofsted found that collaboration with speech and language therapy services, clinical psychologists and local schools supported children's individual needs and progress. Recommendations from these professionals informed the help children received.

In July 2024, children played cooperatively and were comfortable with staff. Adults demonstrated courtesy and reinforced expectations about treating others respectfully, giving children consistent examples to follow.

Parents joined regular activities including the Easter Bonnet parade and summer concert, both recorded in July 2024. Staff also sent seeds home and encouraged families to discuss their growth: a simple way to connect learning at home with learning in the setting.

Training reflected staff interests and identified needs. In July 2024, supervision, appraisal and mentoring had begun, but these arrangements needed further development so that gaps in practice were picked up more consistently.

The address is Christ Church Friezland, Shaw Hall Bank Road, Greenfield, Oldham, OL3 7LE.

In July 2024, opening hours were 7.30am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday, during term time. Funded early education was provided for two-, three- and four-year-olds at that date. For parents planning care around work, the term-time calendar is an important part of that dated operating picture.

• Child-led learning. In July 2024, some activities chosen by children had insufficiently clear learning intentions, limiting opportunities to deepen curiosity and thinking. This is a material qualification to the otherwise positive curriculum picture.
• Staff development. July 2024 supervision and appraisal arrangements needed to become more established. Consistent review of practice matters because it helps staff recognise where learning opportunities could be stronger.
• Planning attendance. The July 2024 operating pattern was term time, with funded education for ages two to four. What attendance arrangements and funded-hours pattern would apply to your child now?

Friezland's July 2024 picture suits families who value language-rich play, practical independence and learning about the natural world. Home planting and shared events gave parents concrete ways to participate. The two development priorities deserve weight alongside those strengths: clearer intentions for child-led play and more consistent staff supervision.