Fledglings Pre-School

Loose parts play, outdoor exploration in all weathers and Happy Breathing give Fledglings Pre-School a recognisable character: children have room to follow an idea, with practical help to understand their emotions. Based within Devonshire Infant School in Southsea, it combines child-led play with activities that encourage independence. Its capacity is 24 children in total.

At its November 2024 inspection, Ofsted rated Fledglings Good overall, with learning experiences shaped around individual children, while identifying improvements needed in routine transitions and notification of committee changes. The children attending at that point were aged two to four. Morning and afternoon sessions operate during term time, with a separately charged lunch club between them, subject to places.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage sets the expectations for children's learning, development and care, with play providing opportunities to practise communication, explore ideas and become more independent. Fledglings follows children's interests rather than making every activity follow the same script. Loose parts play supports imaginative exploration, while children are encouraged to assess risks as they investigate their surroundings.

In November 2024, children used the sand pit to invent mermaid play, with staff joining their ideas and helping the game develop. Another activity involved collecting objects, predicting whether they would float or sink, then testing those predictions. These were concrete opportunities to imagine, compare and investigate. The adult contribution mattered: staff participated in children's play rather than simply setting out materials.

My Happy Mind adds an explicit emphasis on emotional regulation. Fledglings has Bronze certification for using the programme, and combines Happy Breathing with songs and stories to support wellbeing. This gives emotional learning a practical form alongside imaginative and exploratory play: children have an activity to use, rather than only being told to calm down.

Outdoor and Community Life

Outdoor exploration continues in different weather, making the environment part of children's play rather than reserving it for fine days. Staff roles include responsibility for outdoor provision, giving this part of the day a clear place within the team's work.

In November 2024, the classroom walls had been repainted in neutral colours because the brighter decoration had overwhelmed some children. That is a useful example of the space being adjusted to the children using it. Independence also featured in everyday tasks, including putting on coats, although the organisation of getting ready sometimes left children waiting and unsettled.

A key person is assigned to each child and regularly shares information about their development with parents. Stay and play days offer parents a chance to experience the activities themselves, while participation in the committee provides another way to contribute to the pre-school. These are different forms of involvement: one brings families into children's play, the other into the setting's organisation.

At the November 2024 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and support for children with SEND successful, with early help, shared targets and collaboration between families and outside professionals, but also required timely notification of changes to the registered body. The notification concern related to committee members whose suitability checks were incomplete; they had no unsupervised contact with children, limiting the impact on their care.

Current staff responsibilities include a designated safeguarding lead, a Special Educational Needs Coordinator and an Equality and Diversity Officer. These roles give safeguarding and inclusion an identified place in the team. Existing parents can access policies through the Tapestry app, with paper copies obtainable from the classroom.

Millie's Mark accreditation recognises the pre-school's paediatric first aid arrangements: all staff working directly with children have that training. Regular staff training also covers safeguarding, Prevent and food hygiene. Parents also have access to safeguarding policies through Tapestry or paper copies from the classroom.

In November 2024, daily conversations kept parents informed about wellbeing and development. Children learning English could use storybooks in their home languages, connecting nursery experiences with language familiar from home. Staff also helped children deal with small disagreements, including during doctor role play, giving social learning a place within ordinary games.

Sessions and Attendance

Fledglings operates from Devonshire Infant School, Francis Avenue, Southsea, Hampshire PO4 0AG. Attendance is term-time only. The morning session runs from 8.45am until 11.45am; the afternoon runs from 12.30pm until 3.30pm. Lunch club occupies the interval, from 11.45am until 12.30pm, carries a separate charge and is subject to places.

This pattern offers two distinct session choices rather than a single attendance block. Families can use the contact form, email or telephone enquiry routes. The key planning point is how the chosen session fits around the rest of the family day, especially where lunch club forms part of the intended arrangement.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded childcare includes qualifying three- and four-year-olds receiving 15 or 30 hours, with provision also offered to qualifying two-year-olds. Attendance follows the term-time calendar. Additional sessions beyond funded hours can be purchased privately, so funded childcare and paid attendance remain separate parts of the arrangement.

Lunch club is subject to places and charged separately from the morning and afternoon sessions. Current prices come in the pre-school's written quotation; the fees and funding information explains the session and funding structure.

Sharing premises with Devonshire Infant School does not guarantee a Reception place.

• Getting ready for outdoors. In November 2024, some children became unsettled while waiting for others to finish putting on outdoor clothing. On a visit, ask how staff now organise that transition.
• Committee notifications. The November 2024 findings required changes to the registered body to be notified within the required timeframe, with a deadline of 13 December 2024. Ask how committee changes and suitability checks are now managed.
• Term-time planning. Both morning and afternoon sessions follow the term-time calendar. Families needing childcare through school holidays should weigh that pattern against their working arrangements.
• Lunch arrangements. Lunch club is a separately charged part of the day, subject to places. Before choosing it, ask what families need to supply for food and everyday consumables.

Fledglings suits families seeking either morning or afternoon preschool sessions during term time, with lunch club as an additional option, subject to places. Child-led outdoor exploration and My Happy Mind's breathing, stories and songs give the experience a clear character. Key-person contact and stay and play days give parents practical ways to participate. The dated concerns about waiting during transitions and committee notifications deserve attention alongside those strengths.