Little Spinnakers Pre-School

Hatching chicks gave children at Little Spinnakers Pre-School a close-up lesson in change in June 2024: they watched development day by day and learnt the language of incubators and hatching. Practical experiences gave conversation a purpose.

At its June 2024 inspection, Ofsted rated the preschool Good and found safeguarding effective. Based at United Reformed Church in Portsmouth, the setting has 40 places in total; children attending in June 2024 were aged two to four.

In June 2024, learning included chick-hatching projects and animal handling workshops. Children also used more demanding equipment at a local park to practise physical skills. These experiences took learning beyond activities inside the preschool.

The early years foundation stage covers children's learning, development and care, including building language, developing physical skills and understanding feelings. In June 2024, conversations about hatching chicks and physical challenges at the local park gave children practical opportunities to learn. In June 2024, staff observed children's interests and used those observations to plan what they would learn next.

Community contact had a practical place in the day. In June 2024, children frequently spent time with residents at a local care home, joining activities together. Parents also contributed stories in their home languages, paired with English readings by staff, and joined celebrations involving food and cultural traditions.

In June 2024, induction involved staff spending time learning about each child and their family. Communication support included individual conversations, pictures for familiar words and translators where needed. These were concrete ways to help children participate.

During the same month, the special educational needs coordinator and staff assessed children as they started, worked with families and professionals, and arranged referrals and support plans. Parents received progress updates and could borrow home learning bags; oral-health activities were accompanied by toothbrushes and toothpaste to take home.

At the June 2024 inspection, Ofsted asked staff to make younger children's activities better match their next learning steps and to help children understand feelings and the effects of their behaviour on others. These are the two improvement priorities families should weigh alongside the Good judgement.

The address is United Reformed Church, 239 Milton Road, Portsmouth, PO4 8PH. In June 2024, opening hours were 8am to 3.30pm, Monday to Friday, during term time.

In June 2024, the preschool provided funded early education for children aged two, three and four. That is a dated participation fact, rather than a promise of an individual funded place.

• Younger children's learning. The June 2024 improvement priority concerned translating next steps into engaging activities. During a visit, ask how an activity is adapted for a younger child's individual learning needs.
• Feelings and behaviour. Helping children understand their impact on others was also a June 2024 priority. Ask staff to explain how they handle a disagreement over toys.
• Term-time attendance. The June 2024 opening pattern followed term time. What attendance arrangements and funded-hours terms would apply to your family now?

Little Spinnakers suits families drawn to practical learning and contact with the wider community, illustrated in June 2024 by chick hatching, park activities and care-home visits. Its Good judgement provides a positive inspection position, with clear improvement priorities around younger children's learning and emotional understanding. Families considering a term-time routine should weigh those priorities carefully.