Little Stars Pre-school

Play dough, animated storytelling and a water-play activity about rescuing animals from litter give Little Stars Pre-school a recognisable character. In September 2023, children chose activities for themselves while practitioners used their interests to shape learning. The emphasis was on participation: children explored, talked and tried things out.

Little Stars has capacity for 30 children aged two to five at Scoutlands, 20 Evelegh Road, Portsmouth, PO6 1DL. Ofsted rated it Good at its September 2023 inspection, with clearer explanations of rules and better information about children's development on entry identified as priorities.

The early years foundation stage sets requirements for children's learning, development and care. In September 2023, activities brought these areas together: children removed litter from pretend seawater and rescued toy animals, linking hands-on exploration with responsibility for their surroundings. Practitioners connected the activity to putting rubbish in bins. There was a clear purpose behind the play: children could explore an idea through something they did themselves, then talk about why it mattered. Their interests helped determine the activities. For parents, the useful detail is that thinking and practical action belonged to the same experience.

Books and letter sounds also featured that September. Expressive storytelling drew laughter, while older children supplied words beginning with the sound being discussed. Making their own play dough gave children another opportunity to choose and take part actively. These September 2023 examples show different ways into learning: listening to a story, connecting a sound with a word and making something themselves. The activities gave children reasons to speak and contribute, with older children able to draw on words they already knew.

Outside, September 2023 activities included catching and throwing large balls and aiming basketballs at a hoop. These offered physical challenges alongside storytelling and play dough. The hoop provided a specific target, while throwing and catching called for different movements. Practitioners encouraged children's attempts with praise in September 2023, making effort part of the activity as well as the outcome.

At the September 2023 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective, described sensitive personal care and identified appropriate referral support through the special educational needs coordinator's work with families and other professionals. These findings give the care arrangements substance beyond the overall grade.

In September 2023, practitioners sought children's permission before nappy changes and kept conversation going during care routines. Comfort was offered to children still settling. Handwashing, sun hats and drinking water formed part of everyday conversations about health.

Parents were positive about communication that September, although staff did not consistently collect enough developmental information when children started. Training, staff supervision and observations supported teaching, but the starting-point concern matters: useful communication should help staff understand what a child can already do, as well as describe their day. In September 2023, the weakness was specifically about gathering developmental information at the beginning, rather than parents feeling uninformed about daily experiences. Those are different functions of parent communication. A family account of a child's existing skills can help practitioners choose an appropriate next step; an account of the day's activities helps parents understand what happened. Both matter when a child is settling into preschool.

The address is Scoutlands, 20 Evelegh Road, Portsmouth, PO6 1DL. Opening hours are 9am to 3pm, Monday to Friday, during term time; the setting closes for school holidays. That calendar is a substantial consideration for families arranging care across the year. The weekday opening window gives parents a clear boundary for planning work and other commitments. Term-time attendance also means that holiday care needs a separate place in the family's plans, rather than being assumed to continue through school breaks.

In September 2023, the pre-school provided funded early education for children aged two, three and four.

• Understanding rules. In September 2023, explanations and follow-through were inconsistent, leaving children unclear about expectations. Ask how practitioners now make rules understandable during play.
• Starting well. Developmental information gathered on entry needed strengthening in September 2023. Ask how your child's existing skills and needs inform their first learning plans.
• Term-time calendar. School-holiday closures mean families needing year-round childcare must account for those breaks.

Little Stars merits consideration for families seeking term-time preschool care with play, books and physical activity. In September 2023, children participated actively in stories, play dough and outdoor games, while practitioners treated personal care sensitively. Clearer rules and stronger information gathering on entry remained practical improvement priorities. The balance is participation and considerate care, with clearer expectations and a fuller understanding of each child's starting point needing attention in September 2023.