Little Sunbeams Pre School

Sand timers for sharing and obstacle courses built from tyres and planks give Little Sunbeams Pre School a practical, hands-on character in its May 2025 daily life. The setting occupies the Mayfield School site in Portsmouth and has capacity for 45 children.

At its 19 May 2025 inspection, Ofsted rated the provision Good, judged safeguarding effective and found that collaboration with parents and specialists supported children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Children attending then were aged 1 to 4.

In May 2025, babies explored a sensory tray, practised pulling themselves upright and tackled a small slide outdoors. Older children used sand timers to negotiate turns with toys. These concrete routines gave children ways to practise movement and sharing.

The early years foundation stage is the statutory framework for children's learning, development and care. Here, the May 2025 activities included stories, songs and rhymes, with staff modelling words and actions for younger children. Assessment informed the next activities planned for each child.

Garden play included running, jumping and skipping, alongside building obstacle courses from planks and tyres. There was a teaching weakness too: staff sometimes missed signs that children had lost interest and did not bring their attention back to the activity. Attractive resources alone did not ensure sustained involvement.

In May 2025, staff asked young children before changing their nappies and used conversation and singing during care routines. When babies showed tiredness, staff responded with cuddles to help them settle to sleep. These examples make the handling of intimate care and rest more tangible for parents.

Regular staff meetings covered changes to individual educational plans. Work with physiotherapists and speech and language professionals connected specialist advice with nursery care. Staff also reported support from leaders and opportunities for professional training.

The address is Mayfield School, Mayfield Road, Portsmouth, PO2 0RH. In May 2025, opening hours were 8am to 6pm on weekdays, during term time; government-funded childcare was provided for children aged nine months to four years.

Being on the Mayfield School site does not guarantee a Reception place. Nursery attendance and school admission are separate decisions.

• Committee checks. In May 2025, Ofsted required information about every committee member by 27 June 2025 so that suitability checks could be completed. This is the latest published regulatory position: DBS checks had been completed, and those members had no contact with children or involvement in safeguarding or recruitment.
• Sustaining attention. The May 2025 improvement point concerned bringing disengaged children back into learning. At a visit, ask how practitioners recognise fading interest and adapt an activity.
• Term-time routine. The May 2025 opening pattern covered weekdays during term time. Ask which attendance arrangements would fit your working week and holiday needs.

Little Sunbeams merits consideration for families who value practical outdoor play and sensitive everyday care. The May 2025 picture combines sensory exploration, physical activity and specialist collaboration, balanced by an important committee-check requirement and a teaching improvement point. The term-time operating pattern recorded in May 2025 is an important consideration for families.