Victoria Road Pre-school

A Christmas tree to smell and touch, vegetables to weigh and yoga to explore feelings: practical experiences shaped children's day at Victoria Road Pre-school in December 2023. Based at Tilehurst Village Hall in Reading, it has 36 places in total.

At its December 2023 inspection, Ofsted judged the provision Good and safeguarding effective. Children aged two to four attended at that time. The strongest thread was learning through everyday experiences, from putting on coats to serving snacks, with social and emotional development given clear emphasis.

In December 2023, children explored a small Christmas tree through touch and smell, giving staff a concrete starting point for conversation and new vocabulary. Carrots, potatoes and brussels sprouts became materials for counting and weighing. These examples connected language and early maths to things children could handle themselves.

The early years foundation stage is the framework for children's learning, development and care. Here, the December 2023 examples show how play and everyday routines could put that framework into practice: younger children practised putting on coats, while older children washed their hands and helped themselves to snacks.

The garden also contributed to learning. In December 2023, children grew fruit and vegetables, and exercised both outside and indoors. Stories and daily yoga helped them explore emotions. The emphasis reached beyond completing an activity to recognising feelings and developing independence.

At the December 2023 inspection, Ofsted found that staff identified children needing extra help promptly and used professional advice to shape individual support plans, including for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. This gave support a practical mechanism rather than relying on a general promise of inclusion.

In December 2023, staff got to know families early and used supervision meetings to reflect on their work. Training included recognising and supporting speech delay. Daily checks covered risks indoors and outside, while staff understood how to respond to safeguarding concerns.

Families supplied packed lunches and snacks at that time; staff monitored them and offered guidance on healthy choices. Handwashing before food and conversations about fruit and vegetables reinforced those routines.

The address is Tilehurst Village Hall, Victoria Road, Tilehurst, Reading, RG31 5AB.

In December 2023, attendance ran Monday to Friday during term time, with sessions from 8.50am to 2.50pm. Funded early education was provided for two- and three-year-old children at that time. That timetable describes a term-time sessional arrangement, making the relationship between childcare and school holidays an important practical consideration.

• Activities matched to each child. In December 2023, planned experiences did not consistently suit individual learning needs, and some children lost interest or struggled to participate. During a visit, look at how staff adapt a shared activity for children at different stages.
• Time to answer. Staff sometimes asked questions too quickly in December 2023, leaving children insufficient thinking time. Notice whether conversations allow a child to pause and respond.
• Term-time planning. The December 2023 timetable followed term time. What attendance and funding arrangements now apply to your child's intended pattern?

Victoria Road Pre-school suits families who value practical play, independence and attention to children's emotions. Its December 2023 term-time sessions offer the relevant attendance reference for families planning around school terms. The balance to weigh is clear: engaging everyday learning alongside the need for more consistent activity adaptation and better-paced conversations.