Tenacres Little Folks Pre-School

Action songs, animated storytelling and play across indoor and outdoor spaces characterised children's experiences at Tenacres Little Folks Pre-School in October 2024. At the October 2024 inspection, Ofsted judged the provision Good, found that children made good progress and confirmed effective safeguarding, while identifying weaknesses in teaching interactions and committee notification procedures.

Based at Maple Trees Childrens Centre in Redditch, the setting has capacity for 30 children aged 30 to 59 months. In October 2024, its premises at Tenacres First School gave transition work a practical context.

In October 2024, children chose activities across the indoor and outdoor spaces. Painting involved standing and reaching for materials, bringing physical development into creative play. Stories, action songs and rhymes gave children opportunities to listen, speak and remember familiar narratives.

The early years foundation stage provides the framework for learning, development and care: here, the October 2024 examples included learning through play, conversation, movement and books. Planned activities introduced the senses and hibernation, giving children ideas and vocabulary to explore.

The teaching needed greater precision. In October 2024, staff sometimes missed opportunities to connect their conversations with an activity’s intended learning, while quieter children could receive less attention than confident participants. These are useful distinctions for parents: plentiful resources and enjoyable activities need adult support that reaches each child.

In October 2024, settling arrangements helped children separate comfortably from their families. Staff offered comfort when needed, while children practised managing their belongings and personal care. Sign language helped children express needs, and speech and language therapists were involved in targeted support.

In October 2024, communication with families combined everyday conversations, digital learning records and progress discussions each term. In October 2024, staff also shared practical ideas for developmental steps such as toilet training, linking home routines with the setting’s approach.

School preparation was concrete. During the summer term described in October 2024, Reception teachers visited children, staff discussed individual learning needs, and children spent time in the school playground. Familiar people and surroundings formed part of preparation for the next stage.

The address is Maple Trees Childrens Centre, Quibury Close, Redditch, B98 0PB. Opening hours are 8.45am to 3.15pm, Monday to Friday, during term time; the setting closes for school holidays. This calendar matters for families whose childcare needs continue through the breaks.

In October 2024, funded early education was provided for eligible children attending. The setting operated from premises at Tenacres First School. Attendance does not guarantee a Reception place: families still need to use the local authority admissions process.

• Committee checks. At the October 2024 inspection, Ofsted found that changes involving new committee members had not been notified, preventing its suitability checks, but stated that children’s safety was not compromised because those members had Disclosure and Barring Service checks and worked on administration and fundraising away from children and staff. Ask how notification procedures have been addressed.
• Quieter children. October 2024 findings called for more consistent support for less confident participants and sharper teaching interactions. During a visit, ask how staff involve a child who watches rather than joins in.
• Term-time calendar. Closure during school holidays means families needing care across the year must plan around those breaks.

Tenacres suits families whose preschool childcare needs fit a term-time calendar. Its October 2024 experiences included expressive storytelling, sign language and school familiarisation, giving parents concrete examples of its practice at that time. The teaching and committee-notification weaknesses deserve attention alongside the Good judgement.