Cabbage Patch Preschool

Rubber bricks for building, dough-making together and children choosing their own activities give Cabbage Patch Preschool a practical, hands-on character in its November 2022 account. Ofsted rated the preschool Good at its 3 November 2022 inspection. The strongest thread was helping children develop language and do more for themselves.

Based at St. Margarets School on Heys Lane in Heywood, the preschool has 30 places for children aged 24 to 60 months. It operates during term time, so its calendar matters as much as its daily hours.

The early years foundation stage is the framework for children's learning, development and care, bringing play and everyday care into their education. In November 2022, the curriculum emphasised speaking, making choices and growing independence: staff introduced vocabulary and gave children time to answer questions.

The room's layout supported different interests. In November 2022, rubber bricks gave children a building activity, while dolls supported pretend play; painting, dough tools and cutting paper gave their hands practice for later writing. These were concrete ways to develop skills through doing.

Outdoor play in November 2022 included running and wheeled toys, giving children opportunities to practise controlling their movement. Yoga and football added other physical activities. No frequency needs to be assumed to understand their value: they brought different kinds of movement into the children's experience.

At the November 2022 inspection, Ofsted found effective safeguarding, positive care relationships and good support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, with assessments, parental involvement and referrals helping children progress. The special educational needs coordinator worked alongside the key person and families, connecting support within the preschool with help from external agencies.

In November 2022, children sought reassurance from familiar staff and practised managing everyday tasks, including washing hands and serving themselves snacks. Safeguarding routines included weekly staff briefings and supervision meetings.

Communication needed greater precision. In November 2022, daily updates reached parents through conversations and social-media posts, but information about individual development and what to practise at home was not consistently specific. Behaviour expectations also varied, with some children interrupting group stories and discussions.

The address is St. Margarets School, Heys Lane, Heywood, OL10 3RD. Opening hours are 8.45am to 3.45pm, Monday to Friday, during term time; the preschool closes for school holidays. Families need childcare arrangements that fit that calendar.

In November 2022, the preschool provided funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-olds. That is a dated participation fact rather than a promise of a funded place today.

• Term-time calendar. School holidays are closures, so families needing year-round childcare should weigh that practical boundary carefully.
• Behaviour and learning updates. In November 2022, expectations during group activities and specific guidance for parents both needed improvement. On a visit, ask how staff now keep expectations consistent and explain each child's next learning steps.
• Funded attendance. Funded early education was offered in November 2022. Ask which entitlements and attendance arrangements apply now, including the treatment of meals and consumables.

Cabbage Patch Preschool suits families whose childcare needs fit a term-time calendar and a mid-afternoon finish. Its November 2022 picture combines hands-on play, language development and everyday independence. The decision point is whether today's behaviour routines and parent updates provide the consistency and detail families need.