Radcliffe On Trent Pre-School Playgroup

Rosemary from the garden, play dough and a mud kitchen give Radcliffe On Trent Pre-School Playgroup a recognisable practical character. In June 2025, children experimented with herbs, changed into wellingtons for outdoor play and served themselves snacks. Independence was visible in ordinary tasks, rather than confined to a planned activity.

At its 26 June 2025 inspection, Ofsted rated the playgroup Good, judged safeguarding effective and found that children with special educational needs and disabilities received good support through individual plans and work with other professionals. There were also clear priorities for improvement: more precise learning intentions, better engagement during group activities and greater help with sharing and managing emotions.

The playgroup takes children aged two to five and has capacity for 40 children in total. Its premises share the infant and nursery school's grounds, with transition work involving that school and others. Attendance is term-time, with morning, afternoon, standard full-day and extended-day options.

Learning and Activities

The Early Years Foundation Stage provides the framework for children's learning, development and care: here, the day combines play, conversation, stories and practical experiences. Free exploration sits alongside organised activities, giving children opportunities both to choose what interests them and to join shared experiences.

Circle time, indoor and outdoor play, snacks, singing and stories structure the day. Morning and afternoon sessions each include play and shared stories or songs, giving shorter sessions their own rhythm.

In June 2025, toddlers mixed rosemary and other garden herbs into dough. Older children talked about their pictures and used different tools to add their names. These were concrete opportunities to explore materials, practise conversation and give marks a purpose.

Staff also adapted stories with props and changes of voice. In June 2025, pretend telescopes supported a story activity, but some organised sessions required children to sit for too long and their attention slipped. The useful distinction is between engaging shared experiences and group time that needs a clearer purpose or a different pace.

Outdoor and Community Life

A custom-built building became the playgroup's home in 2016. The outdoor environment includes a garden and mud kitchen; in June 2025, children also used tricycles and had opportunities to run and climb. Staff helped them practise safe use of equipment and tools, linking physical exploration with everyday judgement.

For 2026, free weekly outings and free external-provider sessions every half term bring regular experiences beyond activities led by the playgroup team.

In summer 2025, preparations for the Radcliffe on Trent Charity Carnival included the usual Teddy Tombola, a fundraising stall supplied with donated soft toys, and plans to join the procession.

Relationships and Communication

Each child has a key person to support their time at playgroup and work with their family. Settling sessions can begin with a parent before a child's second birthday. That creates a gradual introduction before regular attendance starts.

In June 2025, settling visits also helped staff gather information about children's preferences and what they could already do. Parents' knowledge therefore contributed to the starting picture of each child, rather than being limited to practical forms.

Tapestry Journal is the playgroup's digital system for sharing observations and development assessments. Families can use a computer or smartphone, add observations themselves and view staff updates; the team aims for one or two updates on each attendance day. It gives parents concrete material to discuss with their child and contribute from home.

Email, newsletters issued each term or half term, and information boards provide further communication. The voluntary committee works with staff and parents on the running of the playgroup, while fundraising supports additional equipment and resources. Families can contribute through committee involvement or practical help such as repairs and sewing.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

Support can include an application for Inclusion Funding where a child has a specific learning or disability need and is claiming funded hours. If awarded, it enables individual support for a set number of hours each week. This is a defined mechanism, rather than a promise that every child will receive the same support.

In June 2025, targeted plans included communication and language work, with staff talking to children about their play. Emotional support needed further attention: some children took resources from others, and staff did not consistently help them understand feelings or negotiate sharing. That matters alongside the positive picture of independent play.

Sessions and Attendance

The address is Bingham Road, Radcliffe on Trent, Nottingham, NG12 2FU, on the infant and nursery school site. Opening hours are 8am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, during term time; school holidays are closures.

Morning Only runs from 9am to noon, with an earlier 8.30am start also offered, while Morning & Lunch finishes at 1pm. Afternoon Only runs from 1pm to 4pm, and an afternoon start at noon is another option. Standard Full Day runs from 9am to 4pm, with an 8.30am start also offered; Extended Full Day runs from 8am to 5pm.

Breakfast Club runs from 8am to 9am and After School Club from 4pm to 5pm. These clubs operate when bookings are sufficient to cover staffing costs. Main morning and afternoon sessions are intended to be attended from their start through to their finish, supporting the planned small-group elements.

Applications use an online form. Families complete an online child-registration form after accepting a place, before their visit. Changes to sessions and leaving require four weeks' written notice counted during term time, so holiday weeks do not provide the same notice period.

Funding and Paid Extras

The playgroup accepts Universal 15 Hour Funding (3+ Years), Working Families Funding (2+ Years) and 15 Hours Funding for families in receipt of certain benefits (2 Years), subject to the relevant eligibility conditions. Funded attendance is term-time, and funding can be applied across session options; hours beyond a child's allocation are charged privately. Current prices come in the nursery's written quotation, with the charge structure also set out on its pricing page.

Families supply packed lunches; breakfast and hot tea are included in the relevant paid club sessions, while funded hours exclude those meal costs and the meal charges are optional, with home-provided alternatives subject to the food-handling conditions. Lunches need a cool bag and ice pack because lunchboxes cannot be refrigerated, and the summer 2025 lunch policy excluded nuts and fresh eggs while permitting eggs in cakes.

Parents supply wipes and nappies where needed. The terms require alternative home-provided club meals to be delivered at mealtime, and staff cannot heat or cook them.

Getting There and Moving On

Parking is prohibited anywhere on the infant school site. Families use nearby roads and continue on foot along the school drive, so the final part of the journey needs to allow for that walk.

The playgroup describes close transition work with Radcliffe on Trent Infant and Nursery School and other schools. Being on the school site does not guarantee a Reception place: families still use the local authority admissions process. Children can remain at playgroup rather than move to school nursery before compulsory school age.

• Purpose and pace of group time. In June 2025, learning intentions were not consistently clear and some children lost interest during lengthy seated activities. At a visit, ask how staff now choose the skills an activity develops and keep children involved.
• Sharing and emotions. The June 2025 improvement priorities included helping children manage feelings and disagreements over resources. Ask how the key person supports those moments during child-chosen play.
• Term-time commitments. Holidays are closure periods and session changes require four weeks' term-time written notice. This suits a school-calendar routine, but families need to plan holiday childcare and changes separately.
• Packed lunches and allergies. Summer 2025 instructions required cooled lunchboxes and restricted nuts and fresh eggs. Families affected by allergies should confirm current food arrangements and how their child's needs will be managed.

Radcliffe On Trent Pre-School Playgroup suits families seeking term-time morning or afternoon sessions as well as those needing standard or extended days. Practical independence, regular outings and two-way communication through Tapestry give its offer substance.

The June 2025 Good judgement came with priorities for group engagement, learning intentions and emotional support. Packed lunches, school-holiday closures and term-time notice requirements remain practical considerations.