Toybox Pre-School

Watering vegetables, investigating damaged leaves and testing cars on slopes gave Toybox Pre-School's October 2023 day a practical, curious character. Children could choose whether to join activities led by adults. Learning started with things they could handle and explore.

Toybox has capacity for 26 children in Castle Cary. At its 11 October 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated it Good overall, judged its education Good and found safeguarding effective; children attending then were aged two to four.

The early years foundation stage sets the framework for children's learning, development and care, bringing learning and everyday wellbeing together. In October 2023, that included experimenting with dough tools, discussing vegetables and exploring movement.

A communal garden extended the day beyond the pre-school. During October 2023, children watered plants and examined harvested chard and kale, discussing differences between leaves and what might have damaged them. This connected new vocabulary with something tangible.

Indoors, younger children tried rolling cars down a slope and cutting dough with different tools. October 2023 activities also included morning movement to music and using a climbing frame. These gave children opportunities to experiment with materials and practise physical coordination.

Language teaching in October 2023 ran through the activities themselves. Adults described what children were doing, modelled unfamiliar words and repeated words children had pronounced incorrectly. The garden discussion was one example; vocabulary grew out of an experience children could examine together. Older children also talked about wind moving their hair, the crunch of dry leaves and moving faster downhill. These everyday observations gave them concrete examples of how movement and their surroundings interacted.

Staff used observations of children's development and interests to plan learning in October 2023. They showed children how to try skills, explained what to do and allowed time for repeated attempts. With dough, cutters, scissors and a plastic saw produced different effects. The emphasis was on trying the tools and comparing what happened, giving children something specific to investigate rather than simply completing an adult's task.

At the October 2023 inspection, Ofsted found positive relationships between children and staff, effective help with feelings and behaviour, and strong communication with parents about children's care and development.

Everyday independence received attention in October 2023. Children practised washing their hands before food and cleaning sticky fingers before returning to play; bathing dolls and brushing their teeth prompted conversations about health. Care routines became opportunities to understand why hygiene matters.

A special educational needs coordinator was undertaking training in October 2023, supported by the deputy. A sensory room was being developed with children's differing needs in mind. That was a project in progress at the time, rather than a completed facility.

In October 2023, safeguarding training covered recognising possible harm and knowing where to report concerns. Staff understood routes for raising concerns outside the organisation as well as internally. Risk assessments and outing procedures addressed hazards, while the designated safeguarding lead acted on concerns and supported families where needed. For parents, these are practical aspects of the safeguarding judgement: how concerns were recognised, passed on and acted upon.

Support also extended to children's lives at home in October 2023. The manager helped parents understand internet risks and ways to protect children. Alongside conversations about care and development, this gave families guidance on safety beyond the pre-school's activities.

The address is The Swainson Building, Ansford Academy, Maggs Lane, Castle Cary, BA7 7JJ.

In October 2023, opening hours were 9.15am to 3.45pm on weekdays, during term time. At that date, Toybox received funding for free early education for children aged two, three and four. These are dated arrangements, so the term-time calendar is an important consideration for families planning childcare around work.

• Learning to manage risk. In October 2023, older children needed more opportunities to recognise hazards and decide how to respond themselves. Look for how staff now help children make those decisions during play.
• Care across settings. In October 2023, information gathering from children's other providers needed strengthening at the start of attendance. This matters for families combining Toybox with another setting, because staff need to understand what children already know.
• Term-time planning. The October 2023 opening pattern followed school terms. Does today's attendance arrangement fit your working week and holiday care needs?

Toybox suits families who value practical exploration and learning through everyday routines. Its October 2023 strengths included garden experiences, language development and relationships with parents. The dated term-time arrangements and the work needed on risk awareness and information sharing are the main decision points.