Longstanton Pre-school

Muddy puddles, children serving their own snacks and stories read in families’ home languages give Longstanton Pre-school a practical, sociable character in its January 2025 picture. Everyday tasks become opportunities to learn. At its 15 January 2025 inspection, Ofsted rated the provision Good overall, with the same judgement across education, behaviour, personal development and leadership.

The pre-school has capacity for 40 children, with a current age range of 24 to 58 months. Its setting at Hatton Park Cp School will also matter to families considering the move towards school.

In January 2025, children carried water from the garden tap to make puddles, then splashed in their boots. Outdoors provided hands-on exploration rather than simply a break from indoor activities. Yoga gave children opportunities to practise balancing and calm breathing.

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children’s learning, development and care; here, the January 2025 activities included play, stories and practical tasks. Learning was planned in steps, taking account of children’s interests and what they could already do. There was a clear limitation: some practitioners needed to recognise more consistently when to stretch a child’s learning.

Language threaded through the day in January 2025. Songs and stories supported conversation, while finding their own names helped children recognise print. Pictures and flashcards made routines easier to understand. These gave children several ways to participate, rather than relying solely on spoken instructions.

At the January 2025 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and good support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, with staff working alongside other professionals to support progress.

In January 2025, practitioners knew families well, and children sought cuddles and talked freely about home. Independence was practised through preparing snacks, pouring drinks, washing crockery and dressing for outdoor play. Encouragement recognised children’s effort as well as achievement.

Communication with parents was frequent in January 2025. International Day of Language involved parents reading stories in their home languages, while story sacks and a book lending scheme extended learning into family life. Leaders monitored teaching and used mentoring and training to develop staff practice; staff also contributed to decisions about outdoor improvements.

The address is Hatton Park Cp School, Hattons Park, Longstanton, Cambridge, CB24 3DL. Opening hours are 9am to 3pm, Monday to Friday, during term time, with closure during school holidays. That calendar is a substantial consideration for families needing care beyond the school year.

In January 2025, the pre-school provided funded early years education. Attendance here does not guarantee a Reception place; families still apply through the local authority admissions process.

• Extending learning. The January 2025 improvement point concerned making challenge more consistent. During a visit, ask how practitioners adjust an activity when a child has already mastered it.
• Term-time timetable. The 9am to 3pm opening window and school-holiday closures suit a school-calendar routine. What booking patterns can families choose within that window?
• Moving into Reception. Being based at Hatton Park Cp School does not secure a school place. Keep the Reception application separate from the childcare decision.

Longstanton Pre-school suits families seeking term-time care within a school-day opening window. Its January 2025 strengths were practical independence, communication and close relationships with families. The teaching improvement point deserves attention alongside those strengths: children need activities that develop as their skills grow.