Crowland Community Childcare

Play dough outdoors, birthday cakes in a pretend kitchen and children helping to clean up: everyday play gives Crowland Community Childcare its character. Based at The Wheatsheaf Rooms in Crowland, it has capacity for 18 children. The emphasis in February 2024 was on friendships, practical independence and learning through shared activities.

Ofsted rated the setting Good at its 1 February 2024 inspection. Children attending then were aged two to four; its attendance pattern was term-time sessions.

In February 2024, children mixed coloured play dough, counted ingredients and practised pouring, then used small tools to shape their creations outdoors. A tray gave this activity a physical base. The pretend kitchen supported imaginary baking, with counting candles bringing numbers into make-believe play.

The early years foundation stage sets expectations for children's learning, development and care. Here, the February 2024 activities illustrated learning through play: handling dough exercised fingers and hands, while songs introduced counting and staff explained unfamiliar words.

Friendship mattered too. During a ball game, children discussed whose turn came next and practised catching and rolling. Adults helped them share equipment and find words for negotiating with each other. These were opportunities to practise communication alongside movement.

At the February 2024 inspection, Ofsted found effective safeguarding arrangements and staff who recognised when children, including those with special educational needs or disabilities, needed extra help and put support in place.

Key persons knew children's personalities and circumstances at home in February 2024. Children sought comfort from adults when they needed it. Conversations with parents covered learning and ideas for supporting it at home, making communication useful beyond a daily update.

Practical care also encouraged independence that month. Children washed their hands before eating, learnt to cut fruit safely and helped wipe tables and sweep floors. Staff reinforced polite requests and patient turn-taking. Leaders worked alongside practitioners on assessments and gave additional guidance to less experienced colleagues.

The address is The Wheatsheaf Rooms, North Street, Crowland, PE6 0EF.

In February 2024, the setting operated five days a week during term time, with sessions from 9am to 3pm. It also provided funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children at that time. That attendance model centred on the term-time daytime routine.

• Individual teaching. In February 2024, adults did not consistently adjust activities to different children's learning needs. Some children consequently received less help to develop their understanding and skills. During a visit, ask how practitioners now tailor a shared activity to each child.
• Extending conversation. In February 2024, some adult questions invited only a single-word response, limiting opportunities for children to explain ideas and develop their chosen play. Look for conversations that give children room to think and elaborate.
• Term-time routine. The February 2024 pattern was five days a week, with sessions running from 9am to 3pm during term time. Families weighing this model need to consider how it fits their working day and school holidays.

Crowland Community Childcare's February 2024 provision suited families drawn to practical play, friendships and growing independence within a term-time daytime model. Its February 2024 strengths were tangible: outdoor dough-making, shared pretend play and children taking responsibility for small daily tasks. The counterweight is equally clear: teaching interactions needed greater precision and more room for children's own thinking.