Small Saints Pre-school

Pet cats, pumpkin play and a forest area give Small Saints Pre-school in Holbeach a recognisable character. At its 25 October 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated the provision Good and judged safeguarding effective. The setting has 78 places in total; the children attending at that inspection were aged 2 to 12.

The strongest detail is practical: children learned to handle animals carefully, manage everyday tasks and explore movement indoors and outside. Those examples describe October 2023 practice, rather than a current activity timetable.

In October 2023, the forest area supported physical play, while flower petals became ingredients for imaginary potions. Indoors, balancing boards and obstacle courses gave children opportunities to practise coordination and taking turns. Outdoor ball-catching added another movement challenge.

The Early Years Foundation Stage sets expectations for children's learning, development and care. Here, the October 2023 examples included exploring pumpkin seeds and pouring water during play: hands-on experiences that brought investigation and coordination together.

Activity planning needed greater precision. In October 2023, children were given knives that could not cut the pumpkins provided, then switched to other resources and their own ideas. Matching equipment to the intended task matters if an activity is to extend what children can already do.

In October 2023, staff gathered parents' knowledge of children's existing learning and combined it with their own assessments to decide next steps. However, not every parent received an explanation of how those steps would be supported. That limited the guidance families could use at home.

Simple signs helped children understand speech in October 2023. Everyday independence also received attention: children poured drinks, spread butter on bread and removed their outdoor suits. Additional funding supported individual needs through extra staffing and one-to-one help.

School transition work in October 2023 included sharing learning information with teachers and inviting them to meet children at the pre-school. The practical benefit was continuity and familiarity with a future teacher, rather than an admissions advantage.

The address is The Chase, High Street, Holbeach, PE12 7ED.

In October 2023, attendance ran Monday to Friday across the year, with a week's closure between Christmas and New Year. Term-time sessions ran from 8.30am to 6pm; school-holiday sessions ran from 8am to 6pm. Funded early education was provided for children aged two, three and four at that time.

• Learning updates. In October 2023, some parents needed clearer information about their child's next learning steps. Ask how these plans are shared with families now.
• Purposeful activities. October 2023 planning did not consistently pair tasks with suitable equipment. Activities should give children a workable route to practising and extending their skills.
• Attendance across the year. The October 2023 arrangements distinguished term-time sessions from school-holiday sessions. Which current pattern would fit your child's age and your family's timetable?

Small Saints merits consideration for families who value practical independence, animal care and physical play. Its October 2023 arrangements included term-time sessions and school-holiday sessions, making the review relevant to families considering either pattern. The balance is clear: engaging everyday experiences sit alongside specific improvements needed in activity planning and communication about learning.