Jimmy D's

Pretend birthday cake, toy-phone conversations and number songs give Jimmy D's a recognisable character: learning through shared play. At its February 2025 inspection, Ofsted judged the provision Good and found safeguarding effective. The setting has capacity for 24 children.

In February 2025, this independently run setting occupied premises at Deeping St James County Primary School and combined a playgroup with before- and after-school care. Children attending then were aged 2 to 10; that inspection-time range covers more than preschool provision alone.

In February 2025, the early years foundation stage framed children's learning and care: play supported language, early mathematics, physical skills and personal development. Number songs linked written numerals with fingers, while shape activities encouraged children to make circles and triangles with their hands. Learning was tangible.

Practical activities gave children opportunities to repeat a skill in different ways. Toothbrush play moved from cleaning pictures of teeth to cleaning dolls' teeth with foam. A firefighter theme used water sprays and pictures of fires, combining hand movements with learning about people who help others.

The host school's hall provided space for physical activity and familiarity with a school environment. Outside, children helped dry garden equipment. Ringing the snack-time bell and responding to music at tidy-up time gave them small responsibilities within the day.

At the February 2025 inspection, Ofsted found that staff worked with other professionals on individual learning needs, but communication about learning did not reach all parents effectively and younger children in the before- and after-school club lacked a key person to address their care needs precisely.

In February 2025, playgroup children had a key person familiar with their learning and care. Staff also gathered information from children's previous early years settings to inform planning. The distinction between playgroup and club care matters for a family using both.

Books about feelings supported conversations about emotions, and staff training had addressed emotional regulation. Speech activities included short phrases for children to imitate; toy phones prompted longer exchanges with adults. These were concrete examples of support rather than a single approach for every child.

The address is Deeping St. James County Primary School, Hereward Way, Deeping St. James, PETERBOROUGH PE6 8PZ.

In February 2025, the playgroup opened on weekdays during term time, from 9am to 3pm. The before-school club ran from 7.45am to 8.50am, with after-school care from 3.25pm to 6pm, also on term-time weekdays. Funded early education covered two-, three- and four-year-old children at that time.

In February 2025, use of the school's hall helped children become familiar with school surroundings. Attending Jimmy D's does not guarantee a Reception place.

• Communication about learning. February 2025 findings identified uneven information-sharing with parents. Ask how updates now reach every family.
• Key-person continuity. In February 2025, younger club children lacked the individual key-person arrangement used in the playgroup. Ask how care is coordinated across both parts of the day.
• Term-time planning. The February 2025 timetable combined daytime playgroup and school-day wraparound care. Does the current attendance pattern fit your family's calendar?

Jimmy D's suits families seeking a daytime playgroup or before- and after-school care alongside it. Its February 2025 activities connected imaginative play with practical learning, and the school hall added useful physical space. Parent communication and continuity of individual care are the decisive questions, especially for children attending both provisions.