The Bungalow Pre-school

Independence runs through The Bungalow Pre-school's October 2022 inspection account: children managed their clothing, fetched water for gardening and helped signal changes in the day's routine. Small tasks carried real responsibility. Ofsted rated the South Shields setting Outstanding on 6 October 2022.

The pre-school has capacity for 20 children. Children attending in October 2022 were aged one to four; that age range describes the inspection period.

In October 2022, the snuffle station gave children a mirror to help them clean their own noses, while star of the week celebrated individual children. These were practical ways to encourage self-care and recognition.

The early years foundation stage sets requirements for children's learning, development and care. Here, the October 2022 account illustrates learning through play: children explored pumpkins and vegetables in the outdoor mud kitchen, and compared muddy footprints to practise counting and size. An enclosed garden offered digging and seed planting.

Physical activity had a clear purpose that month. Tongs and tweezers exercised hand control; balancing, stretching and climbing supported strength. For language, staff used signs and pictures alongside speech, clapped syllables and allowed time for children to answer. Learning involved both movement and conversation.

At the October 2022 inspection, Ofsted judged safeguarding effective and support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities outstanding, with staff collaborating with health and education professionals.

In October 2022, settling sessions could be adapted to individual children rather than following a fixed timetable. Books about kindness and conversations about feelings helped children understand relationships, while gentle reminders supported turn-taking. Predictable routines, with a tambourine signalling changes, made the day easier to understand.

Family involvement also had practical forms that month: parents joined play and music sessions, and their feedback informed changes. Staff reported back on the action taken, giving families a way to see how their views influenced the setting.

The school-ready programme in October 2022 introduced take-home book bags, lunchtime trays and practice with clothing for physical education. School uniform also featured in pretend play, making unfamiliar school routines something children could rehearse.

The address is 10 Prince Edward Road, South Shields, NE34 8PS.

In October 2022, opening hours were 8.30am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday, during term time; childcare also ran in school holidays. Funded early education was provided for two-, three- and four-year-old children at that time.

Outings in October 2022 included visits to shops, the park and the local library. Shopping for healthy ingredients led to soup-making back at the pre-school, connecting an outing with a practical activity.

• Settling arrangements. Flexible settling sessions were a strength of the October 2022 account. How would the settling plan be adapted to your child's needs now?
• School preparation. The October 2022 school-ready programme used book bags, trays and dressing practice. Consider whether this practical emphasis matches the preparation you want for your child.

The Bungalow's strongest case is its October 2022 account of purposeful everyday learning: independence, communication and preparation for school were built into ordinary activities. That makes it a setting to consider for families who value practical skills and opportunities to participate in their child's early education. Its Outstanding judgement belongs to that dated inspection.