Johnstone Road Pre-School

In January 2023, piano music, dinosaur construction and conversations about carnivores illustrated Johnstone Road Pre-School's emphasis on shared activities and language. At its January 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated the pre-school Outstanding, highlighting carefully paced teaching and children's confident communication.

Based at Methodist Church Hall, The Broadway, Thorpe Bay, SS1 3HQ, the setting has 35 places in total. In January 2023, children attending were aged two to five. The examples from that period offer a clear picture of its educational priorities, rather than a description of today's daily routine.

In January 2023, teaching gave children time to revisit ideas before moving forward. Colour matching led towards patterns and sequences as children became ready. This made the next activity depend on what a child already understood, rather than simply introducing something new.

The early years foundation stage is the framework for children's learning, development and care. Here, the January 2023 examples included counting during group activities, storytelling and making movements to piano music: learning threaded through play and conversation.

Children also collaborated on a large dinosaur model using construction resources. Conversations about meat-eating dinosaurs gave children another opportunity to use their vocabulary. Music brought another kind of shared participation, with instruments and marching.

Community experiences in January 2023 included trips to parks and the beach, a concert for older people, and letters and food hampers for homeless people. Visitors from the fire service and a local farmer introduced children to their work and vehicles. These were concrete ways to explore life beyond the hall.

At the January 2023 inspection, Ofsted found effective safeguarding and highly effective SEND support, with personalised plans developed alongside families and other agencies helping children close learning gaps.

During January 2023, picture prompts helped children manage coats, handwashing and toileting. Adults allowed time for practice and stepped in when assistance was needed. Peeling fruit and managing personal hygiene gave independence a practical expression.

Families shared information about their children from the outset, and staff continued discussing development with them in January 2023. Safeguarding practice then included training updates, checks on staff suitability and a safe room for lockdown incidents.

Parents supplied children's food in January 2023; staff checked it for nuts and supervised children with specific food allergies throughout meals. Children also learnt about foods that could harm them.

In January 2023, attendance followed school terms, Monday to Friday. Sessions ran from 9am to 3pm on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday; Wednesday and Friday sessions ran from 9am to midday. That pattern combined longer term-time days with shorter mornings.

The pre-school provided funded early education for children aged two, three and four in January 2023. Its address is Methodist Church Hall, The Broadway, Thorpe Bay, SS1 3HQ.

• Attendance and food. The January 2023 pattern combined longer days and mornings, with food supplied by parents. How do today's sessions and food arrangements, including allergy supervision, compare with that pattern?
• Learning through repetition. In January 2023, staff deliberately gave new ideas time to settle, using activities such as colour matching before progressing to sequences. This approach gives families a useful basis for considering how their child responds to repeated practice.

Johnstone Road Pre-School will appeal to families seeking learning through conversation, music and shared play; its January 2023 attendance model suited both longer term-time days and shorter mornings. The strongest educational detail is the connection between talk, music and shared play. Its dated Outstanding judgement adds weight, while the practical examples explain what earned the praise.