Playdays Preschool 3, The United Reformed Church

Dinosaur fossils, signing at snack time and dressing as book characters give this Harpenden preschool a recognisable character in its February 2022 account of daily life. These were purposeful activities: children's interests shaped opportunities to talk, investigate and develop the movements needed for writing.

At its February 2022 inspection, Ofsted rated the setting Outstanding overall. The current age range is 18 to 60 months, with the preschool based on Vaughan Road, Harpenden, AL5 4ED.

In February 2022, learning followed children's interests and activities were adapted to individual learning intentions. Dinosaur play led to investigating footprints and making fossils; sand activities combined sensory exploration with counting and sorting insects. The same materials could support several areas of development.

The early years foundation stage is the framework for children's learning, development and care. Here, the February 2022 examples show how play brought language, physical development and mathematics together rather than treating them as isolated tasks.

During that month, finger gym activities and frequent dough play helped children build the strength needed for early writing. Makaton, used for signing during everyday communication, featured when children chose fruit at snack time. Songs and stories also provided opportunities to extend vocabulary.

Book week involved dressing as story characters and finding the matching books. In February 2022, children also discussed family celebrations and Chinese New Year, including the animals associated with their birth years. These examples connected conversation with children's own experiences.

At the February 2022 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective, children making excellent progress and strong support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Those are dated judgements, rather than assurances about present practice.

In February 2022, the setting's coordinator worked with families, staff and other professionals to organise support across home and preschool. For children learning English alongside another language, staff gathered useful words from parents and supplied translated visual routines. Familiar language and clear sequences helped make settling more understandable.

The February 2022 account also describes daily safety checks and staff knowledge of how to raise concerns about a child. During the COVID-19 lockdown, contact with families included online stories, ideas for learning at home and practical and emotional support for parents.

The address is Vaughan Road, Harpenden, AL5 4ED. Opening follows term time, with closure during school holidays. That calendar matters for families whose childcare needs continue through the holidays.

• Term-time calendar. Closure during school holidays makes the preschool a closer fit for families whose care arrangements follow that rhythm.
• A dated quality judgement. The Outstanding judgement comes from February 2022. On a visit, how do today's settling arrangements, language activities and individual support compare with those examples?

This preschool suits families seeking term-time attendance and an interest in learning through conversation, hands-on investigation and stories. Its February 2022 account offers concrete examples of purposeful play and support shaped around individual children. The term-time calendar is the clearest practical consideration.