Fairlands Pre-School CIC

In April 2022, a pretend shoe shop, shared garden jobs and children explaining their rules gave Fairlands Pre-School CIC a recognisable character: learning through play, with social responsibility woven into the day. The Stevenage pre-school has 24 places in total and occupies a site at Fairlands Primary School & Nursery on Pound Avenue.

At its April 2022 inspection, Ofsted judged the provision Good overall, behaviour and attitudes Outstanding, and safeguarding effective. Children attending then were aged two to four. That dated picture is strongest on cooperation, confidence and relationships.

In April 2022, a shoe-shop activity brought measurement and storytelling together: children compared feet while staff connected the play to a fairy tale. This made early mathematical ideas part of an imaginative activity rather than a separate exercise.

The early years foundation stage provides the framework for learning, development and care. Here, the April 2022 examples show how play could connect these strands: measuring supported learning, shared tasks developed cooperation, and outdoor exercise prompted conversations about health.

Children had ongoing access to a large outdoor area in April 2022. Before lunch, they helped organise the garden, collecting ride-on vehicles and passing them to friends to put away safely. Circle time included the Golden Rule book, through which children discussed the reasons for their rules. Their own interests also had a place: children shared their knowledge of dinosaurs with friends.

In April 2022, families had individual visits before children started, giving staff information to help with settling. Consultation meetings then kept conversations going as children's circumstances changed. For children finding emotions difficult, staff and families coordinated strategies between home and pre-school; consistency was the practical aim.

Healthy snacks and conversations about drinking water after exercise featured in April 2022. Staff also exchanged information with children's future teachers, and children made several visits to the nursery and school on the same site before moving on. These were concrete opportunities to become familiar with the next stage.

The address is Fairlands Primary School & Nursery, Pound Avenue, Stevenage, SG1 3JA. In April 2022, opening hours were 9am to 3.30pm, Monday to Friday, during term time; funded early education was provided for two- and three-year-olds.

The school-site connection needs a clear distinction: attending the pre-school does not guarantee a Reception place. Families still apply through the local authority admissions process.

• Challenge for more able children. At the April 2022 inspection, Ofsted found that staff's assessments did not consistently translate into sufficiently challenging activities for more able children and asked for better planning. This matters for children who are ready to extend their learning.
• Matching the arrangement to your child. On a visit, how would today's attendance arrangements and learning opportunities suit your child's age and stage? The April 2022 picture combined term-time opening with play-led activities and preparation for moving on.
• School-site expectations. Several transition visits took place in April 2022, but familiarity with the site does not confer a Reception place. Keep the school application separate from the pre-school decision.

The April 2022 picture makes Fairlands worth considering for families who value cooperative play, outdoor access and close conversations between home and pre-school. The April 2022 picture suits children who enjoy imaginative activities and shared responsibilities. For families seeking a term-time routine, those dated opening arrangements provide a useful starting point; the planning concern for more able children remains an important part of the judgement.