Sunshine Pre-School

Dinosaurs encased in ice gave children a reason to experiment, persevere and learn new words at Sunshine Pre-School in May 2024. That small example captures the practical character of this Droylsden setting: play provided the starting point for conversation and learning.

Ofsted rated the pre-school Good on 24 May 2024. It has 26 places in total and operates in Droylsden at Church of the Epiphany on Merton Drive, Manchester M43 6BH; children attending in May 2024 were aged two to four.

In May 2024, children explored how to release toy dinosaurs from ice while staff supplied vocabulary for temperature and texture. The activity connected hands-on investigation with speech. Children had something concrete to discuss, rather than learning words in isolation.

The early years foundation stage sets requirements for children's learning, development and care, bringing play, communication and everyday independence into their day. In May 2024, staff built activities around children's existing knowledge and adapted circle time to different ages and needs. Taking turns to speak gave children opportunities to practise expressing themselves and listening to others, including skills useful for moving on to school.

Practical independence mattered too. Children knew where their belongings belonged and could get tissues for themselves. Handwashing before food linked an everyday routine with looking after their health.

At its May 2024 inspection, Ofsted judged safeguarding effective and found that children made good progress, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, whose individual support was a particular strength.

In May 2024, the special educational needs and/or disabilities coordinator worked with families, colleagues and other agencies. Support was tailored to individual children, and additional funding helped them take part in care and learning. Staff also adapted activities for children learning English as an additional language.

Comfort was practical: staff soothed children who needed emotional reassurance. Parents received updates about learning and guidance for supporting it at home. For lunches, families received healthy lunch-box suggestions; children also ate fruit and chose between milk and water. These arrangements belong to May 2024.

The pre-school occupies Church of the Epiphany on Merton Drive in Droylsden, Manchester M43 6BH.

In May 2024, attendance ran on weekdays during school terms, with sessions beginning at 8.30am and ending at 2.30pm. Funded early education was provided for children aged two, three and four. That daytime pattern is the practical reference point for the care described here.

• Staff development. In May 2024, supervision did not yet systematically identify gaps in staff knowledge and target further training. The improvement action concerned making that support more purposeful, which matters for keeping teaching consistent.
• Planning attendance. The May 2024 pattern was a term-time session from 8.30am to 2.30pm. At a visit, ask how today's booking arrangements and funded-hours terms would fit your child's routine.

Sunshine's May 2024 picture suits families seeking term-time daytime preschool provision, with language practice woven into play and everyday routines. Individual support and communication with parents were useful strengths of that account. The balancing point was staff development: supervision needed clearer ways to identify learning needs within the team.