Lilleshall Preschool

Bread-making, a homemade pirate ship and growing vegetables give Lilleshall Preschool’s June 2023 picture its character: children learning through practical tasks, conversation and shared play. Everyday independence receives just as much attention as the activities themselves.

At its June 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated the preschool Good overall, with Outstanding personal development, and judged safeguarding effective. The setting has 26 places in total, on Limekiln Lane in Lilleshall, Newport. Children attending in June 2023 were aged two to four; that age range belongs to the inspection period.

In June 2023, speech and language ran through the activities. Children investigated ice with insects inside, discussing its temperature and trying tools to release them. A pirate-ship project brought construction into imaginative play: cardboard tubes became cannons, and children experimented with ways to attach materials. These examples connect vocabulary with things children can handle, build and discuss.

The early years foundation stage is the framework for children’s learning, care and development. Here, the June 2023 examples show learning through play and practical experiences.

Environmental learning was tangible in June 2023. Children cultivated beans, carrots and potatoes, watched tadpoles develop into frogs and joined local litter-picking outings. Stories about ocean pollution gave them something to discuss alongside those experiences. Weekly physical activities took place in a school hall, with children practising changing into sports clothing themselves.

In June 2023, settling included getting to know each family and making individual books from family photographs. Those familiar pictures gave children a personal connection between home and preschool. Staff also demonstrated considerate language and manners; children helped one another with balancing activities.

Bread-making combined cooperation with self-care in June 2023. Children washed their hands, mixed ingredients together and explored the smell of yeast before eating their bread at snack time. Staff supported children as they learnt to manage toileting independently.

Parent meetings in June 2023 covered children’s development and moves between groups. Staff supervision and communication training were also part of the arrangements then, although evaluation of teaching practice remained an improvement priority.

The address is Limekiln Lane, Lilleshall, Newport, TF10 9EY.

In June 2023, opening hours were 9am to 3.15pm across five days each week, during term time. These are historical opening hours, rather than a description of a current booking pattern. Funded early education was provided for children aged two, three and four at that time.

• Term-time planning. The June 2023 opening pattern followed term time. At a visit, what current attendance options, funded-hours arrangements and associated charges would apply to your family?
• Teaching development. In June 2023, the improvement priority was more precise evaluation of staff practice. This matters because useful feedback helps practitioners refine how they extend children’s learning.

Lilleshall Preschool merits consideration for families who value practical play, language-rich activities and children taking increasing responsibility for everyday tasks. Its June 2023 picture combines bread-making and gardening with independent dressing and toileting. The balance is appealing, while the dated operating pattern and teaching-development priority deserve attention when choosing it today.