Humpty Dumpty Playschool

In February 2022, a wildlife garden, imaginary shopping and home-learning bags gave Humpty Dumpty Playschool a recognisable character: practical play connected learning with children's everyday lives. At its February 2022 inspection, Ofsted rated the playschool Outstanding, praising its teaching and children's progress, including support for children learning English and those with developmental gaps.

Humpty Dumpty Playschool has 33 places in total and is based on Monxton Road in Andover. In February 2022, it served military and civilian families from buildings on a military base, with children aged two to four attending.

In February 2022, play brought several kinds of learning together. Children wrote shopping lists for pretend purchases and used coins to explore money. A shared castle-building project prompted discussion about shapes and dimensions, while using scissors and peeling tape gave children different practical challenges.

The early years foundation stage sets expectations for children's learning, development and care. Here, the February 2022 activities illustrated learning through play: children combined counting with throwing games, adding written numbers and working out scores. Dressing-up play also involved comparing shoes and outfits, talking with friends and practising movement.

Outside, in February 2022, children adjusted guttering to explore how objects travelled and carried water to a tray for floating-and-sinking investigations. These activities combined movement with experimentation. The wildlife garden offered another setting for exploration, including fairy hunts and memories of discovering a frog.

At the February 2022 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective, with knowledgeable staff, close supervision and thorough recruitment checks, alongside highly effective work with parents and other professionals supporting children's care and learning.

In February 2022, children had close relationships with staff and friends. Kindness received attention at the welcome meeting, and children helped younger companions by fetching tissues. Staff used walkie talkies to coordinate routines, helping the day run smoothly.

Activity bags and a lending library extended learning into family life in February 2022. Health education was practical too: children brushed model teeth, handled toothbrushes and toothpaste, and discussed food while listening to stories about dental visits. That made an everyday care routine something children could practise and talk about.

The address is Monxton Road, Andover, SP11 8HT. In February 2022, opening hours were 8am to 4.30pm on weekdays, during term time. These were opening hours rather than a specified session timetable.

In February 2022, the playschool received funding for free early education for two-, three- and four-year-olds. That dated funding position is separate from the total capacity of 33 children.

• Attendance planning. The February 2022 operation was term-time only, with weekday opening hours ending at 4.30pm. At a visit, what attendance patterns and funded-hours arrangements would fit your family's current needs?
• Age and scale. Children attending in February 2022 were aged two to four; the playschool has 33 places overall. The whole-setting total should not be read as the size of a child's group.
• Inspection date. The Outstanding judgement dates to February 2022. It provides a detailed assessment of practice at that time rather than a description of today's daily routines.

Humpty Dumpty Playschool merits consideration for families drawn to practical, imaginative early learning; in February 2022, it served both military and civilian families. It suits families drawn to the experiences described in February 2022: outdoor experiments, cooperative play and resources for learning at home. Families seeking a term-time arrangement have a relevant historical model here, while the dated inspection remains the basis for its quality judgement.