Little Friends Pre-School

In May 2022, mud, herbs and bubbling volcanoes shaped Little Friends Pre-School's practical exploration, giving children plenty to talk about. At its May 2022 inspection, Ofsted rated the provision Good, with children showing confidence in conversation and enthusiasm for learning.

The pre-school has 24 places in total and is based at Deneholm Cp School, Culford Road, Grays, RM16 2SS. In May 2022, it cared for children aged two to four. The account below describes practice at that time.

In May 2022, outdoor exploration included planting seeds, digging in mud and mixing herbs. Children also tested what happened when they combined water with sand. These materials gave them opportunities to experiment, change their approach and see the results for themselves.

The early years foundation stage is the framework for children's learning, development and care. Here, the May 2022 examples show how play brought language, early writing and investigation together: children wrote pretend prescriptions during medical role play, while a volcano activity developed from their interests at home. Staff introduced vocabulary as children explored. Learning had a practical purpose.

Indoors, resources were plentiful, but their arrangement sometimes hindered children's choices. That mattered because choosing and extending an activity was part of developing independence.

At the May 2022 inspection, Ofsted judged safeguarding effective and support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities good, describing individual learning plans and collaboration between the special educational needs coordinator and visiting professionals.

In May 2022, staff exchanged information with parents about children's learning and ways to continue it at home. This connected experiences across home and pre-school. Staff also received in-house training and had individual development plans, giving the team opportunities to share what they learned.

Children practised washing their hands and preparing for outdoor play. However, in May 2022, adults could have offered more opportunities for children to manage tasks themselves: the drinking jugs, for example, were too big for children to pour comfortably.

In May 2022, attendance was term-time only, Monday to Friday, with sessions running from 9am to 3.30pm. This was a daytime pattern tied to the school terms.

At that time, the pre-school provided funded early education for children aged two, three and four.

• Everyday independence. In May 2022, children needed more opportunities to tackle tasks themselves. On a visit, ask how drinking equipment and daily routines now support this.
• Choosing activities indoors. The May 2022 resource arrangement sometimes restricted children's ability to extend their play. Look at how children select materials and develop an activity.
• Term-time planning. The May 2022 pattern ran from 9am to 3.30pm on weekdays during term time. Ask whether today's booking arrangements fit your working week and holiday needs.

Little Friends suits parents who value exploratory play, purposeful conversation and links between home and early learning. Its May 2022 term-time session pattern would suit families seeking weekday preschool attendance. The balance to weigh is clear: engaging practical experiences alongside the need to give children greater control over everyday tasks and indoor resources.