Devonshire Rooms Pre-school

In October 2022, watching racing pigeons through binoculars and mixing mud, sand and water gave children's outdoor play a concrete emphasis on observation and experimentation. In October 2022, children explored animal behaviour and changing textures, bringing observation and experimentation into their play.

At its October 2022 inspection, Ofsted judged the pre-school Good overall and found safeguarding effective. The setting is on Waghorn Road in Snodland, ME6 5BQ, with capacity for 32 children aged 24 to 60 months. It operates during term time.

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children's learning, development and care: here, the October 2022 examples show children learning through conversation, practical tasks and play.

In October 2022, children chose their activities indoors and outdoors. Building with blocks prompted them to rethink how pieces balanced, talk through solutions and consider other children's safety. These were useful opportunities to practise reasoning rather than simply complete an adult's task. Children could change their building strategy when a construction needed a different arrangement, making balance a practical problem to investigate. Talking about their attempts brought mathematical ideas into conversation, while sharing achievements gave the activity a social dimension.

Staff questioning in October 2022 helped children think further about their experiments. Adults encouraged investigation, and children extended activities themselves. That distinction matters: choosing where to play was accompanied by opportunities to develop an idea, test it and decide what to try next.

Independence also had practical expression that month. Children tackled boots and coats, poured drinks and served themselves snacks. Such ordinary jobs gave them opportunities to manage their own needs. A cosy chair provided a place to share books with staff, while children also requested favourite songs. These quieter exchanges sat alongside the more active investigations, giving children ways to initiate time with an adult as well as choose equipment.

During October 2022, staff also encouraged handwashing, and conversations around healthy snacks connected everyday eating with care of teeth. Pouring a drink for someone else brought helping others into a task children could already practise for themselves. Independence was therefore visible in small, repeated actions, rather than confined to a separate planned activity.

At the October 2022 inspection, Ofsted found that support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities drew on parents and other professionals, with manageable steps used to plan learning.

In October 2022, staff helped children negotiate sharing and turn-taking through conversation and timers. Children approached adults for help and spoke confidently about their play. Language support reflected different stages of communication, including gestures and simpler speech for less confident communicators. Older children sustained more elaborate conversations with adults, while younger children worked with shorter language as their confidence developed. Changes in vocal pitch and tone also helped children communicate feelings. This gave communication a place in ordinary exchanges about play, help and emotions.

In October 2022, timers made waiting and sharing something staff could discuss with children. The support covered both equipment and adult attention, so learning to take turns extended beyond toys. Children could seek help from adults with whom they had formed close relationships, giving those discussions a familiar starting point.

Communication with families that month included children's achievements, their next learning steps and practical guidance for learning at home. An open-door arrangement allowed parents to speak with staff and the manager. Together, those conversations and learning updates gave families two ways to participate: discussing their child directly and using practical guidance at home. The information covered both what children had achieved and what they would work on next, making progress a continuing conversation rather than just a list of completed activities.

Waghorn Road, Snodland, ME6 5BQ is the address. The pre-school closes for school holidays, making its term-time calendar a central consideration for working families.

In October 2022, opening hours were 9am to 3pm, Monday to Friday. At that time, the setting received funding for free early education for children aged two, three and four.

• Protecting sustained play. In October 2022, staff sometimes interrupted children's exploration to follow the daily timetable. During a visit, ask how routines now accommodate a child absorbed in an activity.
• Term-time planning. The pre-school closes during school holidays. Families needing care throughout the year will need to plan around those closures.
• Funding arrangements. Funding supported early education for two-, three- and four-year-olds in October 2022. What funded attendance arrangements and additional charges would apply to your child now?

Devonshire Rooms Pre-school suits families whose childcare needs fit a term-time calendar. Its October 2022 account of outdoor investigation, practical independence and conversational play gives parents concrete examples to weigh alongside the dated Good judgement. The question about protecting uninterrupted play deserves attention when assessing the child's likely day.