Happy Faces Pre School

A pirate ship, a wild area and stories acted out with cardboard telescopes give Happy Faces Pre School a practical, playful character in its September 2024 account. At its 19 September 2024 inspection, Ofsted judged the provision Good, found safeguarding effective and identified effective support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).

The setting is on Hectorage Road in Tonbridge, TN9 2DS, and has capacity for 32 children. Children attending in September 2024 were aged two to four; that age range belongs to the inspection period.

In September 2024, learning involved exploration and conversation. Children investigated a leaf with holes in the wild area and connected the marks with a caterpillar. The pirate ship offered steps to practise climbing safely, while drawing and making marks with tools in soil, sand and on paper gave fingers practice for writing.

The early years foundation stage brings learning, development and care together: here, its practical expression included play, stories, movement and growing independence. During September 2024, children used cardboard tubes as telescopes while listening to a story, exploring positional language through actions rather than words alone.

Pretend cooking in the home corner prompted conversations about flavours and breakfast choices. Building an obstacle course also gave children a problem to tackle together. However, activities sometimes lost children's interest because the level of challenge did not match what they could already do. Comparing objects was another area needing stronger adult guidance. These practical play opportunities sit alongside the September 2024 finding that teaching did not consistently extend children's existing skills.

In September 2024, the key-person arrangement helped children settle into familiar routines. Children practised washing their hands before snacks, pouring drinks and clearing rubbish. These small tasks made independence part of ordinary nursery life.

Staff discussed developmental concerns with parents, drew on advice from outside professionals when needed and used additional funding to support children. Daily conversations covered learning and progress, while shared approaches to potty training connected care at home and nursery.

Family photographs and conversations about celebrations helped children explore differences between households and cultures. Information was also exchanged with other settings children attended, with parents' permission, helping adults coordinate learning and care across those settings.

Hectorage Road, Tonbridge, TN9 2DS is the setting's address. In September 2024, opening hours were 9am to 3.30pm each weekday during term time. That was an opening window, rather than a description of separate bookable sessions.

At the same date, the pre-school received funding for early education for children aged two, three and four. This is a dated account of participation, rather than a promise of entitlement for an individual family.

• Teaching that stretches children. In September 2024, some activities did not sufficiently extend existing skills. On a visit, ask how staff adapt an activity when a child has already mastered it.
• Early mathematics. Comparing objects needed stronger teaching in September 2024. Ask how mathematical ideas are developed through everyday play, alongside obstacle-building and problem-solving.
• Term-time organisation. The September 2024 opening pattern ran from 9am to 3.30pm on weekdays in term time. Ask what attendance arrangements now apply before planning work and holiday cover.

Happy Faces will appeal to families who value practical exploration, imaginative play and everyday independence. Its September 2024 picture combines a pirate ship and wild-area discoveries with close communication between staff and parents. The balance rests on teaching: the next step was to make challenge more consistent and early mathematics more assured. For families organising care around a term-time weekday routine, that dated operating pattern provides a useful starting point for a visit.