Scalliwags Pre-School, East Peckham

Independence through small, everyday tasks gives Scalliwags Pre-School, East Peckham its clearest character: in June 2023, children chose snacks, collected their bowls and cups, and cleared up afterwards. These were practical opportunities to take responsibility for themselves.

Based at The Village Hall on Bush Road, the setting accepts children aged 24 to 60 months. Ofsted rated it Good on 23 June 2023. The strongest examples from that period combine conversation, shared games and learning through children's interests.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage provides the framework for children's learning, development and care. In parent language, that means play supports communication, physical development and growing independence alongside early learning.

In June 2023, dressing up as hairdressers followed children's interests, while playing with cars prompted staff to introduce more precise vocabulary. Learning had a practical context. Children could use words while doing something that interested them, rather than encounter them only in an adult-led discussion.

Greedy Gorilla was a shared game that children played together that June. Books and action rhymes also featured: 5 little ducks combined singing with counting, and staff demonstrated counting on fingers. A wellington boot game brought number work outside as children counted to compare how far the boots travelled.

Children's interactions added another dimension to these June 2023 activities. They helped friends and shared playthings, while adults modelled positive ways of behaving towards others. The shared games therefore involved more than completing an activity: children also practised cooperating with the people around them. Staff acknowledged effort with applause and high fives when children persisted with the hoop challenge. Encouragement was attached to trying again, giving children a reason to keep working at something difficult.

Outdoor and Community Life

In June 2023, the outdoor space included climbing equipment alongside sand and water play. Children also experimented with making a hoop game more challenging, giving physical play an element of problem-solving.

That June, children attended forest school each week at a school nearby, broadening their experiences and helping with the move to school. However, the daily timetable did not give children who preferred outdoor learning enough opportunities across the day. The distinction matters: having outdoor resources and making sufficient time to use them are separate considerations.

At its June 2023 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and SEND support helped children progress, including the use of picture cards so children could express their choices.

In June 2023, staff had worked with the local authority to develop that picture-card support. This gave children another way to communicate what they wanted. Safety arrangements that month included additional door and gate locks, with staff positioned outdoors to supervise children.

Families had regular opportunities to discuss their children's progress in June 2023, alongside updates through an app and opportunities to spend time in the setting. Those different forms of contact connected conversations with staff to information families could receive between sessions.

Preparing for outdoor play also involved self-care in June 2023. Children fetched hats, put on sunglasses themselves and went to drink water. These actions made independence part of getting ready for the next activity, alongside the snack routines described earlier. Adults supported children in taking care of themselves through things they could actually do. For parents weighing preschool preparation, these examples give everyday skills as much attention as counting or vocabulary: managing belongings and responding to personal needs were part of the learning that month.

Sessions and Attendance

The address is The Village Hall, Bush Road, East Peckham, TN12 5LL. Opening hours are 9am to 3.30pm, Monday to Friday, during term time; the setting closes for school holidays. Families therefore need childcare arrangements that accommodate those closures and the afternoon finish.

In June 2023, sessions ran from 9am to 3.30pm during term time. Funded early education was provided for children aged two, three and four at that date.

• Outdoor learning. The June 2023 improvement point concerned the timetable for children who learned best outside. At a visit, ask how outdoor opportunities now fit throughout the day.
• Term-time attendance. The 9am to 3.30pm opening window and school-holiday closures are central to the practical fit. Consider both the daily collection time and holiday cover.

Scalliwags suits families seeking term-time preschool attendance within a 9am to 3.30pm day. Its June 2023 examples give substance to the Good judgement: everyday independence, games that brought counting into play, and practical communication support. For a child who prefers learning outdoors, the timetable improvement point deserves particular attention.