Stamford Brook Pre-School

Language gave everyday play its purpose at Stamford Brook Pre-School’s July 2021 inspection: Ofsted rated the setting Good, with children developing vocabulary through conversations about snails and recalling a volcano experiment while playing with water. Small experiences carried real learning.

The pre-school has capacity for 26 children at 160 Sinderland Road, Broadheath, Altincham, WA14 5JQ. In July 2021, children attending were aged two to four; provision ran during term time.

In July 2021, storytelling involved puppets, books were within children’s reach, and activities connected their interests with what they would learn next. The early years foundation stage was the required framework; here, its everyday expression included conversation, counting and learning through practical experiences.

Growing vegetables gave children something to harvest and eat at snack time in July 2021. It also connected learning about life cycles with food and health. Water play prompted children to recall an earlier volcano activity, showing how one experience could become material for another.

In July 2021, children practised counting by lifting pasta shapes with tweezers. They kept working at the task, while staff encouraged their efforts. These concrete activities made language, number and persistence part of the same experience.

At the July 2021 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective, positive progress and learning adapted to include children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those learning English as an additional language. That assessment belongs to that inspection date.

In July 2021, staff helped children handle emotions and consider other children’s feelings. Sharing toy dinosaurs and taking turns gave those expectations a practical setting. Children used the toilets independently and followed handwashing routines around meals.

Online messages and telephone calls kept parents involved in July 2021. Staff also had regular supervision and meetings to discuss planning, providing opportunities to share practice.

In July 2021, the pre-school operated on weekdays during term time, with sessions running from 9am to 3pm. It provided funded early education for children aged two, three and four at that time. Those arrangements are a dated picture of attendance and funding.

The address is 160 Sinderland Road, Broadheath, Altincham, WA14 5JQ.

• Extending learning. In July 2021, staff sometimes missed opportunities to take children’s understanding further. During a visit, ask how practitioners now develop an activity when a child is ready for a greater challenge.
• Attendance fit. The July 2021 arrangement was term-time provision with 9am to 3pm sessions. Ask which current attendance and funding arrangements would fit your child’s age and your working week.

Stamford Brook Pre-School’s July 2021 picture suits families drawn to practical learning, language-rich conversation and support for independence. Its term-time session arrangement at that date would suit families organising childcare around school terms. The learning examples give the review substance; the need to extend understanding further gives families a useful point to explore.