Stone Cross Pre-School Playgroup

In October 2024, a mud kitchen, wind-up torches and children washing up after snack time gave Stone Cross Pre-School Playgroup its character: everyday tasks became opportunities to practise doing things for themselves. This is the Memorial Hall setting for children aged two to three, with a main hall, a smaller room and an enclosed garden. It has 23 places in total.

Ofsted rated the playgroup Good at its 7 October 2024 inspection. The detail behind that judgement matters: children’s interests shaped activities, practical resources encouraged persistence, and visits introduced children to people working in their local community. One improvement was required, concerning the consistency of creative opportunities throughout a session.

Attendance is term-time, with morning sessions on Mondays and Fridays and longer days on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. The Hall’s offer should be considered separately from the older children’s Nursery Unit, which operates at another site.

Rooms and Ages

The Memorial Hall accommodates the two-to-three age group across its main hall, smaller room and enclosed garden, with a kitchen also forming part of the premises.

Free-flow play lets children choose activities indoors or in the astro turf garden. That choice is built into the routine again after snack and, on the longer days, after lunch. Outdoor play is therefore part of the ordinary timetable, rather than a separate occasional activity.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage provides the framework for children’s learning, development and care: play, conversation and practical experiences help children build skills across their day. At the Hall, stories, songs and games sit alongside self-chosen activities, shared snacks and helping to put resources away.

In October 2024, staff turned children’s interest in the mud kitchen into a practical washing-up routine after snacks. Wind-up torches gave children something to persevere with, while fabric and scarves provided possibilities for dressing up and imaginative play. These examples show how ordinary objects can invite children to make decisions and keep trying.

Creative work also involved children displaying their own pictures using pegs. However, in October 2024, art materials were not replenished consistently as the session progressed, so children choosing the activity later did not have equivalent opportunities. The improvement required was greater consistency in expressive arts and design provision, rather than a lack of creative activity altogether.

Outdoor and Community Life

In October 2024, outings included a local forest and visits to a doctor and dentist, with the professionals talking to children about their work. These experiences connected learning with recognisable places and occupations beyond the playgroup.

The current Hall routine balances free-flow play with shared moments. A tambourine signals transitions, children help tidy up, and circle time offers stories, games or singing. For a young child, the practical distinction is between periods of choosing independently and times spent participating with the group.

At its October 2024 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and children with special educational needs and/or disabilities well supported through adapted activities and plans developed with parents and other professionals. Staff also responded sensitively when children found separation from their parents difficult.

The Hall has a designated safeguarding lead and a deputy lead. Its staff training includes paediatric first aid, Epipen training and SENCO training. These are concrete arrangements and areas of preparation; they should be read alongside the dated safeguarding judgement, rather than treated as a separate assurance of effectiveness.

In October 2024, staff shared information about children’s development with families regularly. Family support extended beyond conversations about learning: links with supermarkets helped supply a food bank, while a donation box collected unwanted toys, books and clothing. This gave practical support a place alongside children’s activities.

Snacks and drinks are taken together, and lunch is part of the Tuesday-to-Thursday routine, with handwashing beforehand. The shared eating times create pauses in a day otherwise punctuated by indoor and outdoor choices.

Sessions and Attendance

The playgroup is based at Stone Cross Memorial Hall, Dittons Road, Stone Cross, BN24 5ET. Morning sessions run from 9.15am to 12.15pm on Mondays and Fridays; Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday offer all-day attendance from 8.45am to 2.45pm.

On Mondays and Fridays, an 8.45am start can be requested as a separately charged addition. That earlier start sits outside funded hours. Sessions run during term time, generally following East Sussex County Council dates, so this is an attendance pattern organised around term-time routines.

Attending at least two sessions a week is recommended, rather than stated as a compulsory minimum. The administrator manages a waiting list when needed, and preferred sessions are not guaranteed. Admissions and enquiries are handled on 07864 295888.

Funding and Paid Extras

The Hall accepts Early Years Education Entitlement (EYEE) funding for two- and three-year-olds. Funded attendance follows the term-time windows above: Monday and Friday mornings, and the longer Tuesday-to-Thursday days. Hours beyond a child’s entitlement incur session fees; private sessions are also offered for children who do not qualify for funding.

A holding deposit is payable at registration and is refundable subject to the terms and conditions. Absence, illness and holidays during term time remain chargeable at the full rate, with concessions at the management committee’s discretion. Uniform can be purchased but is optional. Current prices come in the nursery’s written quotation; the Hall funding and fees page explains the charging structure.

Children may subsequently have an opportunity to move to the separate Nursery Unit under the pre-school’s admissions policy.

• Creative opportunities throughout the session. The October 2024 improvement concerned art resources running down before later children used them. During the pre-start visit, ask how materials are now kept accessible throughout a session.
• A timetable that changes across the week. Monday and Friday are mornings, while Tuesday to Thursday extend to 2.45pm. Match the actual days to your family’s routine; the optional earlier start on the shorter days is charged separately from funded attendance.
• Shared eating and everyday supplies. Snacks feature in the routine, with lunch on the longer days. How are food and non-food consumables supplied and charged for during funded and private attendance?
• Progression to the Nursery Unit. Moving on is subject to the admissions policy. A Hall place should not be treated as an automatic place at the other site.

Stone Cross suits families seeking term-time morning attendance or longer Tuesday-to-Thursday days for a two- or three-year-old. Indoor and outdoor choice, shared routines and practical tasks give the Hall a clear character. The October 2024 Good judgement supports that picture, while the creative-resources improvement remains a useful, specific point to explore. The decision rests on whether its changing weekly timetable and possible later move to another site fit the family’s plans.