Mini Oaks Preschool

Sand timers for sharing, bucket stilts for balance and sandwiches children make themselves: Mini Oaks Preschool's February 2024 daily life combined play with practical independence. Based at St. Marys Church in Burghfield, Reading, it has 30 places in total.

At its 28 February 2024 inspection, Ofsted rated the preschool Good, finding that its curriculum helped children develop foundations for future learning. Children attending then were aged two to four. The strongest picture is of a community preschool where relationships and everyday tasks gave learning a clear purpose.

The early years foundation stage is the framework for children's learning, development and care; here, its February 2024 examples included conversation, books, imaginative play and growing independence. Indoors, children chose activities for themselves, dressed up and played in a pretend kitchen. Familiar songs and conversations gave them opportunities to practise speaking and listening.

Outdoor life had physical variety in February 2024. Children spent time in the woods, used ride-on toys and practised balancing on bucket stilts, with fresh air and exercise each day. There was a clear limitation, however: outdoor planning gave less attention to the breadth of learning than indoor planning did. Children who preferred being outside consequently had fewer opportunities to explore learning across different areas.

School preparation also took a practical form that February. Making sandwiches, helping to tidy and putting on coats and shoes gave children tasks they could increasingly manage themselves.

At the February 2024 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective, key-person support responsive to individual needs, and targeted developmental help coordinated by the SENCo with families, key persons and relevant agencies, including for children awaiting diagnosis.

Relationships translated into concrete support that February. Staff helped children negotiate small disagreements, and sand timers made turns with popular toys easier to understand. Regular updates about care and development helped parents continue learning at home, while additional funding supported gaps in children's learning.

Staff received appraisals, training and informal support in February 2024. Their wellbeing received attention, but coaching needed clearer feedback and a more organised structure to develop practice further.

The address is St. Marys Church, Burghfield, Reading RG30 3TG. In February 2024, opening hours were 8.30am to 4pm each weekday, during term time.

The preschool received early education funding for two-, three- and four-year-olds in February 2024. That dated position is useful context for families weighing preschool attendance alongside their childcare arrangements.

• Outdoor learning. February 2024 planning did not give outdoor learning the same breadth as indoor activities. For a child who prefers being outside, this is a meaningful point to explore on a visit.
• Staff development. Clearer coaching feedback and more structured mentoring were improvement priorities in February 2024. How these shape everyday teaching matters alongside the supportive staff relationships.
• Attendance fit. The February 2024 pattern was weekday, term-time opening. What attendance arrangements would fit your child's routine now?

Mini Oaks Preschool suits families drawn to practical independence, imaginative play and a community preschool setting. Its February 2024 strengths were concrete: children practised sharing, managed everyday tasks and enjoyed physical outdoor play. Families seeking term-time care should weigh that picture alongside the need for broader outdoor learning and more structured staff coaching.