Wings & Wellies

Wellie walks, story props and a stage for singing and dancing give Wings & Wellies a recognisable outdoor and creative character in its June 2022 account. Based at St. Georges Church Hall in Newbury, it has 32 places in total.

At its June 2022 inspection, Ofsted rated the provision Good, judged safeguarding effective and found that individual support helped children with SEND progress as well as their peers. Those are dated judgements. The children attending at that time were aged two to four.

In June 2022, children explored parks and fields on wellie walks, bringing nature into their experience beyond the hall. Story retelling used props and a large-scale aquarium: children could act out a sea-animal story rather than simply listen to it.

The early years foundation stage sets the framework for learning, development and care; here, the June 2022 examples included language through storytelling, cooperation through play and exploration outdoors. Children worked together when a mud-filled tray proved too heavy for one child to carry. It was a practical reason to cooperate.

Language threaded through the day in June 2022. Songs marked routines, while longer conversations over snacks gave children opportunities to describe their experiences, listen and take turns. Spanish songs, numbers and phrases introduced another language through familiar activities.

A stage and props supported singing, dancing and imaginative play in June 2022. The garden also contained a climbing frame and an outdoor learning hut, providing different spaces for children's invented games.

In June 2022, staff gathered information from parents about children's existing abilities before planning their support. Affectionate relationships with adults helped children develop a sense of belonging, while conversations with families informed the emphasis on communication.

Makaton training had been completed by staff in June 2022 to support communication and learning, including for children with SEND. A special educational needs coordinator guided individual interventions and monitored development; staff also acted on advice from other professionals. Support was organised around individual needs.

Communication with parents in June 2022 included updates about learning and suggestions for activities at home, including borrowing books. This connected experiences at the setting with family reading.

The address is St. Georges Church Hall, Andover Road, Newbury, RG14 6NU. Its church-hall base is part of its identity.

In June 2022, opening hours were 9am to 2.45pm, Monday to Friday, during term time only. At that date, the setting received funding for early education for three- and four-year-olds. These describe the arrangements at that visit rather than a current booking offer.

• Inclusive play. At the June 2022 inspection, Ofsted found that staff sometimes missed opportunities to challenge gender divisions in play and asked for better resources and activities to address this. Ask how adults now encourage children to join one another's games.
• Attendance planning. The June 2022 opening pattern was term-time weekdays, ending at 2.45pm. Which current attendance arrangement would fit your family's week?

Wings & Wellies suits families drawn to outdoor exploration, storytelling and an emphasis on conversation. Its June 2022 account gives concrete examples of these priorities, alongside a clear improvement point about inclusive play. For families considering term-time preschool care, that dated account offers a useful starting point for assessing the setting's present offer.