Busy Hands Pre-School

Toy cars racing down a wet drainpipe and children sorting their lunch recycling give Busy Hands Pre-School a practical, hands-on character in its May 2022 account. This Welton setting operates at Village Hall, Ryland Road, Lincoln, LN2 3NG, with capacity for 24 children aged 24 to 60 months.

At its 16 May 2022 inspection, Ofsted judged the provision Good and safeguarding effective. The strongest detail is in the everyday activities: making, experimenting and taking responsibility for small tasks.

In May 2022, children explored speed by adding water to a drainpipe and sending toy cars down it, while staff prompted them to compare what happened. Junk modelling gave them a project to persevere with; pots, compost and gardening tools supported imaginative planting play. These were concrete ways to explore ideas rather than simply hear about them.

The early years foundation stage provides the framework for children's learning, development and care: here, the May 2022 examples included play, stories and conversation. Books served both storytelling and finding out about the world. Children also practised recycling at lunchtime, connecting environmental learning with an everyday task.

Regular Spanish lessons with an external teacher featured in May 2022. Children revisited vocabulary, sang songs and used accompanying signs, giving language learning several forms of participation.

At the May 2022 inspection, Ofsted found that children settled readily and had secure emotional relationships, and that additional funding for eligible children supported individual needs through resources such as language-development bags. A toy duck and ducklings became prompts for singing together.

In May 2022, dimming the lights signalled a forthcoming change of activity, making routines easier to anticipate. Children helped prepare snack tables and discussed sharing toys. Parent relationships were positive overall, but staff were not sharing children's next learning steps or helping parents build on learning at home. Staff development also needed to extend understanding of how children learn.

Busy Hands opens during term time and closes for school holidays. Opening hours are 09:15 to 15:15 from Monday to Thursday, with Friday finishing at 12:15.

In May 2022, funded early education covered eligible two-, three- and four-year-olds. This is a dated funding position, rather than a promise of an individual child's entitlement.

• Parent involvement. Sharing next learning steps was an improvement priority in May 2022. At a visit, ask how learning priorities now reach families and how parents can contribute.
• Staff development. The May 2022 improvement action concerned deeper understanding of children's learning. Ask what subsequent training has changed in everyday practice.
• Term-time rhythm. School-holiday closures and the earlier Friday finish matter for families whose working week continues throughout the year.

Busy Hands suits families seeking term-time preschool provision, with longer opening hours from Monday to Thursday and a shorter Friday. Its May 2022 account combines practical experimentation, creative projects and regular Spanish lessons. The Good judgement gives a dated quality reference; communication about children's learning and staff development are the two clear points to explore when choosing it.