Little Fishes Pre-School

In September 2024, song cards, a microphone and insect investigations shaped learning at Little Fishes Pre-School, combining conversation, movement and hands-on discovery. Based at Lodge Farm Community Centre in Lings, NN3 8JJ, it has capacity for 28 children.

Ofsted rated the pre-school Good on 12 September 2024, with strengths in language development and practical learning, alongside improvements needed in activity access and the organisation of daily routines. Children attending at that visit were aged two to four; that age range belongs to September 2024.

The early years foundation stage sets the framework for children's learning, development and care, bringing language, physical development and early mathematics into play and daily routines.

In September 2024, staff expanded children's vocabulary through conversation during play and accompanied speech with signs. Children used a microphone to introduce themselves and selected songs using cards. These gave them concrete reasons to speak, listen and take turns. Animated storytelling encouraged children to act out a bear hunt, connecting books with movement.

Physical experiences included football, running games and balancing on stilts with rope handles. Play dough offered a smaller-scale challenge: shaping cakes and candles exercised the hand muscles used later for writing. Magnetic shapes became a pretend pizza, while brick towers provided opportunities to count. Mathematical ideas had something tangible attached to them.

Gardening tubs also supported exploration. Children examined insects with magnifying glasses, although the move towards lunch interrupted their investigation. That example captures both the appeal of the activities and the need to protect children's concentration.

At the September 2024 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and identified good progress, including for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, supported by targeted help. Initial assessments and continuing observations informed individual support, including one-to-one work and specialist referrals; picture prompts, signs and boards showing the next activity helped children understand what would happen.

In September 2024, staff encouraged turn-taking and listening, modelling the behaviour they wanted children to develop. They also exchanged information with parents about children's needs and learning. This connected support during the day with the family's understanding of their child.

Staff understood how to recognise and report safeguarding concerns, and daily risk assessments formed part of practice at that visit. Managers provided supervision and team meetings, giving practitioners opportunities to discuss their work and development.

Lodge Farm Community Centre, Lings, NN3 8JJ is the pre-school's address. In September 2024, opening hours were 9am to 3.30pm, Monday to Friday, during term time. These describe the opening window at that visit, rather than separate morning or afternoon bookings.

In September 2024, the pre-school provided funded early education for children aged two, three and four. Families considering that term-time arrangement need to weigh its fit with their childcare requirements beyond the pre-school day.

• Protecting sustained play. In September 2024, routines sometimes cut across children's investigations. Ask how transitions now preserve an activity when children are absorbed in it.
• Equal access to activities. Some planned experiences excluded children beyond their intended participants in September 2024. Ask how staff now organise activities so every child can benefit.
• The practical arrangement. The September 2024 opening pattern was term-time, with a mid-afternoon finish. At a visit, discuss the current attendance options, funded-hours terms and arrangements for meals and consumables together.

Little Fishes suits families drawn to practical preschool learning, with conversation, songs and physical play prominent in September 2024. Its term-time opening pattern at that visit would suit families seeking care within that part of the day and year. The balance is clear: appealing everyday learning experiences, with activity access and transitions the important points to explore.