Lakenheath Little Fishes

Play dough stretched to music, frozen sea creatures in a water tray and lambs brought in by farming families give Lakenheath Little Fishes a recognisable character. These were experiences in January 2023, combining practical exploration with contributions from the local community.

At its January 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good, found safeguarding effective and judged support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities very strong. Based at Lakenheath Sports Pavilion, it has capacity for 40 children; those attending in January 2023 were aged two to four.

In January 2023, children were organised into age groups, with activities and materials matched to their needs and interests. The early years foundation stage is the required framework for learning, development and care: here, its everyday application included learning through play, conversation and practical tasks.

Morning play dough exercises involved stretching and pulling to music, giving children practice with the hand movements needed for writing. Noodles became materials for comparing lengths, filling containers and solving problems. In the garden, children broke ice to uncover toy sea creatures and waited for turns. These examples connected physical skills, early mathematics and cooperation to things children could handle and explore.

The daily timetable sometimes interrupted that concentration. In January 2023, children could be moved from their chosen play into an adult-led activity before they had finished. Allowing more time to complete their own activities was the improvement required.

In January 2023, preparation for starting included a video of the child's key person reading a story, alongside photographs of the hall. That gave children familiar faces and surroundings before their first session. Children sought comfort from their key person, while designated staff supported children with additional needs.

Speech support included individual boxes of resources for practising mouth movements used in making sounds. Everyday responsibilities included wiping tables and sweeping, giving children a practical role in caring for their surroundings.

Home projects and objects brought in from home connected families with activities. Farming parents brought lambs for children to meet, and staff worked with other professionals and supported transition to the local school. These were arrangements in January 2023.

The address is Lakenheath Sports Pavilion, Eriswell Road, Lakenheath, BRANDON, Suffolk IP27 9AF.

In January 2023, attendance ran Monday to Friday in term time, with sessions from 9am to 2pm. Funded early education was provided for two-, three- and four-year-olds. This was a daytime, term-time pattern rather than an account of present booking arrangements.

• Time to finish play. The January 2023 improvement concerned activities being interrupted by the timetable. During a visit, ask how children now finish an absorbing activity before the group moves on.
• Attendance planning. Sessions ran from 9am to 2pm during term time in January 2023. Ask which current attendance and funding arrangements would fit your family's week.

Lakenheath Little Fishes merits consideration for families drawn to practical play and close links between home and nursery. Its January 2023 experiences gave children tangible ways to explore numbers, movement and responsibility. The historical term-time session pattern would suit families seeking daytime attendance around school terms. Protecting children's sustained play remains the key question raised by that inspection.