Badger Farm Pre-School Playgroup

Books, outdoor play and connections beyond the playroom give Badger Farm Pre-School Playgroup its character. Based at Badger Farm Community Centre in Winchester, it combines a community setting with an emphasis on children learning to do things for themselves. Its capacity is 28 children, with an accepted age range of 24 to 60 months.

At its December 2023 inspection, Ofsted judged the provision Good and safeguarding effective, and found that children with special educational needs and/or disabilities made good progress through tailored activities and timely professional support. There were also clear improvements to make: staff development needed greater precision, and group discussions needed clearer boundaries so quieter children could contribute.

Attendance is term-time, with afternoon opening on Monday to Wednesday and morning opening on Thursday and Friday. That weekly shape matters as much as the educational offer when fitting childcare around family life.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children's learning, development and care. Here, its practical meaning is illustrated by play that develops language, physical skills and independence.

In December 2023, children chose books and sought an adult to share them. During a Christmas story, they remembered characters and anticipated the next part of the narrative. Familiar rhymes and repeated phrases gave them opportunities to practise vocabulary. The useful detail is the children's participation: they were recalling and contributing, rather than simply listening.

Activities also followed children's interests and individual needs. Information from parents about existing skills helped staff decide what to introduce next. This connected experiences at home with learning in the playgroup.

Outdoor and Community Life

During December 2023, outdoor activities included hanging letters with pegs and playing ball games. Manipulating pegs exercised the small movements needed for later mark making, while ball play developed coordination. The outdoor space therefore supported learning as well as exercise.

Regular outings at that time reached woodland, shops and parks. Children also sang during visits to a community group, giving them contact with people beyond their immediate friends. These were everyday community experiences, with opportunities to learn about differences and shared activities.

In December 2023, staff responded promptly to children's needs and built affectionate relationships. Children shared resources and took turns, while adults acknowledged considerate behaviour. Practical independence was encouraged too: children handled their coats and lunch packs, selected resources and practised hygiene and toileting.

Supervised use of scissors during dough play gave children a manageable challenge. That example captures the balance in the day: adults remained close while allowing children to attempt tasks themselves.

School transition was supported in December 2023 through visiting teachers, exchanges of information about learning and development, and autumn visits to children after they had moved on. Those arrangements connected the child's experiences across the change of setting.

Staff meetings and individual supervision took place, but the December 2023 improvement point was about their usefulness. Development discussions did not consistently pinpoint gaps in staff knowledge or turn them into sufficiently targeted support. Regular meetings alone were not the answer.

Sessions and Attendance

The address is Badger Farm Road, Winchester, SO22 4QB. Opening hours are 9.15am to 3pm on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, and 9.15am to 12.15pm on Thursday and Friday. The playgroup closes during school holidays.

In December 2023, the attendance timetable used those same session windows. Families therefore need to consider the shorter end to the week alongside the longer Monday-to-Wednesday days, rather than assuming identical hours each weekday.

Getting There

Stagecoach's number 5 connects Badger Farm with central Winchester and Winchester station. This gives families a public transport route to consider when planning the term-time routine.

Funding and Paid Extras

In December 2023, the playgroup received funding for early education for children aged two, three and four. That dated participation should be distinguished from a family's individual entitlement and the terms of a particular booking.

• Quieter voices in groups. In December 2023, interruptions sometimes prevented less-confident children from contributing or hearing others. On a visit, ask how staff now manage shared discussion and help each child have a turn.
• Purposeful staff development. December 2023 brought a specific recommendation for more targeted supervision. Ask how development goals are identified and followed through in everyday practice.
• The shorter Thursday and Friday. Opening ends at 12.15pm on both days, and school holidays are closures. Families needing afternoon care throughout the week must account for that timetable.

Badger Farm suits families seeking term-time preschool provision with longer Monday-to-Wednesday days or a morning routine on Thursday and Friday. Its December 2023 strengths were tangible: children took an active part in stories, practised independence and learned through outdoor and community experiences. The balance is clear too. More purposeful staff development and better-managed group conversations were the areas requiring attention, especially for children who need encouragement to speak.