Old Fallings Playgroup

Pretend ice cream, dough pizzas and outdoor dens give Old Fallings Playgroup's May 2022 account its character: play gave children reasons to talk, invent and move. At its 26 May 2022 inspection, Ofsted rated the playgroup Good and found safeguarding effective.

The setting has capacity for 25 children and is based at United Reform Church in Wolverhampton. In May 2022, the children attending were aged two to three, and the attendance pattern was term-time mornings.

In May 2022, learning followed the early years foundation stage, the framework for children's learning, development and care: here, conversation, imaginative play and physical exploration put it into practice. Staff allowed time for children to answer questions and exchange ideas, rather than rushing the conversation.

A role-play shop gave language a practical purpose as children served imaginary food. A bowl became a telephone. These examples show how ordinary objects could support invention rather than dictate a single game.

Outdoors in May 2022, children carried sand around the garden and used dens for shared play. Rolling and flattening dough into pretend pizzas gave their hands useful work. Choices of materials let children decide how to make their creations.

At the May 2022 inspection, Ofsted found that the curriculum supported learning, including for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, and that key persons helped children make progress from their individual starting points.

In May 2022, staff used a screening tool to spot potential language difficulties and drew on targets from other professionals. Settling arrangements were planned with parents around each child's needs. This connected support to the individual child rather than relying on one settling routine.

Storybooks went home regularly in May 2022, while online activities gave parents ideas for the holidays. Staff also taught children about healthier food choices. Daily hygiene teaching needed greater consistency, and explanations of unacceptable behaviour did not always help children understand its consequences.

The address is United Reform Church, Old Fallings Lane Low Hill, Wolverhampton, WV10 8BH.

In May 2022, sessions ran from 9am to 11.30am, Monday to Friday, during term time. That was a short morning pattern, with the rest of the day outside the playgroup session. At that date, the playgroup also provided funded early education for children aged two and three.

• Hygiene habits. In May 2022, daily routines were not consistently used to teach good hygiene. On a visit, look for how staff build handwashing and other self-care habits into play and snack routines.
• Explaining behaviour. In May 2022, staff sometimes stopped unacceptable behaviour without explaining why. Ask how practitioners now help children understand the effect of their actions.
• Morning attendance. The May 2022 pattern was term-time sessions from 9am to 11.30am. What attendance arrangements and funding terms apply now?

Old Fallings Playgroup's May 2022 attendance pattern suited families seeking term-time morning care, with imaginative play and parent involvement prominent at that date. The Good judgement sits alongside practical improvements in hygiene teaching and behaviour explanations. Those everyday routines deserve attention alongside the appealing examples of conversation, dough play and garden exploration.