Boldre pre-school Launchpad judged 'outstanding' in first Ofsted

A NEW Forest pre-school where children were said to "positively flourish" has been rated 'outstanding' by Ofsted in its first inspection.

Launchpad, which operates from a yurt on the site of William Gilpin School, was said to provide an "exceptionally nurturing setting" where "happiness and development are paramount".

The inspector heaped praise on every aspect of the facility's provision, from the "wonderful" resources to the "ambitious" curriculum and supportive staff.

"Children's behaviour is exemplary," stated Ofsted's report. "The children also display impressive levels of concentration and perseverance as they master and consolidate their problem solving skills."

Staff were said to provide the children with a "fabulous sense of awe and wonder", with learning implemented through an "excellent balance of child-initiated and adult-led experiences".

"The staff consistently speak to the children to support and extend their language, so they make superb progress in their development," said the inspector.

Partnerships between the pre-school and parents were said to be "excellent", with parents commenting on how professional, supportive and knowledgeable the manager and staff are.

"They consider their children's lives to have been greatly enriched from attending the setting," the inspector concluded.

Preschool manager Caroline Patience said: “We are very proud to have achieved such a result and pleased to be able to provide our children with a nurturing environment to learn and play.

"This report is an indication of how professional, supportive and knowledgeable our staff is in designing the most effective curriculum for the children.”

Boldre Preschool opened in 2019 and is one of 12 operated by Launchpad Social Enterprise which has links with the Diocese of Winchester.

The Rev. Canon Nick Ralph, executive director of Launchpad, said: “I am delighted that our early years settings are receiving such positive reports from Ofsted.

"It’s good to see that despite the challenging years for education providers, our children are able to receive such excellent education, in a safe and stimulating environment where they can have fun with others.”