Mosses Community Preschool

Mud pies, balancing beams and children sharing their knowledge of Eid give Mosses Community Preschool a recognisable character: practical play alongside learning about one another. These were features of daily life in July 2022, when children chose their own activities and worked together outdoors.

Ofsted rated the preschool Good on 8 July 2022 and judged its safeguarding arrangements effective. It has 32 places in total, at The Mosses Community Centre in Bury. Children attending in July 2022 were aged two to four; that age range belongs to the inspection period.

In July 2022, outdoor play combined movement, cooperation and early mark-making. Children mixed water with mud, used spray bottles against a chalkboard and took turns on balancing beams. These activities gave them reasons to coordinate their movements, share equipment and experiment with making marks.

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children's learning, development and care. Here, the July 2022 examples included learning through play, stories, conversation and physical activity, rather than separating learning from the everyday routine.

Eid celebrations involved children explaining prayer mats to friends and staff, alongside dressing in clothes from different cultures. Children had also sung to local veterans. Both examples connected learning with people and experiences beyond their own immediate interests.

Language received deliberate attention in July 2022 through songs, books and conversations. Writing needed more development: resources in the literacy area were limited, leaving children fewer chances to practise early writing. The outdoor mark-making was a useful example, but did not remove that weakness.

At its July 2022 inspection, Ofsted found that children with special educational needs and/or disabilities made good progress, and that children learning English as an additional language received effective support, including communication in their home language. That detail matters for families seeking support that responds to the individual child.

In July 2022, key-person relationships involved staff learning children's interests and sharing ideas with parents for learning at home. Staff also spotted potential learning gaps and worked with families and other professionals to arrange help. This linked everyday care with support beyond the preschool.

Health routines that July included a snack bar offering healthy food and toothbrushing after lunch. Children also practised using outdoor equipment safely and helping friends to do the same, making safety part of their activity.

The address is The Mosses Community Centre, Cecil Street, Bury, BL9 0SB.

In July 2022, attendance ran Monday to Friday during term time, with sessions from 8am to 4pm. Funded early education was provided for children aged two, three and four. These are dated attendance and funding arrangements, rather than a description of today's booking terms.

• Early writing. In July 2022, limited literacy resources restricted opportunities to practise writing. At a visit, ask how resources and daily writing activities have developed.
• Term-time attendance. The July 2022 pattern operated on weekdays during term time. Families needing holiday care should weigh that pattern against their working year.

Mosses Community Preschool merits consideration for families who value practical outdoor play, language development and learning about different cultures. Its July 2022 strengths included individual support and relationships with parents, alongside a clear need to develop early writing. The attendance pattern described then would suit families organising childcare around the school terms.