Belgrave Pre-School Playgroup

A garden used for growing food and experimenting with apples, plus a weekly book swap, gives Belgrave Pre-School Playgroup a practical, playful character. In September 2025, children handled large hollow blocks outdoors and tested what happened when apples travelled down drainpipes. Books reached beyond story time into different parts of the setting and into family life.

At its September 2025 inspection, Ofsted rated the pre-school Good and found safeguarding effective. It has 30 places in total, and its current childcare offer is for ages two to five. Based in Westminster Park’s community centre in Chester, it is a non-profit charity run by a voluntary committee of parents and carers. Families can therefore participate in the organisation behind their children’s care as well as in their learning.

Current opening hours vary across the week, with an earlier Thursday finish. This is worth weighing alongside the educational offer.

Learning and Activities

The Early Years Foundation Stage provides the framework for children’s learning and development across areas of learning, with play and observations of their achievements helping staff follow their progress. Belgrave uses Tapestry, an online learning journal containing photographs, observations and comments, to connect those experiences with parents. This is a record of learning rather than simply a collection of pictures.

In September 2025, children could choose activities following their own interests. The garden supplied concrete opportunities to explore movement and cause and effect: manoeuvring hollow blocks required physical control, while rolling apples through drainpipes prompted predictions about the resulting splash. Growing fruit and vegetables also connected outdoor activity with learning about healthy living.

Books had a substantial place in the day at that time. Staff placed them throughout the play areas and made storytelling interactive. A weekly book swap let children choose reading to share with their families, giving parents a practical way to continue the experience at home.

At the September 2025 inspection, Ofsted identified two priorities: activities needed closer adjustment to individual children’s next learning steps, and partnerships needed strengthening with settings children also attended and with other schools they would move on to. These concerns matter alongside the freedom to explore: choosing an appealing activity and receiving the right next challenge are different parts of learning.

An outing to Chester Zoo took place in November 2021. It adds a concrete example of the pre-school’s past activity beyond its premises, rather than establishing a regular trip pattern.

Relationships and Communication

Each child has an allocated practitioner or keyworker responsible for compiling their learning journal. Parents access their own child’s Tapestry account through a password-protected login and can contribute photographs, observations and comments. That gives home experiences a place alongside those recorded at pre-school, rather than making the journal a one-way update.

New observations are usually uploaded within two weeks. Tapestry is reserved for learning and development; routine matters such as absence and lost property go through the pre-school’s usual contact channels. This distinction helps parents understand where to look for developmental updates and where to send everyday messages.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

In September 2025, staff worked with parents to learn words from children’s home languages. Their approach gave children learning English familiar language to draw on during their time at pre-school. Behaviour guidance used consistent messages, with adults demonstrating manners themselves.

Independence also appeared in everyday tasks that month. Children poured milk at snack time and practised managing their personal needs, while families received information about nutrition and healthy packed lunches. These are small, usable steps towards doing more for themselves.

The pre-school employed six childcare staff in September 2025. Training, supervision meetings and opportunities to raise concerns formed part of staff support at that time.

Sessions and Attendance

Belgrave is at The Community Centre, 55-57 Ashes Road, Westminster Park, Chester, CH4 7QS. Opening hours are 8.30am to 4.30pm on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 8.30am to 3pm on Tuesday, and 8.30am to midday on Thursday. The different finishing times deserve attention when matching care with work or other commitments.

In September 2025, the pre-school operated during term time. Enquiries can be made by telephone on 07761816891 or by email at belgravepre-school@hotmail.co.uk.

Funding and Paid Extras

Paid childcare is offered for children aged two and for those aged three and over. The pre-school also offers up to thirty hours of free childcare, with eligibility applying to the extended childcare entitlement. Families should obtain a current written quotation for their proposed attendance arrangement; eligibility for an entitlement and the cost of additional childcare are separate considerations. The opening times and fees page brings the hours and charging structure together.

Moving on to School

In September 2025, children preparing for the on-site primary school had discussions and regular visits to support the move. This gave transition preparation a practical form beyond talking about school. Attending the pre-school does not guarantee a Reception place; families still need to follow the relevant school admissions process.

• Different daily finishes. Thursday ends at midday and Tuesday at 3pm, while Monday, Wednesday and Friday end at 4.30pm. Consider how that weekly pattern fits your household’s commitments.
• The next learning step. The September 2025 improvement priority concerned adapting activities more precisely to individual development. On a visit, ask how staff turn observations into a suitable next challenge for your child.
• Care shared across settings. Information-sharing with other settings was another September 2025 priority, despite regular transition visits to the on-site primary school. Families using more than one setting should ask how learning information is exchanged.
• Food and everyday supplies. Nutrition advice and milk at snack time featured in September 2025. Ask what your proposed attendance arrangement includes and what food or consumables you would need to provide or pay for separately.

Belgrave suits families seeking childcare for a two-to-five-year-old in a parent-and-carer-led community setting. Tapestry gives parents a continuing role in the learning record, while the September 2025 picture included outdoor experimentation, books shared with home and opportunities to practise independence.

The Good judgement sits alongside clear development priorities around individual learning challenges and cooperation with other settings. Its variable opening hours will also shape the choice: families need an arrangement that accommodates the shorter Tuesday and Thursday windows as well as the later finishes on other days.