Storrs Road Pre-School

In March 2024, an ice experiment, a song bag and space to step away from the group gave Storrs Road Pre-School a recognisable character: learning grew from children's interests, while social confidence received close attention. Based at Storrs Road Methodist Church & Centre in Chesterfield, the pre-school accepts children from two to school age and has capacity for 26 children in total.

At its March 2024 inspection, Ofsted rated the provision Good. The detail gives that judgement substance: children explored changing states through ice, negotiated parts in pretend play and practised taking turns during group activities. There were also clear improvement points about distributing adults around the room and helping children keep play resources together.

Morning and afternoon sessions provide two separate attendance patterns. Their practical detail matters as much as the educational offer.

Learning and Activities

The Early Years Foundation Stage guides learning and care, with play and relationships helping children develop skills at their own pace. Here, children choose activities and work towards finishing a task, alongside experiences led by adults in smaller and larger groups. That gives the day both personal choice and opportunities to cooperate.

In March 2024, an interest in ice became an extended investigation. Children froze water, explored ice containing a figurine and discussed ways to make it melt. Staff introduced vocabulary connected with the changes children could see. This was a concrete way to connect conversation, curiosity and experimentation, rather than treating new words as an isolated exercise.

The same month's activities included aiming balls, hopscotch and careful use of brushes and glue tools. These experiences exercised both larger movements and finer hand control. Circle time included choosing something from a song bag and sharing news, giving children a reason to listen while someone else had a turn.

Outdoor and Community Life

Outdoor play includes activities chosen by children and experiences directed by adults, extending the choices available in the indoor playroom. The emphasis is on physical development and discovering the surrounding world, rather than simply moving an indoor activity outside.

A Forest School experience at Westfield was introduced for September 2026, adding an outdoor-learning approach on two mornings each week. For families drawn to learning outdoors, this is a concrete addition to the sessional offer. Its weekly timetable is a useful point to discuss when choosing attendance days.

Relationships and Communication

Each child has a key person responsible for working with parents on their individual interests and needs. This gives families a particular practitioner to build a relationship with, rather than making every conversation start afresh. Parents can also discuss their views and questions with staff, and their involvement helps shape the setting's service.

In March 2024, practitioners gathered information from families and watched children playing before planning their next learning steps. A practitioner working with two-year-olds had undertaken training centred on that age group. Small achievements were shared with parents, including a child using physical contact to gain an adult's attention. Such examples make the key-person approach tangible.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

At the March 2024 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and identified progress for children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), through individually paced learning and experienced key-person support. Those are dated judgements, rather than promises about every child's experience.

In March 2024, additional funding had helped equip a breakout room where children could spend time apart from the larger group. A sensory tent offered another retreat within the main room, keeping other children's play in view. These were two different ways to make space for children who needed a pause.

Snacks and meals are shared social occasions, with menus planned around nutritious food and families invited to explain dietary needs. Snacks carry a separate per-session charge, so they belong in the attendance budget as well as the daily routine.

Sessions and Attendance

Morning sessions run from 9am to noon and afternoon sessions from noon to 3pm, Monday to Friday. These are separate booking patterns, allowing families to consider which part of the day fits their child and household routine.

Private session fees are payable termly. Short absences without notice still attract fees, and leaving normally requires four weeks' notice or payment instead; the notice requirement excludes leaving to start primary school. These terms matter when planning a change of childcare, rather than only when first joining.

Getting There

The address is Storrs Road Methodist Church & Centre, Upper Moor Street, Chesterfield, Derbyshire S40 3NR. Families can use the contact form for enquiries, and an Application to Join document provides the application route.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded early education is offered for three- and four-year-olds and eligible two-year-olds; private fees apply where funding is not received. The two-year-old entitlement described here is up to 15 hours weekly, beginning in the term after the child's second birthday and subject to eligibility criteria.

Snacks are charged separately per session. Current prices come in the nursery's written quotation; the session and fee information also sets out payment and leaving terms.

• Adult support across the room. In March 2024, adults sometimes gathered around one activity, leaving other children needing more help with their play. On a visit, ask how staff now spread their attention across the session.
• Keeping play resources usable. The March 2024 improvement points included teaching children to look after the shared environment, because scattered toys left activities incomplete for others. Ask how tidying and caring for equipment fit into children's play today.
• Westfield mornings. The Forest School experience adds two outdoor-learning mornings each week. Before choosing attendance days, ask which mornings include Westfield and how those sessions are organised.

Storrs Road suits families seeking morning or afternoon preschool sessions, with a key-person relationship and activities that combine child choice with adult guidance. The March 2024 examples give a clear picture of learning through conversation, experiment and shared play, while the Westfield addition gives outdoor learning a named destination. Adult deployment and care of shared resources deserve attention alongside those strengths.