The Park Pre-School

A farmer's tractor, a shopping trip for soup ingredients and stories shared with friends give The Park Pre-School's November 2024 experience a practical, community-minded character. Based at the Community Centre in Kirkham, it has capacity for 30 children in total.

At its 5 November 2024 inspection, Ofsted rated the provision Good and found safeguarding effective. Children attending then were aged 2 to 3; that is an inspection-time age range, rather than a statement of today's intake.

In November 2024, activities connected children's interests with their next learning steps. The early years foundation stage provides the framework for learning, development and care: here, the day's examples included conversation, stories, physical play and opportunities to practise independence.

Story discussions brought quieter children into conversations, while familiar songs encouraged participation. Low planks gave children opportunities to practise balance, and dough activities exercised the hands used for early writing. Outdoor play happened daily, with local parks extending the space for activity.

Community experiences made learning tangible. Police officers visited, a local farmer brought a tractor, and a supermarket outing supplied ingredients for pumpkin soup that children helped prepare and ate as a snack. Remembrance Day learning included seeing wreaths at a cenotaph. These were concrete encounters with people, places and events beyond the pre-school.

In November 2024, children developed close relationships with staff and received help with settling. Practitioners encouraged them to attempt tasks before seeking assistance, make choices and manage personal care. Handwashing before lunch was one example of routines becoming familiar.

At the November 2024 inspection, Ofsted found that progress checks helped staff recognise learning gaps and that work with outside professionals supported children needing additional help. This gave support a practical route beyond the setting when necessary.

Communication was the weakness. In November 2024, parents received updates about activities and development, but staff gathered too little background information from some families, and communication methods did not work equally well for everyone. That could interrupt continuity between home and pre-school. Improving both the initial exchange and ongoing contact was the required next step.

The address is Community Centre, Mill Street, Kirkham, Preston, PR4 2AN.

At the 5 November 2024 inspection, the pre-school operated during term time, Monday to Thursday. At the November 2024 inspection, sessions ran from 8am to midday on Mondays and Thursdays and from 8am to 3pm on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. The shorter and longer days offered different amounts of time at pre-school within that four-day week.

Government-funded places formed part of the November 2024 provision, alongside specific funding for disadvantaged children.

• Home and pre-school communication. The November 2024 improvement point concerned both children's background information and ongoing contact with families. A visit is an opportunity to discuss how those exchanges now work for your family.
• Attendance pattern. The November 2024 timetable combined midday finishes with longer days, all during term time. Does the current attendance pattern fit the days and hours your family needs?

The November 2024 picture suits families seeking practical learning through community encounters, stories and growing independence. Its attendance pattern accommodated both shorter morning sessions and longer term-time days. Communication deserves attention alongside those strengths: a workable exchange between home and pre-school matters as much as an engaging activity.