Moore Village Pre-School

A garden for growing vegetables, a snack bar for making choices and separate spaces for messy play give Moore Village Pre-School a practical, hands-on character. Based at The Milner Institute in Moore, it has capacity for 30 children. Its physical layout makes everyday independence part of the offer: children can choose refreshments and help grow plants rather than simply watch adults organise their day.

At its October 2022 inspection, Ofsted rated the setting Good, judged safeguarding effective and found that targeted support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities was helping reduce gaps in their development. Children attending then were aged 2 to 4. That dated assessment is useful context, while the garden, play spaces and opportunities to make choices provide the clearest picture of the setting itself.

Rooms and Ages

Sessions use two rooms with different purposes. The larger space accommodates play and has a snack bar where children select food and drinks; the smaller space accommodates messy activities and preschool learning. This gives different kinds of activity their own space, while the snack bar brings a manageable decision into the child's day.

Outside, an enclosed play area contains play equipment, and a side garden gives children somewhere to grow vegetables and other plants. The grounds include around an acre of lawn. For families who value outdoor experiences, growing something offers a concrete connection between play, patience and change over time.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children's learning, development and care. Here, play, conversation and exploration provide ways to put that framework into practice; it is the educational foundation, rather than a separate branded programme.

In October 2022, staff built activities on children's existing understanding and adjusted questions and language to suit different ages. Conversation was a substantial part of the day. Rather than giving every child the same challenge, practitioners used what children already knew as the starting point for the next activity.

The mud kitchen and bug hotel were part of outdoor exploration in October 2022. Children also used a wooden climbing frame and climbed trees, practising balance and making decisions about risk. These were concrete opportunities to investigate living things and test physical skills, alongside the quieter work of talking and listening.

At the October 2022 inspection, community experiences included an earlier visit and a planned activity. A local florist had helped children plant, and staff had planned cake-making for people attending the local church. The planting connected an adult's practical knowledge with children's interest in growth; the planned baking linked an activity to doing something for others.

In October 2022, the key-person arrangement gave children familiar adults who knew them well. Staff deployment allowed time for interaction and support, and children formed close relationships with practitioners. For a parent considering a child's first experience away from home, that emphasis on familiarity is an important part of the dated picture.

Behaviour was supported through clear expectations in October 2022, with staff and parents using consistent approaches between home and preschool. Children practised manners and showed consideration for one another. Healthy habits also entered ordinary conversations: children discussed snack choices and learnt why handwashing matters.

Home learning had a practical element in October 2022. Curiosity bags and games went home to encourage exploration, turn-taking and shared family activity. However, at its October 2022 inspection, Ofsted identified inconsistent communication about individual children's next learning steps and how learning happens, limiting parents' ability to continue it at home. Sending an activity home and explaining its purpose are different tasks; the latter was the specific area requiring attention.

The Parents Guide offers concrete ideas for family activity, including puzzles, building blocks, matching games, conversation and pretend play. These suggestions give parents usable starting points for shared play, although they should be read alongside the dated concern about communication tailored to each child.

Sessions and Attendance

The address is The Milner Church Institute, Runcorn Road, Moore, WA4 6TZ. In October 2022, the setting operated on weekdays during term time, with sessions running from 9am to 3pm. Those times describe the arrangement at that inspection.

Getting There

The preschool has its own car park, reached from Moss Lane at the rear of the premises. Pedestrian access to the grounds is from Runcorn Road, giving drivers and walkers different access routes.

Funding and Paid Extras

The preschool offers 15 hours Early Years Education Entitlement (EYEE), starting in the term after a child's third birthday and continuing until they start school. Families should obtain a current written quotation for prices.

• Individual learning updates. The October 2022 improvement point concerned helping parents understand their child's learning and what to work on next. At a visit, ask to see how an individual update connects nursery activities with something a parent can do at home.
• Attendance and joining. The October 2022 arrangement was weekday, term-time attendance between 9am and 3pm. Ask how today's booking options and settling arrangements would fit your child's routine.
• Outdoor priorities. The enclosed play area, growing garden and lawned grounds are central physical features. Consider how much weight your family places on planting, outdoor play and space for movement when choosing a preschool.

Moore Village Pre-School will appeal to families who value practical independence and outdoor play: choosing refreshments, growing vegetables and using separate activity spaces give those priorities substance. Its October 2022 assessment provides a positive dated judgement, alongside a precise concern about individual learning information reaching parents. Families considering a term-time preschool routine have a useful starting point here, with the garden and hands-on activities providing the strongest reasons to explore the setting further.