Murdishaw West Pre-School Playgroup

A role-play shop, shape walks and biscuit recipes gave learning a practical purpose at Murdishaw West Pre-School Playgroup in June 2022. This Runcorn setting has 26 places in total. At its 17 June 2022 inspection, Ofsted judged it Good overall.

Children attending that visit were aged two to four. The strongest examples involved conversation, stories and everyday mathematics, with two clear areas for development: access to outdoor play and younger children's independence.

The early years foundation stage sets the framework for children's learning, development and care: here, the June 2022 examples included learning through stories, play and practical tasks. Children counted objects and handled money in a pretend shop, connecting mathematics with something they could act out.

In June 2022, younger children joined in dinosaur sounds during stories, while older children tried unfamiliar words and attempted recipes after baking biscuits. Finding letters from their names in newspapers gave early reading a personal connection. These were concrete ways to bring language into play.

Adults also gave children thinking time before expecting an answer. A farm-animal book and a bag of props supported shared storytelling and turn-taking. Outdoors, however, opportunities were uneven: children who preferred learning outside could not consistently pursue their interests there throughout the day.

At the June 2022 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, making good progress from their individual starting points. Staff recognised welfare concerns and understood how to raise them.

In June 2022, relationships with a key person formed part of children's experience, and staff shared emerging support needs with parents before arranging help. Families received updates about development and advice for learning at home. Staff training also informed changes to the curriculum when developmental gaps emerged.

Health and independence were linked in the daily routine that June. Children practised handwashing and discussed protection from hot weather, while healthy eating and oral care received attention. Adults sometimes helped too quickly, though, reducing children's chances to try tasks themselves.

Transition work in June 2022 included visits to local schools and sharing children's learning needs with school staff. That supported children's preparation for the move to school.

The address is Murdishaw West Cp School, Barnfield Avenue, Murdishaw, Runcorn, WA7 6EP.

In June 2022, opening hours were 8.30am to 11.30am and 12.30pm to 3.30pm, Monday to Friday during school terms. Funded early education was provided for two-, three- and four-year-olds at that time. These practical details describe the inspection period.

• Outdoor choice. In June 2022, outdoor access did not consistently meet the needs of children who preferred playing outside. On a visit, ask how outdoor opportunities now run through the day.
• Doing things independently. Adults sometimes intervened before younger children could try for themselves in June 2022. Look for how staff allow time for self-care and everyday tasks.
• Attendance planning. The June 2022 hours were split across two term-time opening windows. Which current attendance arrangements and funded-hours terms would fit your family's week?

Murdishaw West Pre-School Playgroup suits families drawn to practical early learning and preparation for school. Its June 2022 examples made stories, numbers and conversation tangible. The balance rests on the same two questions raised then: how readily children can learn outside, and how much space they get to do things themselves.