Our Lady's First Steps Pre-School

Story-led play and daily outdoor exploration characterised the October 2023 inspection of Our Lady's First Steps Pre-School, but its later regulatory position deserves close attention. This Widnes setting has capacity for 105 children, with a current age range of 3 to 60 months.

At its October 2023 inspection, Ofsted judged the provision Good and found that children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, progressed well from their starting points. A later Ofsted regulatory outcome records that the provision was graded urgent improvement at the 7 July 2026 inspection, when some requirements were unmet. Both welfare requirements notices were confirmed met following visits on 20 July and 6 August 2026; separate education actions had a deadline of 18 August 2026.

In October 2023, stories connected reading with imaginative play: children retold We're Going on a Bear Hunt using props, then searched the garden with homemade binoculars. Babies copied animal noises and explored toys activated by buttons. These gave language and early coordination a practical purpose.

The early years foundation stage sets requirements for children's learning, development and care. Its everyday meaning is learning through experiences such as conversation, play, movement and making marks. In October 2023, children explored numbers through jumping along a number line, recreated animal patterns with paint and matched dinosaur bones with pictures. Chalk, crayons and water brushes supported early writing.

Outdoor activity happened daily in October 2023, with woodland collecting and conversations about animals on nearby farmland. World Health Day prompted discussion of feelings; Rosh Hashanah introduced a celebration through apples, honey and printing. However, whole-group activities sometimes lost two-year-olds' attention, and planning needed clearer learning aims and more suitable group sizes.

In October 2023, babies and children formed close relationships with staff and settled readily. Staff encouraged children to express emotions and consider others. Training helped practitioners recognise possible language delays and seek support, while additional funding bought resources matched to individual interests.

Daily conversations, baby diary sheets, monthly preschool newsletters and written assessments supported communication in October 2023. Stay-and-play sessions let parents join activities. Physical development moved from a soft-play area to shapes and low wooden climbing equipment; wet garden equipment was marked out until dry.

The July 2026 requirements addressed recruitment, supervision at meals, sleep arrangements and risk assessments for moving children between spaces. Further requirements covered safeguarding training, induction, coaching, parent communication, absence monitoring, nutrition and support for staff taking medication. Both welfare notices were subsequently met. Separate education actions required clearer, timely communication about developmental concerns and a broad, sequenced curriculum, with a deadline of 18 August 2026.

Clincton View, Widnes, WA8 8JN is the address. Opening hours are 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, across the year, with closures for bank holidays and Christmas.

In October 2023, the nursery received early education funding for two-, three- and four-year-olds. This is a dated funding position, rather than a promise of an individual funded place.

• Later regulatory position. The unmet requirements identified in July 2026 deserve close attention in a present-day decision. Both welfare notices were met, while the education actions had an August 2026 deadline. Ask how curriculum sequencing and communication about development now work in practice.
• Two-year-olds' learning. In October 2023, some children disengaged during group activities, and staff supervision also needed stronger coaching and support. A visit should explore how activities and group sizes suit this age.
• Attendance and costs. With weekday opening across the year, which booking pattern, funded-hours arrangement and written quotation would fit your family's routine?

Our Lady's First Steps Pre-School merits consideration for families seeking weekday, year-round care who value story-based play and outdoor experiences. Those strengths belong to the October 2023 account. The July 2026 education actions make the subsequent curriculum and communication work central to choosing it, alongside the confirmed completion of both welfare notices.