Upton Pre-School Group & Afterschool Club

Quiet reflection in a sensory room and outdoor bug searches shaped children's experiences at Upton Pre-School Group & Afterschool Club in October 2024. Based at All Saints C of E Primary School on Hough Green Road in Widnes, it combines preschool provision with breakfast and after-school care. There are 42 places in total across the setting.

At its October 2024 inspection, Ofsted rated the setting Good, judged safeguarding effective and praised support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those learning English as an additional language. In October 2024, staff needed sharper feedback about their interactions: activities sometimes failed to suit children's interests and abilities, and some children lost interest.

Preschool attendance follows the school year, with morning, afternoon and longer daytime sessions linked to funded hours. That makes the holiday calendar an important part of the decision.

Learning and Activities

The Early Years Foundation Stage guides learning and care: children develop through play and relationships, with attention to language, early literacy, mathematics, creativity and understanding the world. It is the shared early-years framework rather than a special Upton programme. A key person helps each child build on what they can already do.

In October 2024, children explored the human body, named body parts and discussed what organs do. Wooden-block construction gave them opportunities to invent and build, while outdoor bug searches brought living things into their play. These examples put conversation and discovery alongside practical activity, rather than treating learning as a separate part of the day.

Mathematics also received deliberate attention in October 2024. Staff had undertaken training and changed learning areas after noticing a dip in some children's mathematical development. The practical point is the response: changes to the environment followed an identified learning need.

Outdoor and Community Life

In October 2024, yoga sessions offered physical movement, while reflection time in the sensory room gave children a quieter activity. These were different uses of the nursery day, with space for both movement and relaxation.

Books extended beyond story sessions. In October 2024, children recalled library visits and bringing books home for family reading. Emergency-service visitors introduced community roles, and fundraising activities opened conversations about helping others. An animal road show also gave children receiving additional funding an opportunity to handle exotic animals.

For school-age children, the club combines reading, sport, music and art with role play and dough activities. Nintendo Switch & Xbox are also part of the activity choices. Families choosing wraparound care should consider that mix of creative, physical and screen-based play.

Relationships and Communication

Each preschool child has a key person who supports their learning and development.

In October 2024, settling involved staff getting to know children and their families. Children practised everyday independence by putting away coats and helping tidy toys. They also showed care towards upset friends. These small routines matter alongside planned activities: they give children opportunities to manage belongings, contribute to the group and respond to other people's feelings.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

In October 2024, staff used intervention plans for children with additional needs and monitored those plans closely. Conversations during play gave children opportunities to explain ideas and use new vocabulary. The inclusion arrangements therefore involved specific planning and interaction, rather than relying solely on children joining the same activities.

Healthy snacks are provided; children attending for 30 hours can bring a packed lunch or have a school lunch charged separately. That lunch choice affects both the daily routine and the family's childcare costs.

Sessions and Attendance

Preschool runs for 38 weeks each year, during term time. For children using 15 funded hours, the morning session is 9am to 11.30am and the afternoon session is 12.30pm to 3pm; children using 30 funded hours attend from 9am to 3pm. The shorter sessions and the longer day serve different family routines, but both follow the term-time calendar.

Breakfast and after-school care are separate parts of the provision. The club collects from All Saints Primary School. Its activities and school collection make it relevant to families coordinating preschool care with an older child's school day.

Getting There

The address is All Saints C of E Primary School, Hough Green Road, Widnes, WA8 4PG. Enquiries can be made by telephone on 0151 257 2450 or by email at uptonpab@hotmail.com; registration and club application forms can be downloaded.

Being based at a primary school does not guarantee a Reception place. Families still need to apply through the local authority admissions process, so preschool attendance and school admission remain separate decisions.

Funding and Paid Extras

The preschool offers sessions for 15 hour funded children and 30 hour funded children, delivered during term time. For the longer funded day, families choose between supplying lunch and paying separately for a school lunch. Families should obtain a current written quotation for their chosen arrangement.

• Term-time calendar. Preschool operates for 38 weeks, with morning, afternoon and longer daytime patterns. Families needing care during school holidays should weigh that calendar against their working year.
• Club hours conflict. Breakfast finishing times include 8.45am and 8.55am; after-school times include 3pm to 6pm, 3.10pm to 6pm and 3.10pm to 6.30pm. Confirm the applicable collection and finishing times before booking.
• Preschool age boundary. Preschool descriptions give ages two to four and two to five. Confirm which age boundary applies to your child's intended attendance.
• Matching activities to children. The October 2024 improvement point concerned staff feedback and children's engagement. On a visit, ask how staff now adapt activities when a child's interests or abilities differ from the planned task.

Upton suits families seeking term-time morning or afternoon preschool sessions, as well as those using the longer funded preschool day. Its school-based breakfast and after-school provision may also help families coordinating care for siblings.

The key-person arrangement supports children's development; sensory-room reflection and practical exploration were features of their experience in October 2024. The October 2024 engagement concern deserves a direct conversation, and the conflicting club times need resolving before a booking. For families, the calendar and collection arrangements are central to whether Upton fits.