Lydgate Pre-School

Counting a spider’s legs, exploring a pretend mosque and growing strawberries give Lydgate Pre-School’s July 2022 daily life a recognisable character. Practical experiences supplied the starting points for learning. At its 4 July 2022 inspection, Ofsted rated the setting Good overall.

Based at Lydgate Junior & Infant School in Batley, the pre-school has capacity for 24 children aged 24 to 60 months. It opens during term time, Monday to Friday, from 8.45am to 3pm, and closes for school holidays.

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children’s learning, development and care: everyday play supports communication, physical skills and growing independence.

In July 2022, children explored activities indoors and outdoors, practised cutting with scissors and shaped dough. Stories, songs and actions added opportunities to listen and participate. These were tangible ways to practise skills rather than learning confined to adult instruction.

Children’s interests also shaped activities that month. Minibeasts prompted counting, while books helped children identify insects. Nearby housebuilding inspired a show home and construction play; a mosque in the role-play area gave children a way to share experiences of worship. Outdoors, a sand timer helped organise turns on the tricycles.

There were two important limitations in July 2022. Staff sometimes missed opportunities to extend vocabulary during play and snacks, and some children spent too much time playing alone or alongside an adult. More descriptive language and more encouragement to join peers were the priorities for improvement.

At the July 2022 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities highly effective, with children making good progress through activities matched to their needs and collaboration with services such as speech and language therapy.

In July 2022, several staff spoke additional languages, helping children who were learning English. Adults allowed time for answers, while children practised independence by pouring milk and spreading cheese on crackers. Healthy snacks included strawberries the children had grown, and drinking water was accessible throughout the day.

School preparation that month included visits to the on-site school, a snack in its dining hall and extra opportunities to make marks for children needing more practice before writing. Familiarity with school spaces gave the transition a practical dimension.

The address is Lydgate Junior & Infant School, Lydgate Road, Batley, WF17 6EY. Term-time opening runs from 8.45am to 3pm on weekdays, so the school-holiday closure matters when planning childcare across the year.

In July 2022, funded early education was provided for two-, three- and four-year-olds. Attendance at this pre-school does not guarantee a Reception place.

• Language and friendships. The July 2022 improvement priorities concerned richer vocabulary and more opportunities to play with peers. On a visit, ask how staff now build these into everyday activities.
• Term-time routine. Opening ends at 3pm and school holidays are closure periods. Families need an attendance plan that fits both boundaries.

Lydgate suits families seeking term-time childcare within a school-day opening window. Its July 2022 strengths lay in practical learning, independence and individual support. The priorities around vocabulary and peer play deserve equal weight when assessing how well the pre-school matches a child’s needs.