Mossley Hill Pre-School

Story-led play gives Mossley Hill Pre-School its character: in March 2023, children searched for a missing gingerbread man in an activity built around The Gingerbread Man. A familiar story became something to investigate together.

Ofsted rated the pre-school Good at its 31 March 2023 inspection. Based at St Matthews and St James Church Rooms in Liverpool’s Mossley Hill, it has capacity for 20 children; children attending in March 2023 were aged 2 to 4.

The early years foundation stage sets the framework for children’s learning, development and care, bringing learning and everyday care together. In March 2023, staff adapted activities to children’s interests and stages of development. Mark-making and shaping play dough helped children practise the movements needed for writing, while puppets and story props encouraged them to retell stories and invent what might happen next.

During that same month, adults used exploratory questions during play to encourage children to test ideas. Children also practised everyday independence, putting on coats and wellington boots themselves and washing their hands before snack. These were learning opportunities as well as practical routines.

The March 2023 account included Ramadan celebrations, with children, staff and visitors adding ideas for good deeds to a tree, and Easter celebrations featuring children’s handmade bonnets and a parade for families. Walks in local woodland, buying produce from local suppliers and growing vegetables connected learning with the surrounding community and healthy choices.

At its March 2023 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective, good progress from children’s starting points and effective support for children learning English as an additional language. Children could use their home languages and share family traditions, giving those experiences a place in pre-school life.

In March 2023, staff encouraged children to recognise how kindness affected their friends and praised persistence when an activity proved difficult. Adults had introduced assessments to identify language and communication gaps and target support. Parents received updates through conversations and electronic communication, connecting home with children’s learning.

The address is St Matthews and St James Church Rooms, Rose Lane, Mossley Hill, Liverpool, L18 8DB.

In March 2023, opening hours were 9.30am to 2pm on Monday and Thursday, and 9.30am to 12.30pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, during term time. These are historical opening hours rather than a current booking offer. At that time, the pre-school received early education funding for three- and four-year-olds.

• Learning during routines. In March 2023, younger children missed learning opportunities while older children discussed their positions in a line. Improving routines so that every child could participate was the action required; this matters alongside the engaging planned activities.
• Term-time attendance. The March 2023 timetable ended earlier on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. That historical pattern had clear implications for families needing afternoon care.
• Choosing an attendance pattern. Which ages and term-time attendance arrangements does the pre-school currently accept?

Mossley Hill Pre-School suits families who value story-based play, practical independence and community experiences. In March 2023, those experiences sat alongside a clear weakness in younger children’s learning during routines. The historical term-time timetable is relevant to families seeking shorter attendance days, but should not be treated as today’s offer.