West Derby Pre-school

In January 2024, a large outdoor space and a sensory area gave West Derby Pre-school a practical emphasis: room to move, alongside experiences designed to help children prepare for school. Based at Bonsall Hall in West Derby, Liverpool, it has capacity for 56 children aged 24 to 60 months.

At its January 2024 inspection, Ofsted rated the provision Good, judged safeguarding effective and found that children with special educational needs and/or disabilities received effective support. Those findings provide a positive starting point, with specific improvements still worth exploring.

The early years foundation stage sets the framework for children's learning, development and care, bringing together communication, physical skills and social development through everyday experiences.

In January 2024, children could play freely outdoors, with a large open space for running. Indoors, cutting with scissors and working with dough helped develop hand control for later writing. Animated storytelling encouraged interest in books, while staff gave communication and language particular attention. These were concrete experiences rather than learning confined to a table.

A sensory area supported children's development and preparation for school at that time. Staff also undertook targeted talk training to help children with speech delay, linking professional development to the needs of the children attending.

In January 2024, the key-person system gave children a familiar adult to turn to, and staff offered affection and responded promptly to their needs. Conversations with parents, observations and assessments helped practitioners understand individual children. Regular contact with the key person connected home and preschool life.

The special educational needs coordinator worked with external agencies on targeted support plans during that period. Children practised feeding themselves and washing their hands, although adults sometimes took over tasks children could attempt themselves. School preparation therefore included everyday self-care as well as learning activities.

Bonsall Hall, Bonsall Road, West Derby, Liverpool, L12 8QJ is the preschool's address. It operates during term time and closes for school holidays, an important distinction for families organising care across the year.

In January 2024, opening hours were 7.15am to 5.50pm, Monday to Friday. Funded early education was provided for two-, three- and four-year-old children at that time.

• Individual learning and independence. In January 2024, Ofsted asked for more precise planning around children's next steps and more opportunities to act independently between activities. On a visit, explore how staff now extend learning and give children time to tackle everyday tasks themselves.
• Term-time attendance. Closure during school holidays makes the preschool calendar central to the choice. Ask how its attendance arrangements would fit your family's working week and holiday-care plans.

West Derby Pre-school suits families seeking term-time preschool care, with outdoor movement, language development and preparation for school prominent in its January 2024 daily life. The Good judgement supports consideration; sharper individual planning and greater independence remain useful points to explore before choosing.