Wigmore Church and Community Under Fives Pre School

Garden teamwork and books taken home shaped the January 2023 picture of this Luton pre-school. At its January 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated Wigmore Church and Community Under Fives Pre School Good and judged safeguarding effective. It has 30 places in total.

The January 2023 picture was of children making choices, persisting with practical problems and gaining independence. The important qualification concerned quieter children: staff needed to do more to draw them into activities.

In January 2023, children used challenge bikes in the garden, coordinating their efforts to get moving. This gave teamwork a practical purpose. Indoors, an activity tray combined cornflour with hidden transport pictures, giving children a practical problem to explore through trial and error.

The early years foundation stage provides the framework for learning, development and care. Here, the January 2023 examples connected those elements through play, conversation and everyday tasks: children washed their hands, selected snacks and poured drinks themselves.

Picture cards supported communication during activities. A pre-school lending library extended reading into family life; children brought books back and used illustrations to recount the stories. The emphasis was on talking about books as well as borrowing them.

At the January 2023 inspection, Ofsted identified SEND support as a strength, with individual targets, cooperation between staff, parents and professionals, and strategies shared by the special educational needs coordinator for use at home.

In January 2023, children formed positive connections with their key person and other staff, including those newly settling into the routine. Behaviour expectations were familiar, and children shared resources and sought one another out to play.

Regular observation and assessment updates helped parents follow their child's learning, while suggestions for home activities gave those conversations a practical next step. Mealtimes also supported conversation: staff helped children listen and take turns speaking.

The address is Crawley Green Road, Luton, LU2 9TE. In January 2023, children attending were aged two to four.

At that date, the pre-school operated on weekdays during term time, with sessions running from 9am to 3pm. That attendance pattern followed the term-time calendar rather than providing year-round care. Funded early education was provided for children aged two, three and four.

• Quieter children. The January 2023 improvement priority was participation for children less inclined to join in. At a visit, ask how staff now bring a hesitant child into garden and group activities.
• Term-time planning. The January 2023 pattern was a weekday session from 9am to 3pm during term time. How does the current booking arrangement fit your family's working hours and holiday needs?

Wigmore's January 2023 strengths lay in practical independence, shared books and coordinated support for individual needs. That inspection-era offer would suit families seeking term-time preschool care with opportunities for children to choose, talk and experiment. For a quieter child, participation deserves particular attention: the positive overall judgement came with a specific request to improve it.