Went Valley Pre School

A community room beside Kirk Smeaton’s primary school gives Went Valley Pre School a recognisable village setting, while play supplies the substance of its early learning. There are 24 places in total. The pre-school accepts children aged 2 to 5, with a morning routine built around learning through play rather than a full working day of childcare.

At its September 2024 inspection, Ofsted rated the provision Good, found safeguarding effective and described assessment that helped staff adapt learning to individual children. That judgement came with clear priorities: broader community experiences and more scope for children to act independently and make creative choices. These matter alongside the positive findings.

Morning attendance can extend through lunch once children reach three. For parents, that age condition is an important part of choosing the right pattern.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children’s learning, development and care, with play providing opportunities to practise language, movement and social skills. At Went Valley, the September 2024 examples showed how ordinary play could carry several kinds of learning at once.

A pretend ice-cream shop became an opportunity to explore colour, shape and size, while jigsaws brought counting into play. Children also made car ramps using pipes, with adults asking questions that encouraged them to work out how the ramps should function. These were practical experiences: children could handle materials and test ideas, rather than only listen to an explanation.

Stories had a place too. In September 2024, children remembered the foods eaten by the hungry caterpillar, and adults varied their voices to hold attention during reading. Alongside this, staff demonstrated language to extend children’s vocabulary. The combination gave children both words to hear and chances to use them in conversation.

Outdoor and Community Life

Large blocks and chalk offered substantial physical activity in September 2024. Stacking structures required reaching, while drawing broad circles exercised arm movements useful for later writing. More large outdoor resources had also been introduced. Physical preparation for writing was therefore visible beyond work at a table.

Celebrations have added other experiences. The Mexican Fiesta Party in 2023 included food, music, games and a pinata at the end of term. The Knottingley Food Bank Donation 2020 brought contributions from parents and staff together for a local cause. These are examples of past events, rather than a promise of a recurring programme.

The community dimension still needs careful attention. In September 2024, children needed broader experiences connected with their interests and their sense of belonging beyond the setting. A special celebration and an everyday understanding of community are different things; families should weigh both.

In September 2024, snack time gave children a chance to talk about birthdays, hobbies and interests with one another. Familiar routines also helped them understand expectations: sitting down to eat, washing hands beforehand and helping to put things away. Younger children received reminders through adults demonstrating what to do. These details give a useful picture of how social learning and everyday care worked together at that time.

Adults used praise and modelled courteous exchanges. Children practised responding politely as well as playing alongside friends. For a child preparing for school, those small interactions matter: joining a conversation and understanding a shared routine are part of participating in a group.

Independence was less consistent. In September 2024, mealtimes did not always give children enough opportunity to do things for themselves, and creative activities restricted choices of materials and experimentation. The issue was the freedom children had within the activity, rather than simply whether an activity took place. That distinction is useful when looking around the setting.

Packed lunches come from home; snacks and baking ingredients carry no additional charge. Emergency supplies of nappies, nappy bags and wipes also carry no extra charge, although donations are welcomed, giving families a clear distinction between bringing lunch and contributing supplies voluntarily.

Sessions and Attendance

Went Valley Pre School’s address is Kirk Smeaton C of E Primary School, Main Street, Kirk Smeaton, Pontefract, WF8 3JY. Sessions take place in the community room next to the main school building.

Morning sessions run from 8.45am to 11.45am, Monday to Friday. Children aged three and above can remain for lunch until 12.30pm. This gives families a choice between a morning and a morning extended through lunch, with the later finish dependent on the child’s age.

In September 2024, the setting operated during term time only. Families whose childcare needs follow the school calendar should distinguish that attendance arrangement from the clock times of individual sessions.

Enquiries can be made by telephone or email, and a free taster session can be booked, subject to availability. The taster offers a practical opportunity to see how the morning works before making a placement decision.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded childcare is offered, with information covering 15/30 hours funding for children aged 2, 3 and 4. Eligibility is conditional. For a funded child who has reached three, the lunch extension is covered by funding; for a child without funding, that additional time is charged separately.

Private morning sessions are also offered, with invoices payable at the beginning of each half term. Current prices come in the nursery’s written quotation. Lunch must be packed at home, while snacks, ingredients used for baking and emergency changing supplies have no additional charge; donations of these supplies are appreciated.

Attending this pre-school on the primary school site does not guarantee a Reception place. The shared setting should therefore be considered separately from the school admissions decision.

• Creative freedom and independence. September 2024 identified restricted material choices and inconsistent opportunities to manage mealtimes independently. During a visit, ask to see how children now choose resources and take responsibility at lunch.
• Community experiences. Broader experiences linked to children’s interests and belonging were a September 2024 improvement priority. Ask how these experiences are built into ordinary mornings, alongside special events such as the past Mexican Fiesta Party.
• The lunch age threshold. Morning sessions finish at 11.45am, and staying until 12.30pm is for children aged three and above. This distinction matters if a younger child’s collection time needs to fit other family commitments.

Went Valley suits families seeking either morning pre-school attendance or, from age three, a morning that continues through lunch. Its village school setting and play-based activities give it a clear character, with practical learning through construction, stories and pretend play illustrated in September 2024. The Good judgement is balanced by specific work needed on independence, creativity and community experiences. Those are the most useful points to examine when deciding whether the daily experience fits your child.