St. Anne's Pre-School, Royton Oldham

Snack-time jobs, dinosaur books and yoga stretches give this Royton pre-school its character. In June 2023, children helped prepare the snack area, explored interests through books and recalled movements from a yoga session. These were practical opportunities to take responsibility, pursue a question and practise physical skills.

At its June 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated the provision Good, judged safeguarding effective and found that children, including those with SEND, made good progress. St. Anne's Pre-School, Royton Oldham has 32 places in total, at St Anne's C of E School on Ormerod Avenue.

In June 2023, the children attending were aged two to four. Younger children played instruments with nursery rhymes; older children practised cutting paper and applying glue. Role-play food gave staff opportunities to introduce vocabulary through conversation.

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children's learning, development and care. Here, the June 2023 examples connected learning with ordinary play and routines: cutting bananas introduced quarters, while pouring water prompted discussion of empty containers. Books also extended children's interests, including a conversation about dinosaurs.

There was a clear limitation. In June 2023, staff did not consistently identify the intended learning behind activities or develop opportunities as they arose. The curriculum built on children's developing interests and abilities, but its delivery varied between practitioners.

In June 2023, familiar staff joined children's play and consulted children by showing them a nappy before changing them. Calm reminders supported sharing and turn-taking, while older children passed snack-time crockery to younger ones. Children also helped clear and wash the dishes. Responsibility was part of everyday participation.

Communication with parents included regular updates about development. In June 2023, the SENCo worked with colleagues to identify children needing additional help. Staff understood how to raise welfare concerns, including concerns about colleagues, and taught children safe handling of scissors.

Leadership support included frequent supervision and access to training in June 2023. However, monitoring did not reliably pick up smaller differences in practice, leaving consistency as an improvement priority.

The address is St Anne's C of E School, Ormerod Avenue, Royton, OL2 5DH. In June 2023, opening hours were 8am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday, during term time. At that date, the setting provided funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-olds.

The pre-school operated from St. Anne's Primary School in June 2023. Attendance does not guarantee a Reception place; families still apply through the local authority admissions process.

• Teaching consistency. June 2023 improvement priorities concerned clearer learning intentions, better responses to spontaneous opportunities and closer monitoring of staff practice. These matter because an engaging activity needs a clear educational purpose.
• Notification failure. Following a regulatory telephone call on 13 December 2023, Ofsted found that the provider had failed to notify it of a significant event. This is the latest published regulatory position and merits discussion with the nursery.
• The attendance day. The June 2023 pattern was term-time opening from 8am to 5.30pm. What attendance arrangements would now fit your child's routine?
• Reception applications. Sharing a school site does not secure admission to Reception. Plan the school application separately from the pre-school decision.

This pre-school suits families who value the practical independence, books and learning through everyday routines described in June 2023. The June 2023 account offers concrete examples of those experiences, alongside weaknesses in teaching consistency and monitoring. The December 2023 notification finding also deserves attention when weighing the setting.