St Anthony's Pre-School/Playgroup

In November 2022, a play space recreated daily, vegetable growing and a mud kitchen outdoors shaped children's experience at St Anthony's Pre-School/Playgroup. This Fulwood setting has 32 places in total and operates from St Anthony's Parish Centre Annexe.

Ofsted rated the provision Good on 8 November 2022. Children attending then were aged two to four. The strongest practical distinction in that dated picture was the combination of mixed-age play, outdoor exploration and sessions organised around the school term.

In November 2022, children shared the play space across ages, with older children helping younger companions understand the rules. Books introduced new vocabulary, pretend family play encouraged imagination, and peeling carrots gave small hands a useful task. These were everyday opportunities to practise language and coordination.

The early years foundation stage sets the framework for children's learning, development and care, connecting play with their next learning steps. In November 2022, staff used children's interests and abilities to shape activities, with assessments informing weekly plans. Children chose between activities, while adults extended conversations through questions.

Outdoors that November, children grew fruit and vegetables, searched for worms and balanced on bicycles. A climbing frame supported physical play; the mud kitchen gave them materials to experiment with. Voting for a shared book and taking part in recycling also gave children practical experience of making decisions and contributing together.

At the November 2022 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and SEND support strong, with additional needs recognised promptly, external agencies involved when needed and children making good progress. These are dated judgements, rather than assurances about today's practice.

In November 2022, the key-worker system connected families with staff through email updates and conversations about children's learning. Adults helped children who struggled with waiting or sharing find words for their feelings and return to play. Visits to neighbouring primary schools helped preschool children prepare for the next stage.

The venue was closed to public access during preschool hours that November. A failure to notify committee changes was also identified; the new members had no access to children, and swift corrective action followed.

The address is St Anthony's Parish Centre Annexe, St Anthony's Drive, Fulwood, PR2 3SQ.

In November 2022, playgroup sessions ran from 9am to 3pm on Monday and Wednesday, with Tuesday sessions from 9am to midday. Preschool sessions ran from 9am to 3pm on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, and from 9am to midday on Tuesday and Friday. Both operated during term time.

The setting provided funded education for children aged two, three and four in November 2022, and supported children receiving early years pupil premium funding.

• Independent learning. In November 2022, children needed more chances to practise newly learned skills through play they directed themselves. Ask how activities now make room for that consolidation.
• A space packed away daily. Staff rebuilt the play environment each day in November 2022. How does that arrangement work for children who want to return to an unfinished activity?
• Term-time session planning. The November 2022 timetable combined morning sessions with longer days. Before arranging work or other childcare, confirm the current playgroup and preschool booking patterns.

The November 2022 picture suits families seeking either morning sessions or longer term-time days, with shared-age play and hands-on outdoor activities. Communication with families and support for additional needs were strengths of that inspection. The useful counterweight is the improvement point: adult-supported learning needed more opportunities to carry over into children's independent play.