University Of Central Lancashire Pre-School Centre

A real ambulance, encounters with authors and trips to watch sport gave this Preston nursery a strong campus character in March 2023. At its March 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated University Of Central Lancashire Pre-School Centre Outstanding overall. The memorable detail was how children used the university around them to explore books, movement and the wider world.

The centre accepts children from birth to five and has 70 places in total. Its university setting gives families a clear point of interest, while the dated examples below show how that setting contributed to children's experiences.

In March 2023, the early years foundation stage took practical form through songs, conversation, counting at lunchtime and investigating how much containers could hold. Learning was woven through familiar routines. Children used numbers for a purpose, while staff introduced vocabulary during play and modelled how conversations work.

Campus outings extended those experiences. Children regularly visited the university sports centre to watch basketball and gymnastics; at the medical centre, exploring an ambulance brought an unfamiliar part of the wider world within reach. Visits to the university book shop included opportunities to meet authors and illustrators, connecting stories with the people who create them.

Outdoor play also demanded practical independence. During March 2023, older children managed their boots and waterproof clothing, while younger children repeatedly muddied toy vehicles and washed them using brushes and sponges. These were tangible opportunities to practise dressing, handling tools and persisting with an absorbing task.

At the March 2023 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and judged that assessment, prompt responses to learning gaps and work with other professionals supported outstanding progress, including for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities.

Relationships had practical expression in March 2023: children confidently approached staff and settled into play. Staff shared information about children's experiences with parents, and story jars borrowed from the lending library provided a way to continue learning at home. That made the connection between nursery and home something families could use.

Responsibility featured in everyday care too. Children served lunch and dealt with their dishes in March 2023, and helped separate waste for recycling. These small jobs gave them an active part in looking after themselves and their surroundings.

The address is University of Central Lancashire, Preston, PR1 2HE.

In March 2023, the centre operated on weekdays during term time, with occasional holiday sessions; session times ran from 8.30am to 5.30pm. At that date, it provided funded early education for children aged two, three and four. These arrangements belong to that period.

• Term-time planning. The March 2023 pattern combined term-time attendance with occasional holiday sessions. At a visit, how would the current attendance and funding arrangements, including meal and consumable costs, fit your family's calendar and budget?
• Campus experiences. March 2023 activities included the university sports centre, medical centre and university book shop. Families drawn to learning through real places have concrete examples to weigh alongside the nursery's everyday routines.

This centre suits families interested in a university setting and practical learning through conversation, stories, outdoor exploration and everyday responsibility. The March 2023 judgement was Outstanding, and the campus activities give that assessment recognisable substance. Its term-time pattern at that date is especially relevant to families whose childcare needs follow an academic calendar.