Crimble Croft Pre-School

Breathing exercises, football and tending a banana plant give Crimble Croft Pre-School's January 2023 daily life a recognisable character: children practised handling feelings alongside movement and small responsibilities. At its 4 January 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated the pre-school Good overall.

Based on Aspinall Street in Heywood, OL10 4HW, the setting has 40 places in total for children aged 24 to 60 months. It operates during term time, with school-holiday closures. That calendar is a significant part of the choice for working families.

The early years foundation stage sets expectations for children's learning, development and care, bringing play, communication and physical development into the day's learning. In January 2023, children explored size by choosing paper to wrap toys, connecting a familiar activity with mathematical ideas.

Plant care made learning tangible that January. Children used spray bottles, exercising the hand control needed for writing, and learned what a banana plant needed to grow. Football and obstacle activities gave them opportunities to practise movement and judging space. Yoga included breathing exercises for managing emotions.

Conversation also shaped the January 2023 experience. Adults asked questions that invited children to express preferences and ideas. However, teaching did not consistently introduce enough new vocabulary, making the development of staff coaching an important improvement priority.

At the January 2023 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and children with special educational needs and/or disabilities well supported through the SENCo's work with families and other professionals.

In January 2023, the key-person arrangement helped children build attachments to familiar adults, with comfort when upset and encouragement during play. Staff helped children reconsider unsafe behaviour and practise sharing. These were concrete ways of supporting both security and cooperation.

Health routines that January included a nutritious lunch, daily toothbrushing and outdoor movement. Families could join stay-and-play sessions, while those experiencing hardship received practical help such as food parcels or additional attendance. Additional funding also supported meals, activities and extra sessions for children who needed them. However, parents received too little detail about the learning programme to extend it effectively at home.

Opening hours are 8.30am to 3.30pm, Monday to Friday, during term time. School holidays are closure periods, so families need an attendance calendar that fits those boundaries.

In January 2023, the pre-school provided funded early education for children aged two, three and four. That dated participation should be kept separate from any decision about a child's present funding arrangements.

• Vocabulary teaching. In January 2023, staff coaching needed strengthening so conversations would introduce more new words. This matters for families placing particular weight on language development.
• Learning at home. The January 2023 improvement priorities included giving parents better curriculum information. Stay-and-play involvement and clear guidance about current learning serve different purposes; families benefit from both.
• Term-time fit and settling. School-holiday closures shape the practical choice. At a visit, how would settling be arranged around your child's proposed attendance?

Crimble Croft suits families whose childcare needs fit term-time opening and who value learning through ordinary responsibilities, movement and conversation. Its January 2023 inspection gives a positive overall assessment, alongside specific weaknesses in vocabulary teaching and curriculum communication with parents. Those improvement priorities deserve attention alongside the practical family support documented at that time.