St Matthews Pre-school

Self-portraits pegged to washing lines give St Matthews Pre-school a memorable detail: in September 2024, children's early drawing became an art gallery celebrating their efforts. Outdoor play and practical independence were also part of the day.

At its September 2024 inspection, Ofsted rated the pre-school Good and found safeguarding effective, with children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) making good progress. Based at St. Matthews Church & Centre in St. Helens, it has 30 places in total; children attending that inspection were aged two to three.

The early years foundation stage provides the framework for children's learning, development and care, bringing play and everyday routines into their education. In September 2024, staff demonstrated drawing movements before children tried lines, shapes and pictures of themselves. Displaying their work gave those first attempts an audience.

Books and topic vocabulary also featured that month. Pictures accompanied words for children with SEND, giving them another way to engage with language. Conversation needed more attention: staff conversations sometimes gave children too little opportunity to think and respond, and individual pronunciation practice was too brief.

Outside, September 2024 activities included exploring substantial play spaces and taking turns on a slide. Indoors, children helped put toys away before gathering together. These were concrete opportunities to practise sharing space and taking responsibility.

September 2024 also showed how learning extended beyond a planned activity. Older children counted tableware for their friends, putting number work to use in a shared routine. Pouring a drink gave children a task to attempt themselves. Drawing offered a different kind of practice: watching an adult demonstrate a movement, then deciding how to make their own marks. These examples connect learning with things children can actually do, rather than treating it only as something to listen to.

The social side of that day mattered too. Children waited during snacks and group activities, showed kindness in their play and helped clear away resources. The slide gave turn-taking a practical purpose: someone else needed their chance before the next child could go. Together, these observations describe a day in which participation included looking after shared play and considering other children.

In September 2024, settling began with information from parents about their child's interests. Staff used familiar play materials to help new starters feel comfortable. A key person combined parents' knowledge with observations and assessments to plan what each child would work on next.

Training had informed support for sensory needs and managing emotions that month. Everyday independence included pouring drinks, washing hands before food and counting the cups and plates needed by friends. Small tasks gave children useful roles in the group.

At the September 2024 inspection, workshops held throughout the year covered ways for parents to support their child's learning at home. Time was also set aside for preparing children to move to school, linking the pre-school day with the next stage of their education.

The September 2024 starting-point assessment went beyond finding favourite toys. Parents contributed information about what their child could already manage and what was still difficult. Staff then used that information alongside their own observations to choose the next steps. Parents' knowledge helped staff settle children and choose their next learning steps.

For children with SEND, those next steps could concentrate on a particular aspect of development. Pictures alongside topic words and interventions for sensory or emotional needs were separate ways of adapting support.

The address is St. Matthews Church & Centre, 40 St. Matthews Grove, St. Helens, WA10 3SE. Opening hours are 8.15am to 4.15pm, Monday to Friday, during term time.

In September 2024, the pre-school provided funded early education for children aged two, three and four.

• Conversation and language. The September 2024 improvement priority concerned giving children more room to think and reply. Ask how staff now build pauses and individual speaking opportunities into activities.
• Term-time attendance. The opening pattern follows term time. Families needing childcare during holidays will need to account for those breaks.
• Choosing a booking pattern. Ask which sessions can be booked within the opening day and how those fit your child's routine.

St Matthews suits families seeking term-time pre-school provision, with drawing, outdoor exploration and practical tasks prominent in its September 2024 day. Familiar resources and parent input gave settling a personal starting point. The Good judgement supports that picture, while the conversation improvement remains a useful subject for a visit.