St John's Preschool

Self-portraits, sign language and songs shared with care-home residents gave St John's Preschool a recognisable character at its September 2025 inspection. Emotional development was a priority in September 2025, when many children were still settling into preschool life. Practitioners encouraged persistence and recognised small achievements, including helping to tidy after snacks.

At its September 2025 inspection, Ofsted rated the preschool Good and judged safeguarding effective. It has 40 places in total, at St. Johns Vicarage in Urmston; children attending in September 2025 were aged 2 to 4.

The early years foundation stage sets expectations for children's learning, development and care: here, the September 2025 activities included exploring materials, painting and practising movement. Bubbles and squashy toys gave children ways to investigate what happens when they act on an object. Mirrors helped them study their faces before mixing colours for self-portraits.

Outside, a spacious play area and slide supported running, climbing and jumping in September 2025. Measuring jugs introduced pouring, while handling rice offered practice with smaller movements. Children were encouraged to judge manageable risks and have another go, making independence part of their play.

Visits to local care homes also featured that month. Sharing pictures and singing with residents brought contact with people beyond the preschool, giving children concrete experiences of their wider community.

At the September 2025 inspection, Ofsted found that activities adapted for younger children and those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), alongside tailored communication, supported progress in learning and language. Practitioners used signs and learnt words from children's home languages, giving children different ways to express what they needed.

In September 2025, observation and assessment shaped children's next learning steps. Staff also adjusted how they communicated with parents and worked with other agencies to organise support for children and families. These were practical mechanisms rather than a single approach applied to everyone.

Staff wellbeing received attention through check-ins, training and opportunities to take on different roles that month. However, supervision meetings needed more precise feedback on practitioners' interactions with children. Support for staff was established; the improvement task concerned how closely that support addressed their teaching.

The address is St. Johns Vicarage, Irlam Road, Urmston, MANCHESTER M41 6AP.

In September 2025, the preschool operated during term time, with sessions running from 9am to 2.50pm, Monday to Friday. That timetable made the afternoon finish an important consideration for families arranging care around work.

Government-funded childcare was offered in September 2025, and the preschool received funding specifically for disadvantaged children.

• Staff feedback. The September 2025 improvement action concerned the precision of supervision feedback. On a visit, ask how practitioners now receive guidance about their interactions with children.
• The afternoon finish. Sessions ended at 2.50pm in September 2025. How does the current attendance pattern fit your family's working day and term-time needs?

St John's Preschool suits families drawn to practical exploration, outdoor movement and communication adapted to children's needs. Its September 2025 provision combined community contact with careful attention to settling, while the Good judgement gives a clear inspection reference point. The main improvement priority was sharper feedback to staff about teaching. For families weighing a term-time preschool rhythm, that combination merits consideration.