St Luke's Nursery & Pre-School

In June 2024, library outings, shared stories and play dough gave learning at St Luke's Nursery & Pre-School a practical, hands-on character. The Carlton Road setting in South Elmsall serves preschool children, including some two-year-olds, with activities designed to encourage growing independence.

At its June 2024 inspection, Ofsted rated the setting Good and found safeguarding effective. The detail behind that judgement matters: children took part in purposeful play, staff gathered information about individual routines, and activities connected learning with experiences beyond the nursery.

Opening hours for the preschool are 8.30am to 3.30pm, Monday to Friday during term time. That calendar is an important part of the choice for families.

Learning and Activities

The EYFS (Early Years Foundation Stage) supplies the framework for learning: children develop early understanding of language, numbers and relationships through the day's activities. Independence is an explicit aim here, giving those experiences a practical purpose as children prepare for their next stage.

In June 2024, toddlers visited the library to discover books beyond those at the setting. Children also joined shared storytelling, while play dough gave them opportunities to work with their fingers and tools. These were concrete ways to combine listening, exploration and physical coordination.

Group gatherings for toddlers and preschool children included songs about weather and the days of the week. In June 2024, staff used these gatherings to practise attention and counting. Repetition gave children familiar routines to join in with, although the counting activity needed closer connection to actual objects.

Two teaching priorities deserve attention. In June 2024, staff needed to draw quieter children and children with less developed speech into conversation more consistently. Children also needed more help connecting each spoken number with the item being counted. For parents, these are useful distinctions: hearing language and joining a counting song are different from being supported to speak or count accurately.

Outdoor and Community Life

In June 2024, outdoor play included running, balancing and climbing, giving children opportunities to practise movement and judge the space around them. Trips to the dentist brought dental health into learning beyond the building.

The route outside involved crossing the car park. In June 2024, children moved in pairs holding hands, and staff shut the car park gate during the crossing. This physical arrangement makes supervision between indoor and outdoor activities a relevant point for a visit.

Relationships and Communication

Individual routines shaped care in June 2024. Staff gathered information from families about children's abilities and needs, including familiar words in English and their home languages. That gave practitioners practical starting points for communication, rather than expecting every child to respond in the same way.

The setting employed 40 childcare staff in June 2024. Managers observed practice and arranged support and training, making staff development part of the work behind the children's day.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

At the June 2024 inspection, Ofsted found that small SEND intervention groups, targeted key-person support and personalised plans developed with other professionals helped children participate and reduce gaps in learning. The useful detail is the combination of individual planning and smaller-group work, rather than a general promise of support.

In June 2024, children practised simple behaviour expectations, including treating others kindly and responding to a tambourine signal when it was time to tidy. Predictable signals gave routines a clear structure. Freshly made food and snacks were also part of the day at that time.

Sessions and Attendance

The preschool opens on weekdays from 8.30am until 3.30pm, during term time. School holidays sit outside that opening calendar, so the annual pattern matters as much as the daily closing time when families plan childcare.

The setting's address is Carlton Road, South Elmsall, Pontefract, WF9 2QQ. Preschool enquiries use 01977 650119.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded childcare is offered for three- and four-year-olds, with 15 or 30 hours depending on parents' circumstances. Some two-year-olds can qualify for 15 hours, including through eligibility linked to certain benefits. These are conditional entitlements, rather than an assurance that every family receives the same hours.

• Quieter children's speech. June 2024 teaching priorities included helping less confident speakers take a fuller part in conversation. On a visit, ask how practitioners give these children time and encouragement to respond.
• Counting with objects. The June 2024 improvement point concerned linking spoken numbers to actual items. Ask to see how everyday play now helps children make that connection.
• The outdoor route. Children crossed the car park to reach outdoor play in June 2024. Ask staff to explain the current supervision and counting routine for moving between spaces.
• Term-time planning. The preschool's weekday opening window ends at 3.30pm and follows term time. Consider how this fits work commitments and holiday childcare.

St Luke's suits families seeking preschool learning within a term-time weekday routine, especially those who value stories, practical play and experiences beyond the classroom. Its June 2024 Good judgement provides a clear inspection position, while individual planning and smaller-group SEND work give substance to the account of care.

The teaching priorities are equally useful to a decision. Support for quieter speakers and accurate counting should be central to a conversation about how a child's learning will develop here.